Ah, the blue screen of death. If you’re using Vista and possibly seeing the blue screen followed by “Host processes for Windows services stopped working and was closed” you’re just out of luck. Not really - you’re actually among many that get this particular error message. It’s a problem with the Microsoft Vista operating system and at least one other program you’re currently running. To fix the error, you’re going to identify what program is causing the conflict and then work to resolve the issue.

Finding Conflicting Programs in Vista

Conceivably, there could be any number of programs causing your cryptic message. To find out which one(s) to worry about, go to Start and then Control Panel.

Select Administrative Tools.

Once you’re in Administrative Tools, you’ll see either Event Viewer or View Event Logs depending on the view you’re using. Select the Event Viewer to see what the trouble is and click on Open at the top of the menu.

Once the menu opens, you’ll want to maximize the screen to see the available information. In the list called Error, look for the most recent if you just got the message about “Host process for Windows stopped working” or look for errors that have occurred around the time you did receive the message.

Select the various events under Error to see the exact details of the errors.

Fixing the Problem

Once you’ve identified a likely culprit based on the timing of your error, you’ll want to take action.

· If the error is caused by a program that’s not necessary, such as old HP printer software, go into Control Panel to uninstall it. If you still need the program that’s causing the problem, or if you’re unsure, look for updates for that particular software online. Download the updates and restart your system to see if the update was effective at stopping the error.

· If the problem is caused by a driver, you’ll want to download an updated driver for the hardware item that’s causing the problem. You might need to uninstall the old driver first before installing the new one.

· If the problem persists after dealing with the naughty program and/or driver, you might be having trouble with something caused by a Windows update. If the program started after an update, you’ll need to learn about BITS corruption and how to repair it. Microsoft has a step-by-step guide available for this sort of problem.

· The problem might also be caused by a memory stick of external memory device, including your digital camera. Try unplugging the device to see if the problem is resolved. If so, when you reconnect your thumb driver or camera, be sure to plug it in directly to the computer rather than through a card reader. Remove the hardware when it’s not in use to avoid causing additional problems.