Just for the record (and for those that have this happen to them) here's what happened. (I'm certain this will help another out there.)When I posted this topic, I received an email suggestion to go to MicroSoft and download the newest Service Pack for 4.0 (which is version 6a). I did that. However, what MicroSoft DIDN'T say was that once I ran the 6a upgrade...I needed to REINSTALL the Security Patch for the Code Red Virus that has been prevelant for the last few months. Sure enough, I loaded the 6a upgrade and BAM...all of a sudden I began having the http service on that server just dropping off for no apparent reason.
The reason? The Code Red Virus! I went back to MicroSoft, downlaoded and installed the patch and rebooted and Voila...no more problems with service stopping. It would seem that MicroSoft would now include that patch in the newest (6a) release...but they don't so beware....
Hope this helps someone else keep from having three days of hell with manually restarting the w3svc service.
Moral of the story: If you upgrade the Option Packs...REINSTALL any security patches. (In fact, keep the patch handy, cause finding it on MicroSoft now that the Code Red Virus is not in the forefront is not easy!)
