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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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!

Was this answer helpful?

10+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

7 people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

163 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2010-08-13T23:39:14+00:00

    seeking_answers wrote: I'm experiencing exactly the same problem as the original poster (wuauclt.exe and one svchost.exe becoming memory hogs)...

    First see...

    What information to post in the Windows Update forum

    http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/thread/1467f44b-ee27-4f7d-98d7-f1c4b35b3395

    Then begin your own, new thread about your computer & problem to avoid further confusion.

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

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2010-08-13T20:48:56+00:00

    After the system has been configured to Clean boot, go here - How do I reset Windows Update components?

    Download and save the Fixit. Do not run it while the browser is open, please.

    When the download completes close all open programs and browsers.

    Now run MicrosoftFixit50202.msi and restart the system when it's finished it's operations. Reboot.

    Does the process issue still exist while in the Clean boot state? If not, then undo the Clean boot configuration steps, restart.

    Does the process issue still exist in normal Windows mode ?

    MowGreen Update Services - Consumer Security

    I've followed these instructions, but I still have the same problem with wuauclt.exe and svchost.exe (the one hosting the Automatic Updates service), as described by others in this thread. And it is the case both in clean boot and normal boot states. I've also tried deleting deleting C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore and C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution, but to no avail. My WindowsUpdate.log file is similar to http://pastebin.com/embed\_iframe.php?i=72Nr9eWk (linked in another thread on this issue), with those abnormal time gaps after the lines marked on that file as 65, 71, and 138. Though in my case those processes run somewhat shorter, 20-30 min, svchost being more active and at moments bringing CPU usage to 100%. They run once a day, starting at 10 am, or at startup if I turn on my laptop after 10 am.

    I run Windows XP Pro SP3. My AV program is Avira AntiVir 10. If Avira is updated at the same time when those processes run, the update fails.

    After my initial optimism that deleting the DataStore folder had cured the problem, it's returned. I've resorted to turning off Automatic Updates.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2010-08-13T18:48:06+00:00

    After the system has been configured to Clean boot, go here - How do I reset Windows Update components?

    Download and save the Fixit. Do not run it while the browser is open, please.

    When the download completes close all open programs and browsers.

    Now run MicrosoftFixit50202.msi and restart the system when it's finished it's operations. Reboot.

    Does the process issue still exist while in the Clean boot state? If not, then undo the Clean boot configuration steps, restart.

    Does the process issue still exist in normal Windows mode ?

    MowGreen Update Services - Consumer Security

    I've followed these instructions, but I still have the same problem with wuauclt.exe and svchost.exe (the one hosting the Automatic Updates service), as described by others in this thread. And it is the case both in clean boot and normal boot states. I've also tried deleting deleting C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore and C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution, but to no avail. My WindowsUpdate.log file is similar to http://pastebin.com/embed\_iframe.php?i=72Nr9eWk (linked in another thread on this issue), with those abnormal time gaps after the lines marked on that file as 65, 71, and 138. Though in my case those processes run somewhat shorter, 20-30 min, svchost being more active and at moments bringing CPU usage to 100%. They run once a day, starting at 10 am, or at startup if I turn on my laptop after 10 am.

    I run Windows XP Pro SP3. My AV program is Avira AntiVir 10. If Avira is updated at the same time when those processes run, the update fails.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments