BleepingComputer.com: Event Log Error

Could anyoe possible tell me what this is? I've also posted in the malware section, and i think this has to do with it. I've reformated 4 times now xp and vista. Everytime this damn sticks with me. I'm also getting some other odd errors and i don't have full control of mostly anything. And I honestly haven't slept for three days because of this thing. I've been trying to find it myself but i always give up and reformat....and then its back....weeeeeeee

Windows detected your registry file is still in use by other applications or services. The file will be unloaded now. The applications or services that hold your registry file may not function properly afterwards.

DETAIL -
1 user registry handles leaked from \Registry\User\S-1-5-21-2522549875-1199133900-3481518507-1000:
Process 540 (\Device\HarddiskVolume1\Windows\System32\winlogon.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-2522549875-1199133900-3481518507-1000

This post has been edited by chancity: 17 December 2007 - 08:38 PM

"Windows detected your registry file is still in use by other applications or services. The file will be unloaded now. The applications or services that hold your registry file may not function properly afterwards."

I to get this error from time to time and as far as I can tell it has never caused a problem. So after some research I figured "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

"I've reformated 4 times now xp and vista. Everytime this damn sticks with me."
Four times is a lot what is the actual problem? You have an error message doesn't warrant a format.....is there something else happening?

With XP I usually suspected a corruption of the user profile when these sort of errors popped up - and would use the User Profile Hive Cleanup Tool with limited success. Otherwise, I'd try a new profile to see if it has the same problems.

I suspect it has to do with a program that's not releasing the registry properly. Since it's so common, it's hard to tell what causes it. FWIW - I think that I see it most often on HP systems (or systems with HP peripherals) - so I suspect their software (but don't have anything concrete to support this hunch)