Windows XP and Office 2003

[johnrou]

Here's a little information to hopefully save someone some time...

I formatted a Dell laptop with the original installation CD's (Windows
XP Home). After the install, I downloaded all of the MS updates
through their update site. There were about 100 different updates and
service packs (including SP 2). After XP was updated and the
machine's drivers were updated, I started installing software. All of
the software installed correctly, including Office 2003.

Next, I tried running Windows Update again. The svchost.exe process
pegged the CPU at 100% for over 30 minutes. Windows update never
moved past the "Checking your computer for updates" progress bar.

I formatted the computer again and tried installing Office 2003 before
and of the windows updates, but the svchost.exe still caused the
problems.

I tried the hotfixes that MS offers regarding the problem, but they
didn't work.

I formatted the computer again but did a full-install of Office.
Everything seems to be working now.

I tried searching the KB articles and the Google Groups, but couldn't
find anything.

It seems the problem had something to do with the inclusion of Outlook
2003 in the Office install. If you don't install Outlook at all,
Windows Update hangs. The svchost.exe process hangs trying to find
security updates for Outlook if you don't have Outlook installed.

The whole thing in a nutshell: With Windows XP and Office 2003, make
sure you install at least the Outlook 2003 framework if you plan on
using Windows Updates. By the way, even if you have Automatic Updates
setup the svchost.exe process still hangs making the machine
inoperable.

Hope that helps....

 

[Rock]

Here's a little information to hopefully save someone some time...

I formatted a Dell laptop with the original installation CD's (Windows
XP Home). After the install, I downloaded all of the MS updates
through their update site. There were about 100 different updates and
service packs (including SP 2). After XP was updated and the
machine's drivers were updated, I started installing software. All of
the software installed correctly, including Office 2003.

Next, I tried running Windows Update again. The svchost.exe process
pegged the CPU at 100% for over 30 minutes. Windows update never
moved past the "Checking your computer for updates" progress bar.

I formatted the computer again and tried installing Office 2003 before
and of the windows updates, but the svchost.exe still caused the
problems.

I tried the hotfixes that MS offers regarding the problem, but they
didn't work.

I formatted the computer again but did a full-install of Office.
Everything seems to be working now.

I tried searching the KB articles and the Google Groups, but couldn't
find anything.

It seems the problem had something to do with the inclusion of Outlook
2003 in the Office install. If you don't install Outlook at all,
Windows Update hangs. The svchost.exe process hangs trying to find
security updates for Outlook if you don't have Outlook installed.

The whole thing in a nutshell: With Windows XP and Office 2003, make
sure you install at least the Outlook 2003 framework if you plan on
using Windows Updates. By the way, even if you have Automatic Updates
setup the svchost.exe process still hangs making the machine
inoperable.

The problem with svchost.exe taking 100% of the CPU is very common recently.
It is related to Automatic Updates, not Office 2003. Just do a Google
Groups search on the posts in this newsgroup for this issue. In fact just
scan through the posts for today, you'll find it discussed.

See this link as one reference.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/blogs/mowgreen/index.php?showentry=1071

Or this:
http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archive/2007/05/15/srvhost-msi-issue-follow-up.aspx

 

[Lil' Dave]

The problem with svchost.exe taking 100% of the CPU is very common
recently. It is related to Automatic Updates, not Office 2003. Just do a
Google Groups search on the posts in this newsgroup for this issue. In
fact just scan through the posts for today, you'll find it discussed.

See this link as one reference.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/blogs/mowgreen/index.php?showentry=1071

Or this:
http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archive/2007/05/15/srvhost-msi-issue-follow-up.aspx

My take on the OPs input was he was citing windows update as the problem.
That being incited by lack of Outlook installed with Office 2003 he claimed
as the source of the problem with windows update.
Dave