Microsoft Update and svchost 100% cpu usage

January 21st, 2007 - 21:01 | 34 comments

Quick version: If you’re having problems with ’svchost.exe’ stalling your computer at Windows startup, it’s possible it can fixed by disabling Microsoft Update, at least until a fix is released. This can be done by going to the Windows Update link in Internet Explorer, selecting ‘Change settings’ on the left, then running the the uninstall option at the bottom. This still allows automatic downloading of standard core Windows updates, but not for Office. This is not the same as disabling all Windows updates in the control panel, which is a bad idea. I’ve used this fix on three computers in the past day and it’s fixed the problem on them all.

Longer version: For a few months I’ve been seeing computers stall at Windows startup (and other occasions, such as when loading IE) for minutes at a time. Mouse-clicks stacked up and were run all of a sudden once svchost decided it was done chugging. The task manager revealed only that ’svchost.exe’ was taking up 100% of the CPU, which was unhelpful. ‘Svchost’ is a generic container for Windows services - the background programs that *should* be of little interest to the average users. A little investigation (I got sidetracked by thinking it was linked to iPods for a while) and some googling finally turned up links to this Microsoft KB article, which accurately describes the problem. The high cpu usage is apparently caused by the Windows Update service, and seems to be widespread. A few forum posts indicated it was Microsoft Update causing the problem: MU is an optional upgrade that monitors Office (and other Microsoft programs?) for updates, rather than just the core Windows files monitored by the standard Windows Update. The WU website asks if you want to install MU on every visit, and I expect many people have (I do by default).

Microsoft apparently have a hotfix for the issue, but are still testing it for public release. I hope they get a move on - there must be people who’ve spotted that the problem started after they enabled updates, so have simply disabled Windows updates entirely in the control panel. You can live without automatic Office updates for a while, but core Windows updates are just too important. It can be hard enough convincing people to turn on automatic updates in the first place, too.

These blogs seem to be tracking the issue, and one suggests there’s a public hotfix coming in the not-too-distant future. Hopefully it’ll be automatically applied.

-----

34 Responses to “Microsoft Update and svchost 100% cpu usage”

1 Tom Jan 26th, 2007 at 4:29 pm

Wee, I have my computer back. Been researching this problem off and on for a couple of months now and finally reached the breaking point. Frickin’ MS. My Windoze system was going away for two to three minutes at startup time and IE 7 launches were slow. This quick fix and problems are gone. MS quality engineering? A contradiction in terms? Yup.

Thanks for the fix. My patience thanks you as does my blood pressure.
2 Demon Jan 29th, 2007 at 1:47 am

how did u fix the problem??????tell me plzzzz
any body.
3 Frozen Jan 29th, 2007 at 2:04 am

Hey look a fucking n00b ( A really annoying idiot that always asks stupid questions and says plzzzzz!!!!! a lot) Read the damn article you prick.
4 Andrew Jan 29th, 2007 at 10:14 am

Hey - no call for that. Demon, the above article should explain.
5 The Shadow Feb 6th, 2007 at 8:01 pm

Thank you Thank you Thank you. I have tried multiple suggested fixes for this problem and this one is the only one that seems to have really worked thusfar. Thank you very much.
6 BmtJedi Mar 14th, 2007 at 8:05 pm

Just wanted to say thank you to the author and Google. It’s nice when a solution to a problem can be found on the first page of search results - BmtJedi
7 Falcon Apr 6th, 2007 at 2:21 am

Thank you for your research-work. I just turned off Automatic Update in the Control Panel & will see, whether it will stop the damned svchost.exe-problem.
“Windoze” - very good. I will remember that.
I am looking forward to the time, when MS-Windows becomes obsolete - in advantage to Linux.

Best Regards
8 Ed Apr 7th, 2007 at 1:16 pm

I’ve just fixed this on my parent’s pc (for the time being anyhow) by following pati610’s advice on http://forums.microsoft.com/WindowsOneCare/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=906329&SiteID=2

I’ve just rebooted, and all is well. I’ll install the patch http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q927891 too, so hopefully I don’t get the same problem again.

I’ll try this at home once I get back.
9 Andrew Apr 7th, 2007 at 4:22 pm

Falcon - it’s a very very bad plan to turn off Automatic Updates altogether. Svchost pauses are nothing compared to getting infected with something because you don’t have the latest security patch. Just disabling ‘Microsoft Update’ should do the trick.

Ed - thanks for the heads up.
10 robert Apr 12th, 2007 at 12:42 pm

thankyou very much the author of this article. The article described my problem accurately and following your advice seems to have fixed the problem!!!
11 toddh May 9th, 2007 at 4:28 am

Thanks all! That was a lifesaver! I can’t believe turning off the automatic updates like that could do the trick. I wonder why this hasn’t been more public? I think I thought my old computer was dead and bought a new one because of this problem.
12 Derrick May 9th, 2007 at 9:54 pm

I’ve turned off Automatic updates - and problem solved - thanks
I’m not a nooby so dont swear at me but how do I just turn off ‘Microsoft Updates’ and not ‘Automatic Updates’?

Thanks - A life saver
13 Kevin May 10th, 2007 at 12:11 am

That worked great!!! Thanks!!! spent alot of time trying solutions. scans, disabling services other suggestions from other sites. found yours and it worked great. wonder why it just started as I have had automatic updates enabled for a long time. had the problem about a week before but it seemed to go away after a day. Again a big thanks for the help!!
14 Frankie T May 10th, 2007 at 8:43 pm

Disabling the Automatic updates is OK but I still get the problem when I manually go to Windows updates. I found if you do a Windows non destructive repair that it will fix the problem. To do the repair you boot up to the Windows XP disk. It will ask you to install XP, or Repair using Recovery console. You hit enter as if you were installing XP. Then It will find your xp installation. It will then give you an option to repair the installation. Do the repair, it will take about 15 to 35 min. depending on the system. Once complete all you have to do is reinstall all the OS updates. Svchost should run normal considering you just replaced all your system files. I am sure MS as a better solution but the patch did not work for me. You can then set your automatic updates back on to what ever you like.
15 Justin May 11th, 2007 at 2:59 am

my computer was running ok up untill a few days ago an then i had this problem with the computer getting stuck during start up and jumping to 100%cpu usage, it was driveing me round the twist but i followed ur advice in the longer version to the letter and it worked. u just saved me a few hundred quid lol i was so tempted to bin this after haveing it for 3 years and replaceing it with a new one but i rekon it will keep goin now. cheers mate ! nice 1 !
16 Waz May 11th, 2007 at 6:47 am

Thanks folks. Just new to computers and was wondering what was happening. Each time I accepted the updates the system spazed out. Seems the problem has now gone.
17 rudy May 11th, 2007 at 5:38 pm

Thank you very much. I had the same 100% CPU utilization problem suddenly when I decided to let XP automatically update. I installed the patch and will reboot now
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
18 Peekay May 13th, 2007 at 11:18 pm

I have tried installing the patch from MS but I still have the 100% CPU usage. They do warn it doesn’t work in all cases. I have tried a system restore back to April 9 which is before I noticed the problem but that didn’t work either so I have now tried turning off microsoft update and leaving windows update on.

Waiting but not holding breath for a proper patch.
19 Toomin May 14th, 2007 at 3:11 am

Thank you so much! I really appreciate the fix. I have been thinking the 100% cpu usage was a virus/spyware for a while now. I ran all sorts of scans and tests and couldn’t find anything. Glad to know the real problem lies with the makers of my operating system.

Thanks again!
20 Waz May 14th, 2007 at 8:45 am

Okay - I give up! I’m with you Peekay. Tried all that you had tried. Computer one - me nil. Downloaded the hotfix and this seemed to work for a day…….and then……… Hello dummy! - here I am again! The only way I get anywhere is to bring up the task-master and delete the ’svchost exe 836′. Seems to work until next time you startup anyway.
21 wulalah May 18th, 2007 at 4:50 pm

gosh, i’ve threw my macbook-pro bcoz of the freakin svchost! i thot it was attainted!!! sob…..
22 Barumba May 21st, 2007 at 2:20 am

Well, this is a great thread because it is exactly my issue. Waz, you and I have it the same–the only fix for me is to delete one of the seven instances of svchost.exe from the task manager. None of the fixes here worked, including turning off the microsoft update feature. Now I see that I have that freakin’ yellow updater icon back and my performance is sucking real bad. I will try turning windows update off too, but i don’t like doing that…also, I doubt it will help.
I wonder if this issue is more widespread than we think.
23 Waz May 22nd, 2007 at 12:00 am

G’day Barumba. Yea it’s a bloody nuisance alright - though personally, I’d be reluctant to turn off the updates. Better to bring up the task manager and delete the troublesome svchost exe. As you said the PID varies at times too. I’m still having some issues with the problem every time I receive updates although now, for some reason, it’s not every time. Enquiries Ivé made to MS have yeilded a nil response from them so far. Disappointing to say the least.

Does the problem extend? I’m sure it does, but a heck of a lot of people wouldn’t be aware of it and probably just accept that they have a virus or some other bogey.
24 sledge II Jun 3rd, 2007 at 8:48 pm

FASTEST TECHNIQUE on the web……….

Have utilized the ‘disable Microsoft Updates’ , I.E updates site, ‘Change settings’ on the left, then running the the uninstall option at the bottom, worked flawlessly…..
25 ChorleyTony Jun 6th, 2007 at 12:15 pm

The above (that sledge 2 has commented on as well as others, worked for me too!). I was quite worried that I still had a virus on my PC even after formatting my C: drive. Until I read this article, I had forgotten that I had enabled Office updates on the MU site! (Doh!) Anyway many thanks to all who have helped me with my plight!
26 ginga ninga Jun 12th, 2007 at 8:58 am

hey man thanks its helped loads i was using all that cpu for updates….yet another flaw lol with microsofts neva endin list…. like the others of non back compatibilty..
27 scott Jul 9th, 2007 at 9:23 pm

Fixed the problem for me on vista. Seems they’ve still not fixed it lol!!
28 Mushtak Jul 13th, 2007 at 11:04 pm

hi guys, thanks for the comments, tried but could not see the “uninstall” button. clicking ion change settings is taking me to language settings. would really appreciate a hint.
29 Chris Jul 15th, 2007 at 3:18 pm

I am also having the same problem and when i go to uninstall I get as far as Change settings but when I get there all i get is the option to change languages or install beta updates, there is no option for uninstall, please could someone help me with this
30 Andrew Jul 15th, 2007 at 4:45 pm

I’ll take a look and get back to you (not near an appropriate computer atm)
31 Andrew Jul 24th, 2007 at 12:13 pm

Hmmm, I don’t know what to say about this one. I just re-enabled Microsoft Updates, then went to ‘Change Settings’ and there was a ‘To Stop Using Microsoft Updates’ box below the beta setting. What version of Windows and Internet Explorer are you using? Is it an office computer?
32 Chris Jul 25th, 2007 at 9:43 am

Im running Windows XP and Internet Explorer 7

It still doesnt work unfortunatly and im having to put up with a slow PC
33 Chris Jul 25th, 2007 at 9:44 am

I forgot to mention that yes I am using Microsoft Office 2003
34 Sam Oct 18th, 2007 at 12:39 am

T H A N K S ! ! !

-----

Commenting Policy: Thoughts, observations, argument, debate and all other conversational wonderments are encouraged, but personal attacks or general trolling will result in your comment being deleted and your account/IP banned. If you're nice, however, you get strawberries.