SVCHOST.exe issue/lack of solution

Ok.. so read up a bunch on this topic, and have tried a handful of fixes and
may still try a few more but I'm currently stuck as to how to get my updates
workin again.

The problem started when I got ****ed off at my automatic updater for always
giving me that stupid restart countdown popup every 5 minutes and it kept
interrupting me at my computer so I changed my update preferences to "notify
me"... BIG MISTAKE. I then had to deal with svchost.exe on the local runtime
going crazy and always making sure that my CPU usage was 100% and that I
could not open any new .exe's as it would attempt to update and then hang
indefinately. How microsoft can release an OS with a bug like this and then
NOT completely fix it immidiately is beyond me...

Anyhow, I can use my machine fine now b/c I turned off automatic updates,
the problem is I am unable to update my windows as a result and that is
definately not good. It gives me the same problem using the microsoft web
based updater and the windows updater everytime I try to update (svchost
locks my comp up). I've tried numerous fixes and have read the XP KB article
on this. I've reinstalled Windows Installer 3.1 v2 and then appied the
hotfix 927891 (done that 3 times now) and svchost still jumps to 100%
everytime I try to update through any method.

Anyone know another fix to this? I've found a few on the web, but some seem
a litle risky, others useless and most just point to Microsoft's site. I'd
contact customer support but Microsoft tries to basically force you to buy
half a copy of windows just to get it working again which is undoubtedly the
worst software company practice I've ever seen. I'd rather go to linux or
another OS than pay $60 just to fix their buggy software.

Just a quick note for everyone, this problem is one that apparently existed
for some users towards the end of 2006 and also in 2004/2005. Prior postings
on the net regarding this issue tended to point to some conflict in
microsoft's updater and any option other than 'automatic update on' or
'automatic update off'. You can check to see what your settins are in your
control bar -> security center-> windows update. By turning it off you can
at least regain control of your system by stopping the updater (and thus
svchost) from starting up and doing its search. If you try to update either
through microsoft's web service or the updater svchost will immidiately spike
during the 'searching for updates' or 'initializing updates' phases
respectively.

Meantime I'm going to try vpc5fan's suggestion in another recent post about
this issue and turn off microsoft updater and see if I can at least get the
windows security hotfixes (the actually important stuff for me). Here's
hoping Microsoft not only comes out with a fix but also lets us who can't
automatically recieve their fixes know about it... since an update to fix the
broken updater through said updater is fairly meaningless.

"thegull" wrote:

> Ok.. so read up a bunch on this topic, and have tried a handful of fixes and
> may still try a few more but I'm currently stuck as to how to get my updates
> workin again.
>
> The problem started when I got ****ed off at my automatic updater for always
> giving me that stupid restart countdown popup every 5 minutes and it kept
> interrupting me at my computer so I changed my update preferences to "notify
> me"... BIG MISTAKE. I then had to deal with svchost.exe on the local runtime
> going crazy and always making sure that my CPU usage was 100% and that I
> could not open any new .exe's as it would attempt to update and then hang
> indefinately. How microsoft can release an OS with a bug like this and then
> NOT completely fix it immidiately is beyond me...
>
> Anyhow, I can use my machine fine now b/c I turned off automatic updates,
> the problem is I am unable to update my windows as a result and that is
> definately not good. It gives me the same problem using the microsoft web
> based updater and the windows updater everytime I try to update (svchost
> locks my comp up). I've tried numerous fixes and have read the XP KB article
> on this. I've reinstalled Windows Installer 3.1 v2 and then appied the
> hotfix 927891 (done that 3 times now) and svchost still jumps to 100%
> everytime I try to update through any method.
>
> Anyone know another fix to this? I've found a few on the web, but some seem
> a litle risky, others useless and most just point to Microsoft's site. I'd
> contact customer support but Microsoft tries to basically force you to buy
> half a copy of windows just to get it working again which is undoubtedly the
> worst software company practice I've ever seen. I'd rather go to linux or
> another OS than pay $60 just to fix their buggy software.

Try deleting the contents of this folder (or the folder itself) & reboot:

C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore

If no joy, try deleting the contents of this folder (or the folder itself) &
reboot:

C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution

Also see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927891

Workaround: Change the default from Microsoft Update to Windows Update: Go
to Microsoft Update > Click on Change Settings in left pane > Scroll to
bottom of page > To Stop Using Microsoft Update > Disable Microsoft Update
software and let me use Windows Update only (check).

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org

thegull wrote:
> Ok.. so read up a bunch on this topic, and have tried a handful of fixes
> and
> may still try a few more but I'm currently stuck as to how to get my
> updates
> workin again.
>
> The problem started when I got ****ed off at my automatic updater for
> always
> giving me that stupid restart countdown popup every 5 minutes and it kept
> interrupting me at my computer so I changed my update preferences to
> "notify
> me"... BIG MISTAKE. I then had to deal with svchost.exe on the local
> runtime going crazy and always making sure that my CPU usage was 100% and
> that I could not open any new .exe's as it would attempt to update and
> then
> hang indefinately. How microsoft can release an OS with a bug like this
> and
> then NOT completely fix it immidiately is beyond me...
>
> Anyhow, I can use my machine fine now b/c I turned off automatic updates,
> the problem is I am unable to update my windows as a result and that is
> definately not good. It gives me the same problem using the microsoft web
> based updater and the windows updater everytime I try to update (svchost
> locks my comp up). I've tried numerous fixes and have read the XP KB
> article on this. I've reinstalled Windows Installer 3.1 v2 and then
> appied
> the hotfix 927891 (done that 3 times now) and svchost still jumps to 100%
> everytime I try to update through any method.
>
> Anyone know another fix to this? I've found a few on the web, but some
> seem
> a litle risky, others useless and most just point to Microsoft's site.
> I'd
> contact customer support but Microsoft tries to basically force you to buy
> half a copy of windows just to get it working again which is undoubtedly
> the
> worst software company practice I've ever seen. I'd rather go to linux or
> another OS than pay $60 just to fix their buggy software.