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

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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
    2010-09-14T19:28:00+00:00

    @IamZombie only: See my 'Thursday, September 02, 2010 5:42 PM' reply to your first post in this thread.

    Repost:

    On Thursday, September 02, 2010 3:02 PM, IamZombie wrote:...I've done this, and the setting keeps getting reset...I've even had to do it more than once over the course of an 8 hour day.

    Then the behavior you've been seeing may not be related to the issue being discussed in this thread (e.g., you may be seeing the overall effects of a hijackware infection).

    One or more options/settings in an ever-growing number of third-party applications may be disallowing the changes from "sticking." These include anti-spyware applications (e.g., Ad-aware's Ad-Watch, Spybot Tea Timer, SpywareBlaster, SpySweeper, Spyware Doctor, CounterSpy, WinPatrol, etc), anti-virus applications & security suites (Norton, McAfee, ESET/NOD32, Kaspersky, Trend Micro, etc.), and third-party firewalls (e.g., Zone Alarm, etc.).

    Note that temporarily disabling the application(s) or rebooting into Safe Mode may not disable the application's system protections.

    If you need individual assistance and to avoid confusion, please begin your own, new thread about your specific problem and computer.  State your IE version and full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3; WinXP 64-bit SP2; Vista SP1; Vista 64-bit SP2; Win7; Win7 64-bit) in your first post.  Thank you.

    ~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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  2. Anonymous
    2010-09-14T20:03:16+00:00

    No, this is STILL directly related to being opted into Microsoft Updates. Opt out and computer returns to normal.

    Is this going to take another 50 threads and 100 people complaining again for you to concede?

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-09-15T02:49:46+00:00

    For what it's worth;

    Today i have tried again and this time installed all of the the Optional Live Essentials, including an update to Messenger which i haven't used since 2002 and the WUauclt.exe appears to be hogging less of the memory after restart.

    Please be aware when installing updates, EVERYTHING, including optional, un-necassary things such as live essentials must be installed.

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