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
    2010-08-16T16:22:52+00:00

    At the moment it is better to have Windows updates and a computer that is useable. Im sure Microsft will release a fix soon so I can then return to Microsoft Updates again. As i Have a server with all things backed up and images of all the computers im sure it is worth the risk.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-08-16T16:03:36+00:00

    Windows Update does NOT offer updates for MS Office, Windows Live applications and/or Silverlight. Microsoft Update does.

    <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

    If you disable Microsoft Update, your default update source is "flipped" to Windows Update but it does NOT disable Automatic Updates.

    ~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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  3. Anonymous
    2010-08-16T15:59:55+00:00

    Tried this fix on my Daughters Tower. Seems to have done the Job.

    Now how will your daugher keep MS Office, Windows Live applications and/or Silverlight (if installed) fully-patched?

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

    By reactivating Windows Update every Patch Tuesday and updating manually is one way.

    Mr MVP do you actually have any helpful suggestions on how to fix this problem, or are you just going to sit there criticising everyone that posts to this thread?

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