Search error: Illegal operation attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion

I'm intermittently getting this error when performing a search in my SharePoint 2010 environment:

    SearchServiceApplication::Execute--Exception: System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException     (0x800703FA): Illegal operation attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x800703FA)    
    at System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ThrowExceptionForHRInternal(Int32 errorCode, IntPtr errorInfo)    
    at Microsoft.Office.Server.Search.Query.KeywordQueryInternal.Execute()    
    at Microsoft.Office.Server.Search.Query.QueryInternal.Execute(QueryProperties properties)    
    at Microsoft.Office.Server.Search.Administration.SearchServiceApplication.Execute(QueryProperties properties) 

I'm running an application server and 2 front end web servers in the farm. All are on Windows Server 2008. I've exhausted my resources and have no idea why this is occuring.