[Windows Vista Ultimate x64 SP2] Windows Update takes 99% CPU and runs forever

F

Fafique

Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2016
Posts
13
Hello
I am using Windows Vista Ultimate x64 Service Pack 2.

Recently it does not update itself using Windows Update. The Windows Update takes 99% CPU time, which makes the machine very slow, and it's "Checking for updates" forever.

I have followed the usual procedure (net stop bits, cryptsvc & wuauserv, then delete SoftwareDistribution and catroot2, net start again) but with no effect, it happens exactly the same.

I am sure that it's Windows Update which takes 99% cpu time, because when I disable this service the computer runs fine and it's 99% idle again.

Please help!
Thank you in advance :)
 
SFCFix finds no errors:
SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro.
Start time: 2016-07-19 11:57:38.437
Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 2 - amd64
Not using a script file.




AutoAnalysis::
SUMMARY: No corruptions were detected.
AutoAnalysis:: directive completed successfully.




Successfully processed all directives.
SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro has completed.
Currently storing 0 datablocks.
Finish time: 2016-07-19 11:57:52.734
----------------------EOF-----------------------

Here's the CBS log View attachment CBS.zip

there are no erros when I run sfc /scannow
 
Hello and Welcome!

Please try installing the following updates:

Download Security Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB3168965) from Official Microsoft Download Center
Download Security Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB3145739) from Official Microsoft Download Center
Download Security Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB3078601) from Official Microsoft Download Center
Download Security Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB3164033) from Official Microsoft Download Center
Download Security Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB3109094) from Official Microsoft Download Center

After all the updates have been installed, try checking for Windows Updates again.
Since you have reset the Windows Update components, it may take quite some time to check for updates. Please be sure that sleep mode and hibernation are disabled during the check.
 
Hi. Many thanks for your answer!

I tried to install the updates. Only the KB3168965 succeeded, other were not installed because they "do not apply" to my system. This seems to have fixed the problem. Thanks a lot! :)
 
Glad to hear it! :thumbsup2:

I'll mark the thread solved. Please post back if you encounter any problems and I will continue to assist you.
 
Hello!

Unfortunately the issue has reappeared. 99% CPU time consumed and "Checking for updates..." forever.

So I have deleted catroot2 and SoftwareDistribution after turning the services wauserv, bits and cryptsvc off.

No effect, again I have Windows Update checking for updates forever and taking 99% of the CPU time.

Please assist.

Here's the CBS
View attachment CBS.zip


SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro.
Start time: 2016-08-10 16:15:15.829
Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 2 - amd64
Not using a script file.




AutoAnalysis::
SUMMARY: No corruptions were detected.
AutoAnalysis:: directive completed successfully.




Successfully processed all directives.
SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro has completed.
Currently storing 0 datablocks.
Finish time: 2016-08-10 16:15:48.884
----------------------EOF-----------------------
 
Hello Fafique,

After deleting the catroot2 and softwaredistribution folders the first check for updates will take a very, very long time.
It might be best in this case to make sure the computer is set to never sleep or hibernate (for now), and then let the check for updates run overnight to complete the process.
Once the initial check has completed, subsequent checks for updates should be much quicker.

Let me know how that goes.
 
Hello, thank you for your answer.
Yes, I know that after deleting the folders Windows Update takes a long time, but it does not take 99% of cpu time and does not make the computer slow. I have waited for a few hours. It is not the first time I have reset the Windows Update, and it never took so long and never slowed the computer down, so I think I can safely assume that it's not going anywhere.
Thank you for assistance.
 
Here is the latest CBS View attachment CBS.zip

SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro.
Start time: 2016-08-12 13:33:56.930
Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 2 - amd64
Not using a script file.




AutoAnalysis::
SUMMARY: No corruptions were detected.
AutoAnalysis:: directive completed successfully.




Successfully processed all directives.
SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro has completed.
Currently storing 0 datablocks.
Finish time: 2016-08-12 13:34:14.102
----------------------EOF-----------------------
 
Alright. I don't see any problems in the CBS log - so let's try a full Windows Update component reset.

Run Windows Repairs
  1. Download Windows Repair (All-in-One) Portable to your desktop.
  2. Once the file is downloaded, right-click on the file on your desktop and choose Extract All...
    Extract.JPG
  3. Keep the defaults and click the Extract button.
  4. A folder named tweaking.com_windows_repair_aio will be extracted to the desktop. Once the extraction is complete the folder will open.
  5. Inside this folder, there is a folder named Tweaking.com - Windows Repair. Open this folder as well.
    Capture.JPG
  6. Double-click on Repair_Windows.exe to open. Note: Please make sure all of your programs are closed and anything you were working on is saved as we will be rebooting.
  7. When the program opens, click the Reboot to Safe Mode button at the bottom of the screen. Answer Yes to allow.
  8. Once rebooted into Safe Mode, open the program again. When the program opens, click the Repairs tab and click the Open Repairs button.
  9. A backup of your registry will be made. After a few moments you will have many options from which you can choose.
  10. Please click the Unselect All button and then click to enable only the following ones:

    17 - Repair Windows Updates
  11. Ensure the Restart check box is selected and click the Start Repairs button in the lower right of the screen. This may take some time to run so be patient.
    StartRepairsWithReboot.JPG
  12. Once the fixes are complete you will be prompted to restart your machine. Answer Yes.

After this reset, after a random amount of time after restart or on the first check for updates the Windows Update service (wuauserv) which will appear as SvcHost and TrustedInstaller will consume all available processing time on one CPU core and up to the maximum available memory for an unpredictable period of time, which may exceed several hours. This will make your computer very slow until the process has completed. DO NOT interrupt the process by restarting the computer (or putting it to sleep etc.) or it will start the process over again.

I would recommend disabling sleep and hibernation, and then allowing the check for updates to run overnight so that it does not interfere with your use of the computer.
One thing that can reduce the time spent checking for updates is to run the Disk Cleanup tool to delete temporary files, and then Disk Defragmenter.

When the first check for updates has completed, CPU and memory use will return to normal. At that point subsequent checks for updates should be much faster. Do note that 99% CPU use during checks for Windows Updates is normal if you have a single core processor.
 
Last edited:
Hello

Thank you for answering. I have followed the steps you prescribed. Windows Update failed with an error after an hour or two. So I have deleted catroot2 and SoftwareDistribution and re-run windows update. It has failed again with error C8000266. So I tried again with the same result.

I appreciate your assistance.

Here is the CBS log. View attachment CBS.zip

SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro.
Start time: 2016-08-13 11:43:15.668
Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 2 - amd64
Not using a script file.




AutoAnalysis::
SUMMARY: No corruptions were detected.
AutoAnalysis:: directive completed successfully.




Successfully processed all directives.
SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro has completed.
Currently storing 0 datablocks.
Finish time: 2016-08-13 11:43:36.649
----------------------EOF-----------------------
 
Let's see if the System Update Readiness Tool can find any problems.

System Update Readiness Tool (SURT)

Download and run the System Update Readiness Tool for your version of Windows here: System Update Readiness Tool

NOTE: If you aren't sure if your Windows installation is 32-bit or 64-bit, check here: How to determine whether a computer is running a 32-bit version or 64-bit version of the Windows operating system

This tool will take some time to complete - when it has finished, attach C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CheckSUR.log with your reply.
 
Hello. Thank you for answering. I ran SUR, in the beginning it was checking for updates forever, so I tried running it again, first time it was installing an update and stuck before finishing the installation, so I ran it again and left it overnight, this time it was stuck even earlier.

Logs View attachment CBS.zip

SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro.
Start time: 2016-08-20 10:36:20.900
Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 2 - amd64
Not using a script file.




AutoAnalysis::
SUMMARY: No corruptions were detected.
AutoAnalysis:: directive completed successfully.




Successfully processed all directives.
SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro has completed.
Currently storing 0 datablocks.
Finish time: 2016-08-20 10:39:08.384
----------------------EOF-----------------------
 
Many thanks for answering. I have downloaded and applied the updates from this page and now everything works fine. Thanks a lot :)
 
Hello again.

Solution from the webpage Willy2 has linked worked perfectly, until its author stopped supporting Vista, that is until today. He suggested installing KB3191203 and KB3183431, which I did, but it did not help. So I have to ask you for assistance again, because today I have experienced the issue again after a month.

Many thanks
 
- Did you update or install .NET software ? If so which version ? I installed .NET software yesterday and it "broke" Windows Update. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.
- Microsoft always issues a "Security Bulletin" a few days after "Patch Up Tuesday". It lists the updates that are released. You always can try to manually download & install those updates.
 
I have taken a look at the Security Bulletin and installed all the updates I found there, except for the .NET ones. Thank you for your warning. Now everything seem to be working fine - at least for the time being. Thank you :)
 
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