SVCHOST.EXE error when opening "My Computer"

One of our users has had an error message show up lately on his laptop running WinXP Pro.  The error message says...

svchost.exe - Application Error
The instruction at "0x00a296bc" referenced memory at "0x00000000". The memory could not be "written".
OK to terminate
CANCEL to debug

The entry in the Event Viewer says...

Event Type:      Error
Event Source:      Application Error
Event Category:      (100)
Event ID:      1000
Date:            3/27/2007
Time:            1:32:29 PM
User:            N/A
Computer:      TIMLAPTOP
Description:
Faulting application svchost.exe, version 5.1.2600.2180, faulting module unknown, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x00a296bc.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74   Applicat
0008: 69 6f 6e 20 46 61 69 6c   ion Fail
0010: 75 72 65 20 20 73 76 63   ure  svc
0018: 68 6f 73 74 2e 65 78 65   host.exe
0020: 20 35 2e 31 2e 32 36 30    5.1.260
0028: 30 2e 32 31 38 30 20 69   0.2180 i
0030: 6e 20 75 6e 6b 6e 6f 77   n unknow
0038: 6e 20 30 2e 30 2e 30 2e   n 0.0.0.
0040: 30 20 61 74 20 6f 66 66   0 at off
0048: 73 65 74 20 30 30 61 32   set 00a2
0050: 39 36 62 63               96bc    


It happens at various times, but I can faithfully recreate the error every time I open "My Computer".  Everytime I open "My Compter", the flashlight waves back and forth searching for drives for about 10 seconds.  Then the error message pops up and eventually all the drives show up.  

When watching Task Manager, there is a new svchost.exe process that appears when I try to open "My Computer".  Once the error message appears and I click OK to terminate the program, it disappears.

Any idea on how to narrow down what is causing the problem or how to fix it? Thanks.

~bruno71Start Free Trial