Trying to update or auto update locks up system

[Linz]

Apologies for posting here. Posting in the windowsupdate group resulted in
the thread
being hijacked by others with the same issue but offering no solutions.
Trying here as I have had success with this group in the past

Just started suddenly. May have been triggered by auto update trying to
download but stayed at 0% download.
Around this time the trouble seemed to start.

If auto update is turned on windows & menus freeze. CPU usage hovers around
100%. Seems ok if auto update is turned off.
If I try to update manually IE's window freezes with just the scrolling
progress bar moving.
If I try to close the window it sometimes closes but after a number of
minutes.
svhost.exe shows 99% during these freezes.

Even tried rolling back Windows a few days but this did nothing. This was
before I realised what I think is causing the issue.
Nothing has been changed or programs installed for some time.

XP Pro SP2

Any ideas anyone?

Linz

 

[Linz]

Problem fixed! After waiting some time on WA website with the window frozen
the updates finally came up and installed.

Everything back to normal now even with auto updates turned on.
WA website searches quickly too.

Sometimes It's good to walk away from the computer for a while!

Linz

 

[Smirnoff]

Had exactly the same problem. Automatic update icon in taskbar stayed at 0%
and then seemed to "time out".
Took ages to retrieve updates manually but eventually downloaded and
installed.
What was all that about?

 

[Linz]

Problem fixed! After waiting some time on WA website with the window frozen
the updates finally came up and installed.

Everything back to normal now even with auto updates turned on.
WA website searches quickly too.

Sometimes It's good to walk away from the computer for a while!

Linz