Have you tried the System File Checker ?:
Some Windows Vista functions may not work, or Windows Vista may stop
responding
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833
Worth a shot.
If no joy, look at security software that may be causing the issue.
Toolbars/popup/cookie blockers/download managers/AV/3rd party firewall.
Have you looked at the WindowsUpdate.log, located in %windir%, for any
clues [eg. error codes] ?
How to read the Windowsupdate.log file
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093
MowGreen [MVP 2003-2008]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============
Alx16v wrote:
> Thanks for the replies.
> I don't think its a new kind of undetectable malware; more probably a
> misconfiguration that can't sort itself out. Which is a shame because I run a
> relatively clean machine with mainstream apps on a supposedly superior
> operating system that is marketed as easy to live with.
> The question still stands though. How would I go about identifying /
> debugging the source of the APPCRASH?