News and Interests Showing Up and Running In Task Manager

I find a "definitive" solution:

Do a "install repair" of Windows 10. See https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/16397-repair-install-windows-10-place-upgrade.html

Hi CarlosUthred:

Before you reinstalled your OS did you run any DISM or System File Checker (SFC) scans in an elevated command prompt with Administrator rights to see if they could detect and/or repair problems with your component store or system files?

Here are the results of two scans (DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth and sfc /scannow) I ran today on my Win 10 Pro v22H2 machine. See the ghacks.net article Use DISM to Fix Issues SFC Can’t for more information about these scans.

NOTE: If DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth finds a problem you must run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to repair your corrupted component store.

Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.5131 * Firefox v132.0.2 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.24090.11-1.1.24090.11 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.2.1.144-1.0.5088 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * Microsoft Edge v131.0.2903.48

I am getting this problem as of this month's update. I have latest edge and webview2 runtime. (if you need that screenied too I can provide it)

Hi Umbs:

We're both on Win 10 Version 22H2 / Build 19045.5131 and Experience Pack v1000.19060.1000.0 (although I have the Professional edition, not your Home edition) so I have no idea why instances of msedgewebview2.exe and SearchApp.exe are still appearing under a process called News and Interests your Task Manager.

The first thing I would do is to ensure you have DISABLED your Windows Fast Startup power option (see my 13-Nov-2024 instructions <above>) just in case Fast Startup is interfering with your software updates.

If you decide to attempt the repair install (in-place upgrade) recommended today by CarlosUthred I'd suggest you read Susan Bradley's tutorial on the AskWoody.com site at 6000015 – Repair Install of Windows 10 22H2 first for a few hints. Before trying a repair install I'd also suggest you restart your system and run the DISM and System File Checker (SFC) commands shown in my 14-Nov-2024 post <above> just in case these diagnostic scans can fix your problem.

I don't know if it's relevant, but I should mention that Firefox is my default browser, and when an update is released for MS Edge I'll open it briefly to allow it to auto-update or just trigger a manual update at Settings | About Microsoft Edge ***. I've also changed my default search engine from Bing to a custom search engine I added for Google Canada (google.ca) at Settings | Privacy, Search and Services | Address Bar and Search | Manage Search Engines, and I don't want MS Edge constantly running in the background when this browser is closed so I've turned OFF these two options at Settings | System and Performance | System:

*** which just upgraded me to MS Edge v131.0.2903.48 today and seems to have removed the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime from Control Panel | Programs | Programs and Features*, which was unexpected. FYI, there's still no sign of News and Interests in my Task Manager after a system restart.*

Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.5131 * Firefox v132.0.2 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.24090.11-1.1.24090.11 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.2.1.144-1.0.5088 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * Microsoft Edge v131.0.2903.48

Hi CarlosUthred:

Before you reinstalled your OS did you run any DISM or System File Checker (SFC) scans in an elevated command prompt with Administrator rights to see if they could detect and/or repair problems with your component store or system files?

Of course I did. In-place repair install was the last resort and it worked. This repair process removed the "news and interests" bug triggered by the preview update. Everything works fine now. News and Interests tasks vanished from my task manager and I have Windows 10 22H2 fully updated (build 19045.5131)

Thanks for your help, Great White North.