svchost.exe - Application Error

  • Thread starter Thread starter Adam Nofsinger
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Adam Nofsinger

Hi,

We have been running XP Embedded on all our field units (a kiosk /
digital sign type unit) for several months now. When we first deployed
- about a month after the units were in the field - we started
constantly seeing a popup error message saying "svchost.exe -
Application Error" and then the usual information about an instruction
at address A illegally accessing memory at address B.

I was initially able to get rid of this (magically came to this
conclusion) by disabling the Print Spooler service. All seemed well --
seemed to work on all of our units for another month or so.

Now, it may have returned on one of our units (one confirmed incident).
I'm a bit of a newbie to xp embedded, but I have the evaluation
developer tools, and I'm quickly learning what I need to know (I'm
actually a software engineer BTW, just happen to work at a small startup
where this has fallen under my responsibilities as well).

So, here are my questions:

Is there a way to determine which service inside this svchost.exe
process is the problematic one? I have remote access, and know a little
about Process Explorer - and could probably get it onto the machines.

The unit still operates fine after these messages pop up, the only
problem is that the error messages are ugly and obscure the content we
want to display. Is there a way to force these error messages to not
pop up in front of our running program?

Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated. This error message is really
hurting our business. Thanks,

Adam Nofsinger
ims3k.com
 
Adam,

Please see some comments inline..
So, here are my questions:

Is there a way to determine which service inside this svchost.exe process is the problematic one? I have remote access, and know
a little about Process Explorer - and could probably get it onto the machines.
Click to expand...

Process Explorer is a powerful tool. You do want to get it on the device as it may be helpful investigating app problems like yours.
Process Explorer has a feature (Find Windows's process - drag over window) where you can easy associate which process own particular
window(s).
Also, if you move mouse over a svchost process item in the Process Explorer tree you should get a tip popup listing all the srvices
that are hosted by this process.

Also, download from the same sysinternals another useful tool - Process Monitor (includes Filemon and Regmon). Watching on the
system when the error occurs can give you some more info about the problem.

Also, you may want to check Event Log. Often, when a system service is faling, the erorr is logged in the system log.

Another idea. After the error occured on your device, you can go to Services and try to see if any system service has changed its
state. Or you can try stopping some system services. The one that doesn't respond to the Stop would probably be the faulty one.
The unit still operates fine after these messages pop up, the only problem is that the error messages are ugly and obscure the
content we want to display. Is there a way to force these error messages to not pop up in front of our running program?
Click to expand...

How to Get Rid of System and Application Popup Messages:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/embedded/aa731206.aspx

Although that is not really a fix to your problems. It is rather hiding the message from end user.
 
Thanks KM! Your information was very useful! I'd never seen the
Microsoft Windows XP Embedded Tips and Tricks pages before -- It's been
rewarding to read some of that info.

Thanks again,

Adam Nofsinger
 
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