wuaudt.exe is really bogging down my computer

Anonymous
2010-08-03T18:57:06+00:00

Recently, when I first start my computer for the day, wuaudt.exe runs and really bogs down my computer.  In Task Manager it shows it is using a lot of memory along with one of the many svchost.exe's that are running.  I had my computer set up to notify me when updates are available.  I have investigated this problem and found about the only thing to do is disable automatic updates altogether.  I have turned off Automatic Updates, unchecked Automatic Updates under the Services tab in msconfig and in services.msc I have set Automatic Updates to manual.  This seems to keep wuaudt.exe from running.  I read in one place that Microsoft issues updates on the first and third Tuesday's of each month so I plan on doing manual updates at those times.  Does anyone know why wuaudt.exe is suddenly such a memory hog? It only seems to be a problem the first time I time turn my computer on (I turn it off when not in use to save electricity).  If I shut it off and restart it later in the day, there is not a performance problem.  I have a Dell Dimension 5100C, Windows XP Pro SP3, 512 MB RAM, Pentium 4 3.00 Ghz processor. 

 I would like to be able to be notified of critical updates when they are issued but I don't want wuaudt.exe running every day if it is going to  bog me down.  Any ideas?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2010-08-22T19:22:13+00:00

Thanks for the info!  I've opted out of Microsoft Updates as you and PA Bear have suggested.  Keeping my fingers crossed that everything works normally tomorrow!

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Anonymous
2010-08-20T19:29:09+00:00

Update: Due primarily to exchanges with several MS MVPS on the behalf of users like you, Microsoft is aware of and has acknowledged the issue:

"We have gotten reports from multiple sources and consider this to be a live service issue and we are investigating it as a Priority 1."

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-10-14T00:25:55+00:00

    I've a P4, 3.2, 1gb RAM. Guess that explains why this has turned into a big problem a year later than most of those posted with less RAM. I now have a dozen matching clients experiencing the same issue, although it just came on big time to where employees are experiencing terrible and long slow downs within the last 30+ days. Seems the only answer, a year later, is to either turn off MU and run WU only, or update the RAM to 4gb and an SSD drive. That's one way MS can force everyone out of XP and spend billions on updates and re-writes. Thanks!

    One more legacy DOS app to convert to SQL then migrate company to Win7! I need to hire an experienced MS CRM4 tech to migrate all in So Cal. Looking for in office work. Refer anyone to ******@wilky.com

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-10-07T18:21:46+00:00

    @Shawn only:

    Please answer all of the following diagnostic questions by number in your very next reply (no need to quote this post):

    1. What is the full name of your installed anti-virus application or security suite and when (approx. date) does your current subscription expire?  What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender) are installed?  What third-party firewall (if any)?
    2. Has a(nother) Norton application or a McAfee application EVER been installed on this computer?
    3. Did a Norton free-trial or a McAfee free-trial [pick one] come preinstalled on the computer when you bought it? (Doesn't matter if you never used or Activated it.)
    4. Right-click on MY COMPUTER & select PROPERTIES | Allow the GENERAL tab to fully load then tell me the xxx MB of RAM figure at the bottom of the tab.
    5. Open Add/Remove Programs & make sure the Show Updates box at the top is checked. Now scroll down & tell me if ALL of the following updates are listed?

        • KB2570947, KB2607712 and/or KB2616676; KB2559049, KB2567680, KB2544521, KB2393802 & KB971029

    Most will be displayed as "Security Update for Windows XP" followed by the KB number in parentheses.

    If IE8 is installed, two will be displayed as "Security Update for Windows Internet Explorer 8" followed by the KB number in parentheses.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-10-07T18:03:35+00:00

    My XP PC's started doing this recently and it was driving me nuts, I found a solution:

    In Start/Run type: services.msc

    Find Automatic Updates and right-click on it, select Stop.

    You will have to do this everytime you reboot.

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