Re: Windows Update, SVCHOST, and 99% CPU usage... help please...

Tech-Archive recommends: Speed Up your PC by fixing your registry

Dan wrote:
CSCO wrote:
Had the same problem on a clean install low-end system. The cause of the problem turned out to be "Microsoft Update" (i.e., the successor to "Windows Update").

I used 3 steps to permanently solve the problem.

First, I disabled Automatic Updates on the computer. This solved the problem of the 100% cpu so I could continue to work on the system without any interference.

The second step was to go online to update.microsoft.com and choose "Change Settings" and then select "To stop using Microsoft Update" at the bottom of the page and check the box "Disable Microsoft Update software and let me use Windows Update only".

After completing that procedure, I was able to re-enable Automatic Updates (step 3) and no longer had any problem with svchost.exe or wuauclt.exe maxing out the system's cpu resources.

Hope this post is helpful to others experiencing this very frustrating issue.

CSCO
(Intel Product Dealer & Microsoft OEM System Builder)

"mark@xxxxxxx" wrote:

I just installed XP Professional SP2 on a Pentium 3 667 Dell Optiplex.

This is a clean install, on a freshly formatted disk, with the disk
manufacturer's utility, no less.

As soon as I go into Windows Update from Internet Explorer and search for
updates, svchost locks up the CPU at 99% and nothing else can run. (Automatic
Updates is not on at the moment, because I want to get the Windows Update
activex controls installed in the browser first without competing with automatic
updates).

Microsoft, it's time to address the problem of svchost taking up 99% of the CPU.

I've seen this problem on multiple PC's. Don't tell me it's a virus or spyware
or anything else. This is a clean install. There's nothing on this machine but
XP.

"PGG" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

stech wrote:

Robin, your answer is a major cop out, this brings untold amounts of anger
and frustration to MS customers, the CPU usage thing, is basicly
UNACCEPTABLE, this indignation grates MS customers in a very BAD way.
Personally, I prefer to look in a multitude of sources ( usually find MS
solutions OUTSIDE of MS, thus life continues normally DESPITE MS and it's
self rightous indignation(S) !!
Had this very problem on two low-spec PCs in the office this morning -
the one used by the receptionist and a low end one used mainly for
cutting CDs. Both unusable for minutes after the reboot, and both
fairly old machines - the fastest being a 1GHz PIII.

Has there been any progress on this since?


The 100% CPU problem is a problem that has been confirmed by Microsoft in its XP operating system. Fortunately, Windows 98 Second Edition does not suffer from this flaw. Hopefully, Microsoft will provide a patch for this problem soon. It also affects users when the operating system has trouble reading cds and dvds and even trying to read a file that it cannot read. The os thinks it can jump the CPU up to 100% to solve the problem but this in fact will only cause the CPU to wear out quicker. Unfortunately, AFAIK, there is no solution but to use another operating system besides XP.

XP general has a fairly recent post about this problem and many more XP users are continuing to experience this problem. Hopefully it will soon be patched by Microsoft.
.

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