Windows Update & System restore

[vicjack456]

Hi- I received the automatic update KB900485 on 4/26/06. My machine is
now using 400m of PF even when nothing other than the OS is running. I
restored my system to the restore pt just prior to the automatic
update, but the machine is still running slow and the "check update
history" on the windows update page still lists the update. The update
is not listed under add remove programs with other older updates. Is
there a way to figure out why it isn't being removed? Go back to an
even older restor pt? Also, there is a new "Windows Security" yellow
padlock icon displayed when you open the Start menu. Same update I
believe. Anyone have any thoughts? Hopefully? Thanks, Victoria

 

[Ron Martell]

Hi- I received the automatic update KB900485 on 4/26/06. My machine is
now using 400m of PF even when nothing other than the OS is running. I
restored my system to the restore pt just prior to the automatic
update, but the machine is still running slow and the "check update
history" on the windows update page still lists the update. The update
is not listed under add remove programs with other older updates. Is
there a way to figure out why it isn't being removed? Go back to an
even older restor pt? Also, there is a new "Windows Security" yellow
padlock icon displayed when you open the Start menu. Same update I
believe. Anyone have any thoughts? Hopefully? Thanks, Victoria

Most if not all of that PF Usage reported by Task Manager will be
"phantom usage" relating to the unused portions of memory allocation
requests.

By design Windows must allocate memory address space to satisfy all of
the memory allocation requests that are issued by Windows components,
device drivers, application programs, etc. And these allocation
requests are almost always for larger amounts of memory than are
actually needed under normal circumstances. So what Windows does is
to allocate RAM only to those portiosn of the requests that are
actually used, and to map the unused portions to locations in the page
file. Note that this mapping of unused memory requests to the page
file does not require any disk activity. All that is needed is to
make entries in the memory mapping tables maintained by the CPU.

The PF Usage reported by Windows Task Manager on the performance tab
includes these unused requests in the total.

If you are concerned about your computer's apparent slow performance
launch Task Manage and go to the Processes tab. Click twice on the
CPU column header to sort the list into descending order based on CPU
usage. That will show you what is using the most CPU time, which
might help identify the culprit.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Victoria]

Thanks. I tried to look at what process it could be, its a svchost. So
I don't know how to check that. But, its odd, I swear it wasn't having
problems until I came back to work after being gone just on Wed. When I
looked at Windows Update there was the one update installed on that
day. Sigh. Also, you don't happen to know why the web Windows Update
search function is telling me I [still] have KB900485 but in Add/Remove
Programs it isn't listed with the other updates. Thanks again, Victoria

 

[Ron Martell]

Thanks. I tried to look at what process it could be, its a svchost. So
I don't know how to check that. But, its odd, I swear it wasn't having
problems until I came back to work after being gone just on Wed. When I
looked at Windows Update there was the one update installed on that
day. Sigh. Also, you don't happen to know why the web Windows Update
search function is telling me I [still] have KB900485 but in Add/Remove
Programs it isn't listed with the other updates. Thanks again, Victoria

Make note of the PID (Process Identifier) number for that SVCHOST item
in Task Manager. If the PID column is not showing add it by using
View - Select Columns.

Next open a Command Prompt window (Start - Run - CMD) and in that
window enter the following command:

TASKLIST /SVC

You should be able to locate the correct SVCHOST item by the PID value
and the Services column will then tell you which specific services are
running under that item.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."