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
    2010-09-02T18:28:41+00:00

    Has anyone besides PA Bear been told by MS that this problem is being fixed ?

    Yes, at least three (3) other MS MVPs, one of whom has posted in this thread, but I'm not going to name anyone here without their permission, sorry.

    PS: The posts of MS Support Engineer Keith you quoted may still be available in your newsreader but they've all been deleted (by him, one assumes) from the forum server.

    ~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
    2010-09-02T18:06:06+00:00

    Hello,

    If you are currently experiencing issues with XP running slowing due to the wuauclt.exe using too much memory, we are interested in hearing from you. Please send an email to*** Email address is removed for privacy ***  and include your forum display name and contact information.

    Important:  When you are composing the email, be sure to include “XP Wuauclt.exe” in the subject line.  In the body of the email, please describe the exact symptoms that you are experiencing, your forum display name, a link to any forum thread that applies to your issue, and any other information that you feel is relevant to your issue.

    Also include the following information:

    XP Service Pack level

    Antivirus Installed

    Amount of RAM

    Please note that this is not a normal support channel and you may not be contacted for a follow up.  In the event that you are not contacted, you may find additional support options at http://support.microsoft.com.

    Thanks,

    Keith

    Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

    When I replied to the post above Microsoft replied with a "thanks for your support" form email. Several days went by and I asked MS if they were fixing this problem but never could get a reply from any of several MS addresses.  Maybe MS is afraid of being sued if they admit fault.

    Using Windows Update instead of MS Update was a huge help in stopping the super slowdowns caused by the MS Update glitch.  However the only updates I get since then are Security Essentials updates - MSE.  Either MS isn't updating anything but MSE or else the updates don't come through with Windows Updates on my computer.  When I tried updating via MS updates there were no updates besides MSE that way either. Question for others who have been using Windows Updates instead of MS Updates:

    Are you receiving any updates besides Security Essentials updates ?

    Has anyone besides PA Bear been told by MS that this problem is being fixed ?

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-09-02T17:42:56+00:00

    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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