Automatic Update - Freezes

When I run the Express or Custom update search on the Microsoft Update
Website it searches the computer and there is hard drive activity, however
after 3 hours it is still searching and nothing happens. I then go to close
IE7 and the computer hangs and then crashes. If I have Automatic Update
switched on my computer crashes the moment it trys to search for any updates.
I did a complete re-install, formated my hard drive and started again. All
the updates downloaded ok, however the same has happened again. Does anyone
happen to know what this is happening and how to correct the problem?

1. First install the newly released 'standalone' version of Windows Update
Agent 3.0, v7.0.6000.374
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932494

Direct Download links:

x86-based versions of Windows (most users)
http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7...gent30-x86.exe

x64-based versions of Windows
http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7...gent30-x64.exe

Itanium-based versions of Windows
http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7...ent30-ia64.exe

2. Now (re)install this (updated) fix:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927891

NB: Windows Update/Automatic Updates started offering 927891 on 22 May-07.
If "Update for [Windows XP] (KB927891)" is listed in Add/Remove Programs
(make sure Show Updates box is checked), it's already installed. cf.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec...ry/927891.mspx

3. Reboot.

The MS update team believes that this solves all three svchost problems that
folks have been experiencing. See
http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archiv...follow-up.aspx
and http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archiv...update-on.aspx

<QP>
It’s important to note that with the MSI fix and the new client installed,
the CPU may still go near 100%, but the system should still be responsive
and not lock up. If another task requires CPU cycles they will be shared,
but if the system is idle, MSI will use the full cycles available. If a
task is running at the same time as MSI, the system may be slightly slower,
but should still be responsive during this time. Key to remember the MSI
fix and the new client address unresponsive or locked systems. CPU spikes
during some scans are expected, machine unresponsiveness is not. If your
watching the process monitor, you will still see 100% CPU during some scans
and this is expected behavior.
</QP>
Source:
http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archiv...follow-up.aspx
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org

Simon wrote:
> When I run the Express or Custom update search on the Microsoft Update
> Website it searches the computer and there is hard drive activity, however
> after 3 hours it is still searching and nothing happens. I then go to
> close
> IE7 and the computer hangs and then crashes. If I have Automatic Update
> switched on my computer crashes the moment it trys to search for any
> updates. I did a complete re-install, formated my hard drive and started
> again. All the updates downloaded ok, however the same has happened
> again.
> Does anyone happen to know what this is happening and how to correct the
> problem?

I have a similiar problem...I was able to at least run update by setting my
display adapter settings to 640x480 - 256 colors. I'd be curious as to
whether you would have similiar success. (My guess is there is a problem in
the update's memory management routines, but, at this point I'm just
guessing).

"Simon" wrote:

> When I run the Express or Custom update search on the Microsoft Update
> Website it searches the computer and there is hard drive activity, however
> after 3 hours it is still searching and nothing happens. I then go to close
> IE7 and the computer hangs and then crashes. If I have Automatic Update
> switched on my computer crashes the moment it trys to search for any updates.
> I did a complete re-install, formated my hard drive and started again. All
> the updates downloaded ok, however the same has happened again. Does anyone
> happen to know what this is happening and how to correct the problem?

Dear PA Bear!

Thank you very much for your time and help! This appears to have worked )
And updates has worked and downloaded with no problems!

Thanks

Simon

"PA Bear" wrote:

> 1. First install the newly released 'standalone' version of Windows Update
> Agent 3.0, v7.0.6000.374
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932494
>
> Direct Download links:
>
> x86-based versions of Windows (most users)
> http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7...gent30-x86.exe
>
> x64-based versions of Windows
> http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7...gent30-x64.exe
>
> Itanium-based versions of Windows
> http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7...ent30-ia64.exe
>
> 2. Now (re)install this (updated) fix:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927891
>
> NB: Windows Update/Automatic Updates started offering 927891 on 22 May-07.
> If "Update for [Windows XP] (KB927891)" is listed in Add/Remove Programs
> (make sure Show Updates box is checked), it's already installed. cf.
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec...ry/927891.mspx
>
> 3. Reboot.
>
> The MS update team believes that this solves all three svchost problems that
> folks have been experiencing. See
> http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archiv...follow-up.aspx
> and http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archiv...update-on.aspx
>
> <QP>
> It’s important to note that with the MSI fix and the new client installed,
> the CPU may still go near 100%, but the system should still be responsive
> and not lock up. If another task requires CPU cycles they will be shared,
> but if the system is idle, MSI will use the full cycles available. If a
> task is running at the same time as MSI, the system may be slightly slower,
> but should still be responsive during this time. Key to remember the MSI
> fix and the new client address unresponsive or locked systems. CPU spikes
> during some scans are expected, machine unresponsiveness is not. If your
> watching the process monitor, you will still see 100% CPU during some scans
> and this is expected behavior.
> </QP>
> Source:
> http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archiv...follow-up.aspx
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>
> Simon wrote:
> > When I run the Express or Custom update search on the Microsoft Update
> > Website it searches the computer and there is hard drive activity, however
> > after 3 hours it is still searching and nothing happens. I then go to
> > close
> > IE7 and the computer hangs and then crashes. If I have Automatic Update
> > switched on my computer crashes the moment it trys to search for any
> > updates. I did a complete re-install, formated my hard drive and started
> > again. All the updates downloaded ok, however the same has happened
> > again.
> > Does anyone happen to know what this is happening and how to correct the
> > problem?
>
>

YW & thanks very much for posting back.

Simon wrote:
> Dear PA Bear!
>
> Thank you very much for your time and help! This appears to have worked
> )
> And updates has worked and downloaded with no problems!
>
> Thanks
>
> Simon
>
> "PA Bear" wrote:
>
>> 1. First install the newly released 'standalone' version of Windows
>> Update
>> Agent 3.0, v7.0.6000.374
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932494
>>
>> Direct Download links:
>>
>> x86-based versions of Windows (most users)
>> http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7...gent30-x86.exe
>>
>> x64-based versions of Windows
>> http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7...gent30-x64.exe
>>
>> Itanium-based versions of Windows
>> http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7...ent30-ia64.exe
>>
>> 2. Now (re)install this (updated) fix:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927891
>>
>> NB: Windows Update/Automatic Updates started offering 927891 on 22
>> May-07.
>> If "Update for [Windows XP] (KB927891)" is listed in Add/Remove Programs
>> (make sure Show Updates box is checked), it's already installed. cf.
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec...ry/927891.mspx
>>
>> 3. Reboot.
>>
>> The MS update team believes that this solves all three svchost problems
>> that folks have been experiencing. See
>> http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archiv...follow-up.aspx
>> and http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archiv...update-on.aspx
>>
>> <QP>
>> It’s important to note that with the MSI fix and the new client
>> installed, the CPU may still go near 100%, but the system should still be
>> responsive and not lock up. If another task requires CPU cycles they
>> will
>> be shared, but if the system is idle, MSI will use the full cycles
>> available. If a task is running at the same time as MSI, the system may
>> be slightly slower, but should still be responsive during this time. Key
>> to remember the MSI fix and the new client address unresponsive or
>> locked
>> systems. CPU spikes during some scans are expected, machine
>> unresponsiveness is not. If your watching the process monitor, you will
>> still see 100% CPU during some scans and this is expected behavior.
>> </QP>
>> Source:
>> http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archiv...follow-up.aspx
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>>
>> Simon wrote:
>>> When I run the Express or Custom update search on the Microsoft Update
>>> Website it searches the computer and there is hard drive activity,
>>> however
>>> after 3 hours it is still searching and nothing happens. I then go to
>>> close
>>> IE7 and the computer hangs and then crashes. If I have Automatic Update
>>> switched on my computer crashes the moment it trys to search for any
>>> updates. I did a complete re-install, formated my hard drive and started
>>> again. All the updates downloaded ok, however the same has happened
>>> again.
>>> Does anyone happen to know what this is happening and how to correct the
>>> problem?