wicainventory. exe causes high CPU usage

Anonymous
2014-05-17T23:22:50+00:00

I need a solution to the problem that I have with my computer accusing a VERY HIGH CPU usage by the file system WICAINVENTORY.EXE.   NO information or solution available (if any) in the Microsoft support area nor community.  This was installed in April as an automatic update, since then I have observed the cooling system (fan) starting very frequently and at high speed.

For your reference:

wicainventory.exe                       installed version 6.3.9600.17057

operative system                        windows7 home premium with service pack1 installed.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2014-07-04T17:13:47+00:00

After an extensive Web search, I discovered that Wicainventory is installed as part of the "Recommended" Win7 update KB2952664

Microsoft's Knowledge Base article for that update lists the files involved but does not say what it does, other than it is a  "Compatibility update for upgrading Windows 7"

Some of its files are dated mid-April, 2014, and it was installed on my system in late April.

Of course, many of us are not in the least interested in upgrading Windows 7 to any currently offered alternative.

For instructions on uninstalling Windows updates, see

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/remove-update#1TC=windows-7

Uninstalling it from my system did not require a reboot, but supposedly it'll be offered every time updates are available.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-07-12T06:13:38+00:00

    I uninstalled KB2952664.  Wicainventory still runs during boot and stalls the hard drive.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-07-06T03:17:24+00:00

    Thanks seldenb!

    A simple Google search for "KB2952664" confirms the information from seldenb with several other forums asking about what this update does.  It is confirmed that the update "helps Microsoft make improvements to the current operating system in order to ease the upgrade experience to the latest version of Windows" [1].   At other forums [2], it is confirmed that those who do not plan to upgrade to Windows 8+ do not need this update.  If Microsoft Update will offer this update again when uninstalled as seldenb says, that is even better since the user can then install this when needed!

    I think seldenb's response can safely be marked as the answer to this forum question.  (I do not seem to have the authority to do this, else would have done this myself.)

    [1] http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2952664/en-us

    [2] http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_7-windows\_update/what-exactly-does-kb2952664-do/b3ec3f95-2e6a-414b-ad18-0420a24f28d5

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-07-03T15:27:59+00:00

    Anil,

    1.  Wicainventory.exe is not associated with Windows 8 Pro, it is also present in Windows 7.

    2.  None of us double-click wicainventory.exe or added it to startup.  Neither was this done by any "third party" application.  You yourself noted that this file is associated with Microsoft, so in all likelihood, Microsoft itself added this somewhere via an update.

    3.  We are interested in knowing what causes this to run, and how to disable it from running.  I am not sure if cleanboot will help identifying this.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-07-03T15:08:36+00:00

    Hi Vincentfra,

    Wicainventory.exe is a type of EXE file associated with Windows 8 Pro. EXE ("executable") files, such as wicainventory.exe, are files that contain step-by-step instructions that a computer follows to carry out a function. When you "double-click" an EXE file, your computer automatically executes these instructions designed by a software developer (eg. Microsoft) to run a program (eg. Windows 8 Pro) on your PC.

    EXE errors, such as those associated with wicainventory.exe, most often occur during computer startup, program startup, or while trying to use a specific function in your program. I would suggest you to place the computer in **clean boot** to check if any third party application is causing the issue, as clean boot helps in eliminating software conflicts.

    Note: After troubleshooting, see the section “Reset the computer to start as usual” to return the computer to a Normal startup mode.

    Keep us posted.

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