Process svchost.exe using 100% CPU [SOLVED]

[mitchsc]

About 30 secs to 1 minute after booting into Windows XP, the computer starts lagging heavily. When CTRL+ALT+DEL is pressed to open Task Manager, it shows that the process svchost.exe is using up maximum CPU resources and only occurs when Automatic Updates is enabled, or when a manual Windows Update is attempted.

I tried the 3 fixes in this article, but nothing helped: http://www.technibble.com/how-to-fix-svchost-using-100-cpu-memory-leak/ . This article describes exactly what is happening on my XP laptop.

Even Microsoft has a fix (KB927891: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927891) but when I try to install it, I get a message that it's included in SP3 and I already have it.

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as I can no longer do a Windows Update.

Thanks very much...

Edited October 26, 2013 by mitchsc

[mitchsc]

SOLUTION FOUND.

Just after positing my question above, I stumbled on the following forum discussion on the same topic. The "Best Answer" offered a description of the cause, as well as a solution that worked for me. For anyone else having this problem, I suggest giving this a try.

Forum: http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1176387-xp-windows-automatic-updates-svchostexe-100-cpu-ms-did-something/

Best Answer mcihelka , 22 October 2013 - 09:25

I am pleased to offer a definitive answer on this issue.

This issue comes about because Windows Update is heavily reliant on components of Internet Explorer. If these components are not up-to-date, later versions of Windows Update Agent (that's the engine that scans for and manages updates) may fail or exhibit very poor performance.

For folks that are doing a fresh install of Windows XP, the problem will always reveal itself when you try to do your first Windows Update. By initiating an update via the Windows Update website or enabling automatic updates, Windows will first upgrade Windows Update Agent. You cannot prevent this from happening. After that, Windows Update will fail or perform poorly thanks to the dated components of Internet Explorer 6.

For folks that have an existing Windows XP installation, this problem may still pop up if you have not been regularly updating your Internet Explorer installation.

It is NOT necessary to install a new version of Internet Explorer to resolve this issue. What is actually required is to install the latest cumulative security update for whatever version of Internet Explorer you have installed. This will be IE6, IE7, or IE8 (if you're doing a fresh install of Windows XP it will naturally be IE6). This will upgrade the various components of your Internet Explorer installation. Thereafter Windows Update will perform as it should.

The latest updates are dated October 2013 (as of writing this). Download and install the update that corresponds with your currently installed version of Internet Explorer:

IE6: WindowsXP-KB2879017-x86-ENU.exe
http://www.microsoft...s.aspx?id=40612

IE7: IE7-WindowsXP-KB2879017-x86-ENU.exe
http://www.microsoft...s.aspx?id=40519

IE8: IE8-WindowsXP-KB2879017-x86-ENU.exe
http://www.microsoft...s.aspx?id=40390

For more information (or for details of updates suitable for 64-bit versions of Windows XP) see http://technet.micro...lletin/ms13-080.

Edited October 26, 2013 by mitchsc

[Monroe]

mitchsc ... thanks for posting about that other forum with the solution. I have never noticed any problems on my XP setup but I have XP SP3 with IE8 installed. It looks like the October updates for the various Internet Explorer versions have corrected or fixed the situation so it shouldn't be a problem going forward, but who knows for sure. I read all the pages in the thread, very interesting reading.

I have had memory use maybe go crazy twice in the last 6 months but it doesn't happen repeatedly so I was never sure what the cause was ... I would just reboot and it was fixed but I am always experimenting with newly discovered software programs to see if I really might want them so it may be some of those that cause a problem on XP sometimes.

...

[mitchsc]

Duffy: I'm usually the one asking the questions, so it is my pleasure to be able to contribute for a change. Glad you found this helpful...

[Monroe]

mitchsc ... no problem, I am always in "learning mode" ... maybe today I don't have this or that problem but tomorrow it shows up. It was a good find on your part and I see it was 'pinned" by a moderator for anyone in the future looking for a solution.

...

[submix8c]

???

Have you tried a "clean" XP install and THEN the LATEST "WUA" before even attempting WU? I have and there is absolutely no problem.

See first three files listed - http://xdot.tk/updates.html

Second file is "created" from MS Downloads (the WUA). See this -

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/157027-windows-update-agent-which-version-do-you-have/

Edited October 27, 2013 by submix8c

[PinkFreud]

Saw this @Bleepin Puter

Check this news article:

http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsoft-windows/windows-xp-update-locks-machines-svchost-redlined-100-fix-it-kb-2879017-230733

This issue comes about because Windows Update is heavily reliant on components of Internet Explorer. If these components are not up-to-date, later versions of Windows Update Agent (that's the engine that scans for and manages updates) may fail or exhibit very poor performance.

It is NOT necessary to install a new version of Internet Explorer to resolve this issue. What is actually required is to install the latest cumulative security update for whatever version of Internet Explorer you have installed. This will be IE6, IE7, or IE8 (if you're doing a fresh install of Windows XP it will naturally be IE6). This will upgrade the various components of your Internet Explorer installation. Thereafter Windows Update will perform as it should.

The secret is to install the LATEST Cumulative Security Update for your version of Internet Explorer.
This is a recurring problem so the current latest versions keep getting updated each month.