CPU usage

Question

Hiya when I logon svchost.exe uses 50% cpu (HT technology stops it using 100%), this continues for around 10 minutes and then it stops using the cpu. After a while of using the computer svchost.exe will sometimes start using the cpu again for around 10 minutes and sometimes longer.     Pc specs dell dimension 5100 --- 2.8ghz ht technology , 1024mb of ram, 80gb hard drive

Cameron2612 · Answer

I have done a screenshot at www.freewebs.com/cameron2612

PETER345 · Answer

You can use process explorer (free) www.sysinternals.com to show some detail for svchost. svchost is used for a variety of services so it is sometimes hard to tell which one is using the CPU time.

Peter

RoHe · Answer

Just a thought, but look carefully at the name of the process comsuming CPU time. If it's s cvhost.exe, it's malware that needs to be removed. Ron

Cameron2612 · Answer

I did a reformat and reinstalled the stuff from my dell disks, and yet again before i was even online this process was hogging the system cpu usage following the installations. When i end the process the taskbar goes into windows classic style and the whole screen flashes, then after about 20 mins the taskbar goes into the xp style again and it works fine. What I am worried about is that one of the pieces of software from DELL is creating this process / malware and norton internet security 2006 is picking up nothing. Any ideas how i can permaneltly remove this?

Cameron2612 · Answer

Now for some reason the process will not end, when i try to end it. it says access is denied.... I really am clueless on how to stop it running, any help would be appreciated.

RoHe · Answer

I've seen a thread saying this problem may be the result of a recent XP update, so try this. Open Automatic Updates control panel. Change the setting to "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them." Reboot. If that solves the problem, you'll be notified of the updates, but you'll have to go the update website to download and install the updates. No biggie and it lets you control the timing of the downloads so they don't hog your internet connection when you're trying to do something important on the net.

If you want to figure out exactly which process is using the CPU, go to www.sysinternals.com and download free Process Explorer. Use it instead of Task Manager to see what's going on behind the scenes.

Post back and let us know if that solved the problem.

Ron

Cameron2612 · Answer

Hiya ran the system internals program and it displayed update.exe --- screenshot at the usual place www.freewebs.com/cameron2612

RoHe · Answer

That's consistent with what I said in previous post, the Microsoft Automatic Updater is doing it. Go into the Automatic Updates control panel and change it to notify only; reboot. Does CPU usage go down?

If not, you may also have to:
Start>run
Type in: services.msc
click ok
Right-click Automatic Updates and select Properties. Change from Automatic to Manual.

I'm not sure if doing this last bit will prevent the system from notifying you about updates and/or prevent you from downloading them, so you'll have to monitor that. If it does, contact MS via their update website for assistance. They provide free help on update issues, and my own experience is they have been smack on with solutions.

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 09-19-2006 12:49 PM

Cameron2612 · Answer

Thanks the computer seems great now! i cannot thank you all enough!! It was great!

RoHe · Answer

Glad we could help and that it's fixed. Please post what you did so others will be able to resolve this problem. Was setting Automatic Updates to "Notify only " sufficient, or did you also have set the Automatic Update service to manual in services.msc?

Thanks!
Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 09-19-2006 04:31 PM

fabio7371 · Answer

I have the same problem with a new D620.  I agree that it is the Microsoft Auto Updates issue, but if you dissable it, even though the problem goes away, you will not get automatic notification. Well you can check every so often, but when you do a check it takes forever, because the SVCHOST.EXE goes to 50% while it is searching and slows the process. Maybe after ten minutes it comes back and says no updates needed.   I am working with Microsoft on this but I have other non dell computers without any problems. It is something related to Dell and Windows/ Microsoft Updating.   Fabio

fabio7371 · Answer

I am working with Microsoft on this issue because when I disable the Windows/ Microsoft Auto Updates the problem goes away.  If I turn it back on then SVCHOST.EXE show 50% or more and the notebook gets really slow. If I find a solution I will post it here.

RoHe · Answer

You do not have to disable Microsoft automatic updater to solve the svchost.exe CPU usage problem. Just set the updater to 'Notify Only'. The little yellow shield appears in the system tray by the clock whenever MS updates are available. It remains in your tray until you click it, choose the updates you want, and download them. Even if you reboot without updating, the shield will still be in the tray until you update. That's the way my updater is set. It works just fine for me because 'Notify Only' allows me to choose when to download the updates. Otherwise, it ties up my dial-up connection for a long time when I need to use the PC for work. And I haven't missed an update yet. Ron

fabio7371 · Answer

Ron,   I think that is a great suggestion. It does not solve the issue of the CPU usage while it is checking.  Additionally, if you do a force check it takes 10 minutes to let hyou know if you have downloads or not even if you have none waiting.   I have several computers and they are all set for Auto and they don't exhibit this problem.  Something is broken and I am trying to find out what is different with this windows install. This is a brand new notebook and it should not be drained of it's CPU cycles with this issue.   By the way someone wrote to me and indicated that Windows Defender users have the same problem.  I check for updates with Defender and it has the same problem. It takes forever to check and while it is checking you can confirm that svchost.exe is getting used 50% and it causes the notebook to slow down to a crawl.   Someone mentioned that a fresh installed did not help the situatuion.   Why is it only affecting Dell systems?   I have recently updated other non-dell computers and there has not been any problems.   Microsoft asked me for a bunch of screen shots, logs and data related to this issue and assure me they are working on it.   Fabio

RoHe · Answer

Fabio,
First, the AutoUpdater/CPU usage problem is NOT just a Dell issue. It's a Microsoft issue that was caused by one of the recent updates. Some systems suffer the problem, and others do not. Microsoft is aware of the problem but hasn't found a fix yet. If you search the web, you'll find lots of posts on various forums about this exact problem. I've seen posts indicating removal of one specific MS update resolved the problem, but I wouldn't recommend that because it reopens whatever hole it was designed to fix. Don't remember exactly which update it was, but I'm sure you can find the answer by googling the net.

I personally don't have the problem on my 8400 with XPpro, but I prefer to leave AutoUpdater to Notify Only anyway. When the update shield appears in my system tray, I click it and immediatly see the list of what's available, check the ones I want and click ok. It handles the download and install automatically. (I don't use Outlook so I usually don't bother with any of those updates.)

I've seen reports on various forums, including this one, that Windows Defender causes the same problem. But again it's a Microsoft issue. It's safe to remove Windows Defender, as long as you have other software available to scan your system. I don't use WD.

The time it takes to 'force check', as you put it, has nothing to do with AutoUpdater. It's a function of Microsoft's servers and size of the update log file that has to be sent from your PC to their system, to analyze it and a send a response back to you. A lot of that likely depends on speed of your internet connection, traffic on the MS server, etc.

Ron

Windows General

CPU usage

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