Windows Modules Installer Worker - high CPU usage

Anonymous
2014-05-03T15:13:42+00:00

Windows Module installer worker is constantly running with very high CPU usage.

My PC has suddenly ground to a halt.

All the latest updates are installed as well.

I'm running Windows 8.1 Pro 64 + update.

Thanks.

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

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Anonymous
2014-12-18T22:28:10+00:00

In Windows 8 or 8.1 laptop, sometimes CPU fan run very fast and make noise because Windows Module Installer Worker occupies CPU more than 50%.

In this case, you can solve the problem by changing windows update into manual mode.

How to do it:

  1. Open services.msc (In Windows 8, WindowsKey+R and enter services.msc)
  2. Search "Windows module installer".
  3. Double click the "Windows module installer", and make it manual. It is usually set Automatic.
  4. Search "Windows update".
  5. Double click the "Windows update", and make it manual.
  6. Open Control panel(click the right button of your mouse at the lower left of you display monitor or LCD, e.g., at the Windows logo. and then you can see control panel menu)
  7. Click "Windows update"
  8. In left you can see "Change settings"
  9. Change the setting into "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them". It is usually set automatic.
  10. Reboot

The Windows module installer workers cannot bother you anymore.

Important:

Because Windows update is set manual, you MUST check regularly (weekly or monthly) windows update by yourself.

Also, cleaning up your disk may help to reduce CPU usage by windows module installer worker

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Anonymous
2014-05-04T02:51:57+00:00

Hey Trek178 you should check if the PC is under schedule maintainance and try to troubleshoot the windows update to check if there was any problems. I've just got a same problem and troubleshoot it. Now it's over

Hope this may help you

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Anonymous
2015-01-11T07:32:43+00:00

Hi Louise,

Follow the steps given below.

  1. Press and hold the “Windows” button and the “W” button on the keyboard.
  2. In the search box situated in the upper right corner we need to write “Troubleshooting”
  3. Click(left click) on the “Troublesh o oting” icon.
  4. On the upper left corner of the Troubleshooting window we need to click(left click) on “View All”
  5. Click (left click) on “System Maintenance”
  6. Click (left click) on “Next” and follow the steps presented on the screen.

Check for the issue and move to next method if you still face this issue.

  1. Press and hold the “Window” button and the “X” button on the keyboard.
  2. After the “Control Panel” is opened click (left click) on “Windows Updates”
  3. Select from the “View” menu in the upper right of the window “Large icons”.
  4. In the left side of the window click (left click) on “Check for updates”
  5. After this is finished restart the Windows 8 PC and see if you still have this issue.

Let us know the status of the issue.

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-12-19T13:56:31+00:00

    Windows 10 updates and telemetry are totally destroying all computers who dont have very fast HDDs or SSD,  i end up disabling both updates service and telemetry because our customers who complain about random slowdowns of computer where they are un-usable, and as usual its windows update and Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry crap service killing it.(100%disk usage)

    And just wanted to say to ANYONE from MS giving us "sfc scan", "chdksk" or those "Windows Update cabs" generic responses, FU*** off with that and fix stupid windows already, i installed just this year over 500 different PCs and im seeing same thing killing them and customers including my self are very unhappy! 

    Including even now im installing 2 ASUS laptops and fresh install for 1 hour they are sitting at 100% disk usage and you cant do anything, i simple must leave them over night to settle down.

    ANGRY!!!

    AAAAAA_MEN!

    The CPU on mine is running at 100% and constantly causes excessive heat issues and nearly melts the bottom half of my laptop. 

    God forbid.... a woman filed a lawsuit and won 10 million dollars against MacDonalds just for burning her mouth on a hot cup of coffee

    If there is a major fire from something like this, I can see enough documentation right in the forums like this to substantiate the fact that unreasonable software control is being implemented by Microsoft and could even properly configured and well maintained modern hardware to function abnormally. It really can and probably already has caused harm to some people.

    Thing is, I always believed end users should have the ability and the right to configure individual system programs/processes by allocating the desired amount of CPU,Memory, & Disk resources.

    Microsoft has allowed this problem to go unsolved for quite some time and they seem to have minimized it as if it is not something important enough to worry about.  Even Samsung took the heat when they had all their recent Note 7s catch fire and burn up. They recalled every last one of them because they were not able to implement a fix. Even if they had a fix, the level of expertise  needed to implement it would likely contribute to a long list of failures and high cost of tech support to deal with all the phone calls so they gracefully bailed and lost billions of dollars. A noble gesture that Microsoft likely would not ever concede to. 

    This is a word for Microsoft......Make it simple...   reduce the amount of CPU/Memory resources that gets used by telemetry and Windows Update or, make it user defined. At least then, technicians can resolve the issues for all the people who are not savvy. How could you guys at Microsoft put your dollars and sense before the well being of your customersand the very hardware they use to support your company? Just an observation

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-12-15T10:53:16+00:00

    My usual morning routine is to wake up early, 0615 or thereabouts and switch on my PC. I often receive an email referring me to the latest input regarding Windows Module Installer Worker (WMIW) and today was no exception. I didn't pay too much attention, but just prior to hibernating the thing so I could have breakfast I noticed quite a lot of disk activity, Task Manager revealed WMIW was taking up 35% CPU at 0735 I decided to 'restart' rather than hibernate.

    The usual message came up, 'Getting Ready-Don't turn off'. The restart completed at 0833. I was able to see that many updates were installed yesterday, Dec 14th, none have been installed today.

    This topic has been going on now since May 2014 when it was happening with Windows 8.1.

    I would like to ask a few questions, perhaps some have been answered on the 17 pages on this topic but I haven't the time to look at all.

    1. Does anyone working for Microsoft ever look at this website?
    2. If 'Yes' does anyone working for Microsoft actually care about this long standing problem?
    3. It is unlikely that Q2 will be answered with a 'Yes' but just in case it is it would be interesting to know why some people are suffering from the problem much more than others, also is there ever likely to be 'fix' or is it something we have to live with until Windows 11?

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