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
    2016-05-23T18:49:50+00:00

    Can you explain this process for Windows XP?    It would be helpful!!

    Thanks. 

    What is remarkable, for us at least, is we have never had this problem since 2004 when we first installed Windows XP through now, May, 2016 and when we run Task Mgr at boot-up, we can easily see wuaudt.exe at the top of the list using so much memory it stops us from doing anything.  

    However, we ran a system search on "My Computer" to discover where this file was located and NOTHING showed up in the search results.

    Thanks for any help available!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2016-05-22T22:27:11+00:00

    How long has the WinXP computer been connected to the internet since 08 April 2014?

    FYI...

         • Support [and updates] for Windows XP ended on 08 April 2014

             http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/end-support-help

         • Microsoft security research paints bleak picture for WinXP users after 08 April 2014

             http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-security-research-paints-bleak-picture-for-xp-users-7000022537/

        • Cyber threats to WinXP: Guidance for Home Users & Small Businesses

             http://blogs.technet.com/b/security/archive/2014/03/24/cyber-threats-to-windows-xp-and-guidance-for-small-businesses-and-individual-consumers.aspx

        • Java and WinXP

          https://www.java.com/en/download/faq/winxp.xml

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2016-05-22T06:17:25+00:00

    So, okay, you said the sole purpose was to chew @ss.  But in the interest of humanity, how about, since you are so knowledgeable and I do not mean that as a slam, an answer as to what to do to correct the situation.

    While I cannot speak about others, my system is a Windows XP SP3, 32 bit and the problem is with WUAUDT.exe and not with wuauclt.exe.

    I have read alot about this at different places and most say it is malware.  However, I have anti-virus/anti-malware/anti-everything dangerous software installed and running constantly since 2008 and have never in all of that time found any malware through any scan from any place, nor any virus or anything else that might cause a problem.  In addition, this exe file begins about 15 minutes after boot up and last for about 15+ minutes then disappears - completely!  A search of my system, after the program disappears shows zero using Windows search of my computer. searching for wuaudt.exe.  Next I intend to search using *wuaudt*.exe and see if anything pops but even if it does suddenly show up from no-where land, what next?

    Is this a valid Microsoft program or not?  IF not, as far as I am concerned, it is gone unless I can connect it to a valid program.  Let's assume that I cannot connect it to anything, then the question is, how did it get on my system with all of the protection I have?  I know at some point someone is going to ask the question so the answer is: TrendMicro Titanium subscription service that works very well, in the background, without causing a problem, which is very nice.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments