BleepingComputer.com: Generic Host Process for Win32 Services

I get a message saying that Generic Host Process for Win32 must close. After a short time, maybe 5 minutes, my computer locks up and I can't even shut down unless I manually turn of the computer. It effects the color of task bar and keeps me off the small network I am on. I have Windows XP Professional and normally use Firefox as my browser. I down loaded a small .bat file after researching the error message on Google, but it has not helped. I am not sure if it is connected, but I get an un requested new tab with advertising popping up on Firefox's tab bar. Thanks for any help.