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
    2014-02-28T19:46:06+00:00

    I appreciate the many suggestions made so far by Microsoft contributors, but unfortunately none of them seem to have worked for the great majority of us still grappling with this frustrating problem. So any further effort invested by Microsoft to help solve this is greatly appreciated!

    Did you try disabling the Windows store with the registry patch I mentioned in a previous post? So far, everybody who has disabled the Windows Store (Unless I'm mistaken), has seen the problem disappear.

    Just disable the Microsoft Store through this reg patch. You can re-enable it with the other reg file on the website: 

    http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5804-store-enable-disable-windows-8-a.html

    Tell me if it works. Good luck!

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-02-28T18:39:06+00:00

    Is anyone from Microsoft still following this discussion?

    The more time goes by the more people seem to be joining in the discussion, showing that this problem is probably very widespread.

    I appreciate the many suggestions made so far by Microsoft contributors, but unfortunately none of them seem to have worked for the great majority of us still grappling with this frustrating problem. So any further effort invested by Microsoft to help solve this is greatly appreciated!

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-02-28T18:34:30+00:00

    Hi Laurencerb,

    I had to disable the Windows Store using the registry entry Twomby also used and I haven't had any problems at all. I can still use all my Metro apps, the only effect of the registry entry is that the Windows Store is disabled so you won't be able to start it to download new or update old apps. But it definitely stops the Store Broker (wshost.exe) from starting, so the problem with high CPU usage is at least temporarily solved until Microsoft or someone else finds the "real" solution.

    Good luck!

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-02-28T16:11:11+00:00

    Thank you for this post.

    This offers hope but is beyond my tech ability. Besides, I am holding out for an answer from Microsoft with a solution. I mean there must/will be one right? I'm sure they must be working on this as it seems such a massive bungle. 

    Best

    L

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