Msi.dll crashing my system

Today I lost some valuable time fixing my system. When Windows XP had started, I got a messagebox 'svchost.exe - Application Error' with the errormessage 'The instruction at "0x745f2780" referenced memory at "0x00000000". The memory could not be "read". Followed almost immediately by another error-window 'Generic Host Process for Win32 Services had encoutered a problem and needs to close.'
The details of the error report pointed to the culprit: msi.dll.

Fortunately, Google pointed me to the solution at http://swigartconsulting.blogs.com/tech_blender/2006/07/index.html

I will repeat the quick-fix here (just in case):
- Don't close the errormessages! (Doing so will hang your system)
- Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel
- Doubleclick on Automatic Updates
- Select Turn off Automatic Updates
- Click OK and reboot your computer
- Go to Windows Update and install the updates manually
- turn Automatic Updates back on