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
    2016-07-22T14:30:32+00:00

    Hi,

    I would request you to run chkdsk command to scan your hard disk if there is any corruption with disk or not. To check if your hard drive is causing the issue we can try running chkdsk command.

    Steps to run CHKDSK command.

    • Press Windows key + X.
    • Select Command prompt (Admin) from the list.
    • Press OK the UAC prompt if shown. That will open an elevated command prompt. (It will show Administrator in the caption.)
    • Then enter the chkdsk command

    chkdsk c: /f (or other drive letter if applicable).

    • Confirm to run on next startup and reboot.

    Computer can’t run a disk check while actively using Windows, but you can schedule it to start automatically the next time your computer is turned on.

    When the disk check is finished, your computer will automatically reboot. The disk check will fix any problems it encounters in your hard drive.

    Important: While performing chkdsk on the hard drive if any bad sectors are found on the hard drive when chkdsk tries to repair that sector if any data available on that might be lost

    Do keep us updated.

    Regards,

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-07-22T00:35:45+00:00

    Reply to self: Well, the reset took about two hours. On the screen was 'Configuring your Windows, do not turn off power'. After it *finally* came back, all was normal and CPU usage was just a few percent.

    I ran the Windows Update fixer-upper (KB971058), anyway and it found nothing to fix. Just as sfc and DISM also reported no errors.  So, Just Plain Weird. 

    Update history shows nothing was installed since 5 days ago. And the Store still has the same 4 apps to update so I have no idea what it was configuring. I resumed the Store updates and CPU usage initially spiked at 90+% and again when the install process started for each app, but it was 4% - 31% while downloading the apps (normal for an Athlon 64 3000+ CPU--hey, it works).

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