Microsoft Update Hangs Computer CPU Usage 100%

[David S]

I just did a complete clean install (twice!) of Windows XP Professional 2005 Tablet and Office Professional 2003 including ALL hotfixes via Microsoft Update. I have no other software on the PC (Centrio 1.6GHz and 1 GB RAM).

Whenever I turn run Microsoft Update, it goes to 100% CPU usage and I can't do anything. I have to do a hard reset using the power down button. It seems to be related to MS update. Any ideas as to how to fix?

Thanks,

Dave

[scottm]

your not alone, i have to same problem on all three of the computer I use reguarly.

it makes my laptop completely unusable, I decided to disable the automatic update serive completely on all the machines, i know this mean i wont get the security undates ect but I would rather have a usable machine.

[nellie2]

Does this help?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927891

[David S]

Does this help?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927891

Thanks for the input.

Tried installing the KB927891 and nothing changed.

Any other ideas?

Dave

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Run the Task Manager, and check (Processes tab) which process uses high CPU.

[David S]

Run the Task Manager, and check (Processes tab) which process uses high CPU.

It is svchost.exe that is at 100%. Even after shutting down the windows update process, svchost.exe stays at 100%. When I kill svchost.exe, CPU usage goes back down to 0% - but svchost.exe is not something one should kill, is it?

Dave

[cozofdeath]

The link below is from a previous post here but it describes your exact problem and hopefully it will fix yours. If not try downloading Process Explorer and it should give you a lot more info on what exactly is causing it.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916089/

[David S]

The link below is from a previous post here but it describes your exact problem and hopefully it will fix yours. If not try downloading Process Explorer and it should give you a lot more info on what exactly is causing it.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916089/

Thanks for the tip. I already tried KB916089 and had no luck. I'll check out ProcessExplorer

Dave

[cozofdeath]

Another interesting link to this problem...

http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=2792

[Coreper]

but svchost.exe is not something one should kill, is it?

well, a friend of mine has got an old computer, which' CPU runs almost all the time at 100% [it uses Windows XP], also with svchost.exe taking all the power

now he always shuts down svchost.exe > everything works properly , but the sound wont work...

so you could try what happends after svchost.exe and see if you can life with those changes, untill this problem is fixed...

[nellie2]

There is a fix for this

http://msmvps.com/blogs/donna/archive/2007...us-3-0-too.aspx

[David S]

There is a fix for this

http://msmvps.com/blogs/donna/archive/2007...us-3-0-too.aspx

http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=2792

The solution was definitely doing the update of the Windows update as found in the link inside the above link - i.e. click on WU Client Upgrade. Solution worked 100%!!!

Thanks a million.

Dave

[nellie2]

You are welcome B)

[Joey_Oz]

You are welcome B)

Nellie2, A huge thank you for the windows update fix. I pulled all my hair out and had 2 sleepless nights try to correct the problem.

THANK YOU!!!

joe