Windows Update / SvcHost.exe 100% Cpu in task manager

Anonymous

This problem I know is not new to too many of us. Yet - this is November 2013 and I would like to know how this happened AND what to do to fix it!

I have built many computers since 1997. I never had this problem arise until this reinstall. Have reinstalled XP to XPSP3 several times.

Let us not waste time questioning my knowledge.

Same: components, Motherboard, memory, NOTHING HAS CHANGED. The only thing that is different IS - when I have completed the Windows XP install to Windows XPSP3 - tested functionality - fast as **** - reviewed 'EVENT VIEWER' - no issues, constantly checking the processor usage - low. My next step to activate Windows update to get the updates to make my system secure. Sure enough the CPU spikes to 100% - due to a service host CPU demand! I have to say - IF the meter would have a parameter to 200% - I do not doubt it would go higher than 100%.

Even though I do not doubt the correctness of my process to install the OS (again I have done many times throughout the years) I decided since I have not loaded anything else - I would format the drive (Nov 19) and start all over again.

I sit here now with a computer box with verified functioning components, With a properly installed OS, Motherboard drivers installed - nothing else done and I can not get windows updates.

Note: the first attempt install (Nov 17) - I tried the advice on the Microsoft sites, the fix it routine, the recommended installing of a version of net framework to no avail. There is also other advice to perform a routine (don't ask - I do not desire to dig up that data) in 'safe mode' that also failed to remedy this. Frankly I rarely use advice from even the recognized experts out there but I decided whether it worked or not - as I desired a fresh install one last time to have a properly functioning computer that I built myself and gift it. I'm getting old - at a time of my life when one begins to reduce their material possessions.

How is it possible that someone can do something so many times with certainty to have this issue and to read so many are dumbfounded with this?!

And spare me the absurdity of checking for malware, virus, bad drivers. This computer has not had any exposure to have these issues!

One can safely assume it is not an issue with hardware - even working correctly - as many with this same issue described components that are widely different.

My deduction is: Something is amiss at Microsoft update center and or Windows update I have tried both! I believe (leaving out the suggestions by some of shenanigans) too much is trying to get through - after all the updates number about 120 give or take a few.

Anyway - If there is any assistance 'out there' to provide an answer to a Microsoft customer that bought Windows3.1; Windows95; Windows98; Windows Millennia; Windows Xp. Windows Vista on my Wife's computer. Windows 7 on my recent build just for music enjoyment - I would like the courtesy of receiving a solution to this issue.

It seems very simple to me for someone at Microsoft to round up the most important of Security updates - place them on a disk (compressed - many of us have WinZip and large hard drives) and provide them to us with ONLY A CHARGE FOR POSTAGE - OK, OK add a dollar or two. Leave out the fixes for the fixes. You should know what we need. Buying new hardware or OS systems is out of the question WHY? Because either we can not afford it and most of all - WE OUT HERE ARE STANDING BY a Microsoft product that WE believe in!

Try to do it in time for Christmas - it will do a lot for Microsoft's image .

Have a Good Thanksgiving to all!

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Anonymous

This problem I know is not new to too many of us. Yet - this is November 2013 and I would like to know how this happened AND what to do to fix it! I have built many computers since 1997. I never had this problem arise until this reinstall. Have reinstalled XP to XPSP3 several times. Let us not waste time questioning my knowledge. Same: components, Motherboard, memory, NOTHING HAS CHANGED. The only thing that is different IS - when I have completed the Windows XP install to Windows XPSP3 - tested functionality - fast as **** - reviewed 'EVENT VIEWER' - no issues, constantly checking the processor usage - low. My next step to activate Windows update to get the updates to make my system secure. Sure enough the CPU spikes to 100% - due to a service host CPU demand! I have to say - IF the meter would have a parameter to 200% - I do not doubt it would go higher than 100%. Even though I do not doubt the correctness of my process to install the OS (again I have done many times throughout the years) I decided since I have not loaded anything else - I would format the drive (Nov 19) and start all over again. I sit here now with a computer box with verified functioning components, With a properly installed OS, Motherboard drivers installed - nothing else done and I can not get windows updates. Note: the first attempt install (Nov 17) - I tried the advice on the Microsoft sites, the fix it routine, the recommended installing of a version of net framework to no avail. There is also other advice to perform a routine (don't ask - I do not desire to dig up that data) in 'safe mode' that also failed to remedy this. Frankly I rarely use advice from even the recognized experts out there but I decided whether it worked or not - as I desired a fresh install one last time to have a properly functioning computer that I built myself and gift it. I'm getting old - at a time of my life when one begins to reduce their material possessions. How is it possible that someone can do something so many times with certainty to have this issue and to read so many are dumbfounded with this?! And spare me the absurdity of checking for malware, virus, bad drivers. This computer has not had any exposure to have these issues! One can safely assume it is not an issue with hardware - even working correctly

as many with this same issue described components that are widely different. My deduction is: Something is amiss at Microsoft update center and or Windows update I have tried both! I believe (leaving out the suggestions by some of shenanigans) too much is trying to get through - after all the updates number about 120 give or take a few. Anyway - If there is any assistance 'out there' to provide an answer to a Microsoft customer that bought Windows3.1; Windows95; Windows98; Windows Millennia; Windows Xp. Windows Vista on my Wife's computer. Windows 7 on my recent build just for music enjoyment - I would like the courtesy of receiving a solution to this issue. It seems very simple to me for someone at Microsoft to round up the most important of Security updates - place them on a disk (compressed - many of us have WinZip and large hard drives) and provide them to us with ONLY A CHARGE FOR POSTAGE - OK, OK add a dollar or two. Leave out the fixes for the fixes. You should know what we need. Buying new hardware or OS systems is out of the question WHY? Because either we can not afford it and most of all - WE OUT HERE ARE STANDING BY a Microsoft product that WE believe in! Try to do it in time for Christmas - it will do a lot for Microsoft's image . Have a Good Thanksgiving to all!

Hi Joseph,

Please do the following.

Go to Start | Settings | Control Panel and double click Automatic Updates.

Checkmark the bottom option to disable automatic updates.

Click Apply/OK and then reboot.

Does svchost still consume 100% CPU cycles?

If it does, do the following.

Go to Start, Run, copy/paste this command and click OK: services.msc

In the list of Services, can you see Background Intelligent Transfer Service ?

Here's a pix of what it looks like.

If it's not listed, please proceed as follows to register the BITS service.

Open the Windows Search tool, copy/paste the following and then click Search: qmgr.dll

Search should show that file in the following locations:

C:\WINDOWS\system32

C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386

C:\WINDOWS\system32\bits

It may only be present in C:\WINDOWS\system32, but provided you can see it, do the following to register the service.

Go to Start, Run and copy/paste: regsvr32 qmgr.dll and click OK

Do the same with this file: regsvr32 qmgrprxy.dll

Reboot the system and then copy/paste this command into the Run field:

%windir%\System32\rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 %windir%\inf\qmgr.inf

If you're prompted to insert the Windows installation CD, ignore that and in the dialog box at the bottom, change the path to C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386

If you could only see qmgr.dll in C:\WINDOWS\system32 change the path to that instead.

Restart the PC again and then go to Services and you should be able to see BITS in the list.

Double click it and then on the General tab, click the Start button to try and start the service manually. This is just a test to ensure that it's working correctly.

If you get Error 2: cannot find the file specified, go to Start, then Run again and copy/paste the following command and then click OK:

Reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BITS\Parameters /v ServiceDll /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d %windir%\System32\qmgr.dll

Reboot again and then try once more to start BITS. It should work properly now, but in the unlikely event that it fails again, run the following command and then hit Enter:

Reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\BackupRestore\FilesNotToBackup

Reboot once more and then do the following.

Go to this link and install the IE8 cumulative December update:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=41404

If you use IE7, use this link instead:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=41442

Finally, go to the Windows Update site and you should be able to download normally.

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159 additional answers

Anonymous

2013-11-24T03:37:23+00:00

You wre lucky the laptop did not succumb to the same issues. It is odd how so many desktops and laptops are affected but many others seem to escape at least partly. I don't think any of them are unscathed, but obviously some are faring better than others. Likewise with desktops some will churn and burn and finally tunnel through and others will just lockup and crash completely.
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Anonymous

2013-11-24T03:29:59+00:00

I've been having this issue for the last week or so as well.

I have Win XP on Dell Vostro 1710 portable with AVG Internet Security 2013.

Microsoft Update has been working perfectly for me until last week.

Then one processor went to 100% with svchost.exe. Per some internet discussions I disabled the automatic update and tried a couple of options from support.microsoft.com including the Fixit - which seemed to make it even worse. I left it for a week and spent another 2hrs today invoking the manual update, Fixit, reboot and manual update .... attempting to upate just "Windows Malicous .." removal.

BITs is not running in my Services

When I look for : qmgr.dll & qmgrprxy.dll

I find them in

C:\WINDOWS\system32

but there is no "ServicePackFiles subdirectory or bits

C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386

C:\WINDOWS\system32\bits

Maybe there is a better place is input my problems or somewhere to start a new thread

Appreciate any input

thanks

Xircal has worked out a variant of the solution used for regular desktops that works for laptops also.

The paths have to be changed in the command lines since you have no i386 folder, but the needed files can be found in the system32 and the inf folders. It may be necessary to create the bits folder and copy qmgr.dll from the system32 folder for the procedure. Xircal talked a lady through this as a step by step which you can read the dialog and understand, and sort out the parts that work are essentially what was a solution for a user Ath3rs on the first page of the thread. Especially see about the fifth post in the thread on the first page where Xircal is replying to Ath3rs and DO NOT get caught up in all the exchange of Xircal with Shopper1 a lot of which does not apply to the solution. There is a point where Xircal comes back to same format as worked for Ath3rs and then validity returns to the procedure. Here is the link. I believe the procedure which Xircal has worked out for Ath3rs may work on desktops which do have the i386 folder, but the reverse is not true. This procedure is being studied to possibly further refine it so the same command line will possibly work for laptops and desktops by using the file locations in system32 and the inf folder that both laptops and desktops have.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_xp-windows_update/bits-not-listed-under-services-in-win-xp/9e0a3fe5-e193-4441-b3f4-85df0e9b42aa
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Anonymous

2013-11-24T03:03:46+00:00

I can't add much to the above discussion, its above my pay grade and only recently became aware it was common problem.

When this Update stuff apparently all started in Oct or Nov, however, long before I started to connect the dots, I had determined that Skype was using an unusual amount of memory and also one or more of the Firefox plugins. I believe Firefox was aware and seemed to fix it in an update. In any event, you may want to rule these out. I can dig up and send you the links if you find any of that useful.

I also have a Dell laptop that was not used during the period in question. When I checked it against my desktops with reference to the Update problem it seemed to run in a continuous loop ..... after several hours it did finally pull up the updates.

Not sure any of this applies to your issue but it had me running in circles for weeks. Best of luck.

Bill
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Anonymous

2013-11-24T01:50:46+00:00

Question: anyone know how to transfer mail rules from an old disc to a fresh install ? Typing them in is the pits. Bill
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