Auto updates, svchost and 99% CPU

[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.

 

[PA Bear]

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

 

[dewey]

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.

 

[PA Bear]

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

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.

Known behavior. MU is searching for updates for Windows and Office; WU only
searches for updates for Windows.

 

[dewey]

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.

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.

Right. Thanks.