windows xp nt authority system services.exe

[TPHR]

Windows XP sp2

An error message pops up 60 seconds after start up and displays this message:

System Shutdown

This system process
'C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe' terminated unexpectedly with the staus code -1073741819. The system will now shut down and restart

This is my girlfriend's parents computer so I am unsure if the OS is properly updated with the malicious spyware removal tool, relevant patches or properly updated anti-virus/firewall (I do have a hunch that not everything is up to date). I have searched google extensively before posting this problem up here and found my situation to be different than many people who receive this error intermittently. I receive this message everytime I boot the computer, so I cannot go through many of the suggested malware cleanup tutorials involving the installation of programs (since I only have 60 seconds in normal mode and cannot install in safe mode).

I have tried running 'shutdown -a' to get rid of the restart message but havent had success with it as the task bar and desktop disappear afterward and I cant effectively do anything but restart after that.

Any suggestions on where to start? Thank you in advance.

1. Find out if the computer has been kept up to date at Windows Update.

2. Find out if the computer has always had comprehensive anti-malware
software that is up to date, starts with Windows and runs in the
background at all time.

3. Find out if your girlfriend is familiar with and practices safe
behavior on the internet.

If the answer to either question is 'no' you can bet the mortgage that
the computer is infected with malware. Unless you consider yourself
technically oriented, it's time to bring the computer to the shop.

If you can boot in Safe Mode with networking and get on the Internet:

Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware
detection programs:

They can be uninstalled later if desired.

If shutdown -a successfully aborts the shutdown, but leaves you
stranded with no taskbar (but still alive), type CTRL-ALT-DEL to get
into Task Manager, File, New Task and run explorer.exe to get your
stuff back, then do the downloads and malware scanning