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
    2014-05-28T04:02:02+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!

    tengo el mismo problema ya no se que hacer ... me apoyan xfavor... Muchas Gracias.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-05-21T09:43:00+00:00

    Thanks a lot, Ron. Up for several days I searched and tried every hint in the WWW to solve the Problem. I almost got crazy. Nothing worked - my Windows Store didn't work at all. But with your procedure now it is solved!!!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-05-20T00:22:36+00:00

    you are the man

    it's works and it's soo easy

    thanks mohamad

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-05-08T23:15:42+00:00

    THANK YOU so much!!!

    Somehow the empty cache folder did the trick!

    I went through same odyssey you experienced.

    Just today did an update and the store would not open...

    However I remember the last time I used my notebook I did a couple of cleaning up...

    I used Windows' own cleanup utilities (and maybe I deleted a couple of old install/download files) which probably killed the store's login proceedure.

    The trouble must be linked to the very user account, since the store worked on the same computer with a new created local account.

    EDIT: By the way: Microsofts "solutions and support" were no help, e.g. absolutely useless!

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