Auto updates, svchost and 99% CPU

  • Thread starter Thread starter dewey
  • Start date Start date
D

dewey

So I went to KB916089 only to find out there is an updated hotifx,
KB927891. I installed it. It did nothing. The svchost instance running
wuauctl.exe still runs up >=95% CPU and holds there for about 10
minutes unless I kill the process. This only happens on my laptop (a
Dell Latitude C810 originally running Win2k, did a clean reinstall of
2k and then updated to XP). MS says KB927891 fixes this problem. It
most certainly does not. Anyone have another idea?

Thanks.
 
Try deleting the contents of this folder (or the folder itself) & reboot:

C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore

If no joy, try deleting the contents of this folder (or the folder itself) &
reboot:

C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution
 
Before I try that, are there any negative consequences? Like having to
have o2k3 CD on hand to install updates? Or such like?

BTW, one thing I tried was opting-out of MS updates. Running just
Windows Update cured the problem entirely - also, when running from
thw WUpd website, it finds updates in about 90 seconds instead of the
usual 8 minutes MSUpd takes.

I'll try your suggestion (instead of deleting the folder(s) I'll
transfrer them to a backup drive) and see if that fixes MSUpd. Thanks
for your help.
 
Before I try that, are there any negative consequences?

No. If there were, I'd have mentioned it.
BTW, one thing I tried was opting-out of MS updates. Running just
Windows Update cured the problem entirely
Click to expand...

Well, yes: the problem involves Automatic Updates (AU). If you disable AU,
the problem will go away. I wouldn't do that, though.
...also, when running from
thw WUpd website, it finds updates in about 90 seconds instead of the
usual 8 minutes MSUpd takes.
Click to expand...

Known behavior. MU is searching for updates for Windows and Office; WU only
searches for updates for Windows.
 
No. If there were, I'd have mentioned it.


Well, yes: the problem involves Automatic Updates (AU). If you disable AU,
the problem will go away. I wouldn't do that, though.
Click to expand...

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I still have AU on but I changed from MU to
WU and AU uses the same settings. Now when I boot up, wuauctl starts
but never goes over 20% CPU and that high only for a second or two.
Known behavior. MU is searching for updates for Windows and Office; WU only
searches for updates for Windows.
Click to expand...

Right. Thanks.
 
Back
Top