Re: svchost

Well after doing another clean install with the computer all by itself...the
SVCHOST is still acting up.

This time, I've installed Process explorer. SP2 installed, ZONE ALARM
Security Suite with all AV and AS definitions installed then directly to
windows update.

It searching again forever with SVCHOST taking up 56% of the CPU with the
remaing 33% by internet explorer (which I need to connect to windows update)
with the rest being services.exe PID 624.

The pain in the *** SVCHOST is PID 912 Services. Don't know what to do
anymore.


"Pop`" <nodoby@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23i8LMPd1GHA.3372@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
DVDNITE wrote:
I'm in the process of doing this (and thanks to all that have
replied) again from scratch. This time...the other 2 computers are
completely disconnected from the router (no internet for them or
network for that matter).

True of the problem machine too, right? Looks like it, but it's not
clearly stated IMO. Be certain there are no external connections other
than your mouse/keyboard,monitor. The idea it to be minimalist and bring
them online one at a time so you can catch the problem as it reoccurs.
IF, and assuming it does, reoccur.

Once SP2 is installed, I will also install
my Zonealarm Security Suite then...I'll connect this single computer
back to my router (the others are still no connected) and proceed
with AV and AS definition updates. Hopefully since Automatic Updates
is enabled, the little yellow icon on the bottom right will download
all security updates.
From my experience, it's just way faster to go to windows update
directly instead of waiting for it to update itself.

True, and probably not a problem if you do, but ... It does allow you to
skip some updates that way, but ... when in doubt, I'd say try the least
likely to get bad data route; which IME at least, is the auto functions.
If you get something you don't personally want, you can always uninstall
it later on when everything's known to be working. Then if something
quits, or goes to 100%, you'll be more sure of what it is.
Ideally, actually downloading the updates to disk and installing them
from disk is my preferred method, but ... it gets to be quite a hassle
sometimes. I wouldn't recommend it here.


What I meant by low level is exactly how you described it. By letting
windows delete and create a new partition. Some people (not myself)
overwrite by using the repair windows function or using windows xp
disc to upgrade ontop of windows2000, 98SE, ME....etc. I prefer to
always boot from the xp disc and start from scratch.

Wise move. If you've been deleting/recreating partitions, then it just
about has to be something in your system creating the confusion. I hate
to say it, but my money at the moment is going to be on your LAN/Router
apps fighting over something during the overall process.

I'm not sure what you mean by slipstreamed CD's? I have a retail copy
of Windows XP Pro for this computer. SP2, which I downloaded the
(Windows XP SP2 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and
Developers) copy which is 266MB's from
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en
Microsoft's website. From there, I burnt this 266MB file onto a CD.
Again much, much easier that going to windowsupdate and wait for all
the updates then SP2.

Yeah! I did the same with SP2. In fact, I ordered their free (at the
time) CD of SP2. But, this begs the question, since you donwloaded it:
IS there any corruption on it? Does the machine you have the trouble
with, have any hardware/whatever that's different from the other machines
and which SP2 might be having the issues with? There ARE SP2
compatability issues, but none that I've heard of that would show up as
you have described. I think you said you had a Gateway? Far as I know,
no problems there. Then again I'm no guru either, so ... <g>
Do you have another copy of SP2 that you could do a CRC or Hash check
comparison? Might be worth a look-see if the problem still persists after
all this work you're doing.

SLIPSTREAMING is simply using a specialized program to put, say, SP2 and
all or most of its following hot fixes onto a DVD so they can all be
automatigically installed. They're a lot of work to assemble and get to
work right. Mostly monkey-work, but work. There are several freebies
that will let you create slipstreamed DVDs. But I don't think that's
relevant at the moment.

Best of luck,

Pop`




"Pop`" <nodoby@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:e1sLaac1GHA.4748@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
DVDNITE DVD Rentals and Sales wrote:
Help! For the life of me, this has finally gotten to me. I've
formatted several times. All clean installs of windows xp on my
computer.
1. low level format
2. once installed, install sp2 from cd
3. once sp2 installed enable automatic updates.
4. go directly to windows update

After number 4 my computer all of a sudden is "screwed" because of
this stupid SVCHOST eating 100% of the CPU.

What the hell is it doing this? If I don't install SP2, everything
is OK. This has never happened before when I formated my other 2
computers with SP2.

What's with SVCHOST not allowing me to do anything anymore
considering this computer has a clean (formatted) install?

From various parts of this thread, you seem to have your router/net
connected while you're doing the rebuild. Don't do that.

Disconnect your switch/gateway/router/whatever, along with all USB
devices; all peripherals on the computer.

Now do another CD full install, starting right from
deleting/recreating the partition.
Start from a Cold, Powered-Down, power completely off state (not
just the computer switch turned off), and boot from the CD.

If you spot a service host eating up a lot of cpu time, give it 5
minutes before you decide something's gone wrong.

Install everything up to and including SP2, firewall, antivirus, and
spyware. Yes, I know you have a router, but do all this first
anyway. If you use a HOSTS file, copy it in too.
NOW go online and start letting the windows updates start to come
in automatically. At the same time, start updating your antivirus,
firewall and spyware programs.

If you spot a service host eating up a lot of cpu time, give it 5
minutes before you decide something's gone wrong.

I've been thru this a couple times myself and it's usually the LAN or
internet connection that's letting things get hung up. Keep them
out of hte picture completely until you absolutely must have them. IME
it was the LAN causing the problems, and another time it was a
printer, believe it or not, but I tend to limit troubleshooting of
these things because of hte long boot times one ends up with.

When all is working, regmon with its registry optimizer from
sysinternals and uphclean's from MS are two good utilities I also
use; they help immenseley when you know you have several more
Restarts coming<g> as you continue the rebuild.
Do NOT skip REstarts when they're offered. That's a good way to
create conflicts that are hard to track down.

HTH,
Pop`

PS - what do you mean when you say "low level" format? If you're not
letting the XP CD do the partition deletion/recreation and
formatting, there's no telling what's being overwritten and what's
not. It's very unusual to be able to "low level format" a modern
drive. I assume, from your descriptions, that you do NOT have
slipstreamed
CD's for any of this, right?





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