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
    2014-02-23T16:54:05+00:00

    I have the exact same problem described by everyone else: Store Broker uses about 50% CPU and starts without me even using the Windows Store. I have to end it via Task Manager, but it starts again within the hour. I have to keep the Task Manager running in the background all the time just to check the Store Broker regularly - every day.

    It seems like my problem just started recently (month of Feb. 2014). I've been using Windows 8 and 8.1 since they came out without such a problem in the past.

    None of the remedies suggested by Microsoft or others here have worked. My present solution is to disable to Windows Store via the Registry hack found online. This surely is not the solution Microsoft would prefer, so hopefully there will be a patch very soon.

    Microsoft, please focus some effort on fixing this problem, otherwise I'll have no choice but to keep the Windows Store disabled.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-02-21T02:57:13+00:00

    I too faced the same problem but now I tried doing a clean boot and that solved the problem. You too should try that once.

    Follow the instructions on this site to do a clean boot.

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135/en-us

    Tell us if this solves your problem.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-02-18T19:58:20+00:00

    If I press Win+S in win8.1 I get the search charm and results for 'most' apps appear there. It may be that a specific app or setting may not appear there (make sure the everything option is chosen).

    That is right win8 apps are 'pointless'. The only useful app i found so far was mail and perhaps news.

    MICROSOFT: The bug has somehow become worse, now when I open store and kill store broker, the actual store app goes upto 70%+ CPU 

    I just hope its fixed by win8.1.1 cause in that update metro apps will open in taskbar making it easier to use them :)

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-02-18T02:06:34+00:00

    Thanks for the temporary fix :)

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