wuaudt.exe is really bogging down my computer

I have now switched from Microsoft Update to Windows Update and things seem to work nicely. MSE updates itself automatically, triggers WU and the process now takes no more than 2-3 minutes without messing up the system. However, I do have Office 2003 installed. Is there a way to get the updates for Office 2003 without switching back to Microsoft Update?

BroMow wrote: For now the only feasible workaround isopting out of Microsoft Update.

Agreed but I'd make that "temporarily opting out of Microsoft Update," especially if doing a Reset in AGGRESSIVE mode doesn't calm things down.

NB: If you "flip" your default update source from Microsoft Update to Windows Update, your computer will NOT be offered any updates for MS Office, Windows Live, or Silverlight. If any of those applications are installed, you will want to "flip" back to Microsoft Update shortly after each month's Patch Tuesday updates have been released and then check for & install updates manually via Microsoft Update website before "flipping" your default back to Windows Update.

=> HOW TO make Windows Update your default update source (WinXP ONLY!) 

Open IE (only) to Microsoft Update website | Click on Change Settings in left-hand menu | Scroll to bottom of page | To Stop Using Microsoft Update | Disable Microsoft Update software and let me use Windows Update only (check this option).

=> HOW TO flip your default back to Microsoft Update (WinXP ONLY!):

Open IE (only) to Windows Update website | Click on the green GO button to the immediate right of the Get Microsoft Update today! banner & follow the prompts.

<QP>  

What are the differences between Windows Updates, Automatic Updates, and Microsoft Updates?

While Windows Update provides you with updates specifically for Windows, Microsoft Update expands the service to download and install updates for other Microsoft software, such as Microsoft Office and Windows Live [as well as Silverlight & Microsoft Security
 Essentials]. Automatic updating is a feature that allows you to set your PC to automatically download and install updates using either service, making it easy and convenient for you to keep your Windows PC current.  

</QP>  

Source: [http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/windowsupdate/FAQ.mspx](http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/windowsupdate/FAQ.mspx)

* * *

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

I can verify that the issue is occurring on XP systems with 512 MB of RAM or less that have opted into Microsoft Update. Currently working on such a system that was so unresponsive it behaved as if it were running Windows 95. Still haven't found a way to resolve it that does not involve opting out of Microsoft Update  via the Change settings link in the left pane of the Microsoft Update site.

If I make any progress on the issue I'll post back ASAP.

UPDATE: After opting the system back into Microsoft Update here are the readings from Task Manager for I/O Read bytes

wuauclt.exe shows 374,738,108 Read bytes and rising.

It's associated svchost.exe shows I/O Read bytes as 5,193,836 and rising rapidly.

After opting out of Microsoft Update -

On restart: wuauclt.exe shows 3,873,980 and is steady

associated svchost.exe shows 4,095,918 and is rising slowly

After the check for updates was finished -

wuauclt.exe shows 21,085,372 I/O Read bytes and I/O Read bytes has stopped.

associated svchost.exe  shows 5,080,723 I/O Read bytes and is rising slowly. It appears to be increasing in increments of 24 and 56 bytes.

For now the only feasible workaround is opting out of Microsoft Update.

MowGreen Update Services - Consumer Security