Why does Store Broker (wshost.exe) keep killing my CPU?

Anonymous
2014-01-24T23:58:25+00:00

I've got a new Windows 8 machine and, for some reason, the Store Broker keeps pegging my CPU. It seems to pop up every time I do anything with the Windows Store (makes sense) or use some Metro apps (also makes sense). However, for some reason, this process takes up 33% of my CPU and never lets go of it once it starts. This causes the machine to get hot which causes the fan to come on and the combination drastically reduces my battery life (from 11hrs to 3).

Aside from frequently checking for and killing this app, is there anything else I can do about this? Is anyone else having this problem? Is it a misconfiguration on my end? I'm running this on a new Surface Pro 2.

Thanks!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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Anonymous
2014-03-19T01:17:01+00:00

I SOLVED this. At least for myself. It's been a 3-day journey. Argh!

The upshot is this:

Kill Store and Store Broker from task list.

Rename the Cache folder to CacheOld at:

C:\Users(Your User Account)\AppData\Local\Packages\WinStore_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState

(Your WinStore_gobblygook might be a different bunch of gobbblygook)

Create an empty folder called Cache.

Solved! For me anyway.

Enjoy,

Ron

PS

I have been at this for days. I've read every article and post everywhere. I have updated graphics drivers, set date and time, run wsreset, sfc /scannnow, created new user account (store did work for new account), app troubleshooter, etc, etc, etc...

Today I just started digging around and looking at dates. I don't have log files to back this up but I believe I broke Store with CCleaner. I'm not sure exactly when the Store broke so this is a best guess but it makes some sense since Ccleaner does clean Store cache.

I also recently installed Tor Browser but my gut is that that was totally unrelated.

I might create a sandbox user and try to break Store with Ccleaner to confirm. But honestly I am tired of this little adventure.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-03-06T20:58:35+00:00

    I have seen a very big hit in the performance on my laptop with Store Broker as well.  It will cripple my machine until I kill the process.  Also my fan seems to always run now, where as it used to only run if I was doing something intensive.  Seems to be only recently so i am suspecting a windows patch? 

    Anthony

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-03-06T20:56:18+00:00

    I installed the operating system with Hungary and it was ok until i changed the country to Turkey. Store Broker started to eat 50-60% CPU. I changed back to Hungary and the issue is gone. I can reproduce this with changing the country.

    I can reproduce this.

    In my case the original language of the operating system is English, only when I switch to Spanish using the "Set as Primary" option, Store Broker takes 50% of the CPU.

    When I switch back to English the issue is gone, but the windows store doesn't work well anyways, when I open the detail of an app the store crashes.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-03T22:37:23+00:00

    I just read all the topics.

    I have the same problem for several weeks and just discover that Store Broker was the problem.

    I'm from France and my Windows 8.1 is french version (so i don't have the update you installed).

    The problem didn't come from country choice or language, i think.

    I'm waiting for Microsoft's fix and will try to desactivate the store if it takes  a too long time.

    Thanks for all.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-03-03T21:46:46+00:00

    That is interesting. I also had to change country. It was originally US and I changed it to Canada.

    I bought, setup and updated computer in UK. Moved to Luxembourg. Kept UK language and keys, just changed region.

    Although Someone I know did the same from Spain to Luxembourg. (we don't all live in Luxembourg do we? ;) and has had no such problems with Store Broker

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