SVCHOST locks up CPU, can't get Windows Updates

I just installed XP Professional SP2 on a Pentium 3 667 Dell Optiplex.

This is a clean install, on a freshly formatted disk.

Shortly after Windows Updates starts running - no matter if it's Automatic
Updates, or run manually from the browser - svchost locks up the CPU at 99% and
nothing else can run.

I've seen this problem on multiple PC's. Don't tell me it's a virus or spyware
or anything else. This is a clean install. There's nothing on this machine but
XP.

wrote:
> I just installed XP Professional SP2 on a Pentium 3 667 Dell Optiplex.
>
> This is a clean install, on a freshly formatted disk.
>
> Shortly after Windows Updates starts running - no matter if it's Automatic
> Updates, or run manually from the browser - svchost locks up the CPU at 99% and
> nothing else can run.
>
> I've seen this problem on multiple PC's. Don't tell me it's a virus or spyware
> or anything else. This is a clean install. There's nothing on this machine but
> XP.
>

Is the firewall enabled?

Alias

I have also found this problem on a Compaq P3 800 machine. I have found
however, that if you install IE7 the Windows Update website works within a
few seconds, not like when running under IE6. I also have the 100% CPU load
when trying to access Windows Updates for a windows 2000 and a windows 2000
server machine. No idea what is causing this to happen.

"" wrote:

> I just installed XP Professional SP2 on a Pentium 3 667 Dell Optiplex.
>
> This is a clean install, on a freshly formatted disk.
>
> Shortly after Windows Updates starts running - no matter if it's Automatic
> Updates, or run manually from the browser - svchost locks up the CPU at 99% and
> nothing else can run.
>
> I've seen this problem on multiple PC's. Don't tell me it's a virus or spyware
> or anything else. This is a clean install. There's nothing on this machine but
> XP.
>
>

I just posted with the same problem. I believe the problem lies in Windows
Update software, the ActiveX control that gets installed after a fresh XP SP2
install, the first time you visit Windows Updates.

You can at least use the machine if you go into Services under the
management console and disable the Automatic Updates service. I've been
using Sysinternals free software program called Process Explorer to
troubleshoot this issue. You will find that it is a memory problem. There
is a thread running under that instance of svchost called
ntdll.dll!RtlAllocateHeap+0x18c that is consuming all your processor power.
You can kill that thread to get back your processor but you will not be able
to download updates with IE6, as you will ending up watching the green status
bar for hours.

"" wrote:

> I just installed XP Professional SP2 on a Pentium 3 667 Dell Optiplex.
>
> This is a clean install, on a freshly formatted disk.
>
> Shortly after Windows Updates starts running - no matter if it's Automatic
> Updates, or run manually from the browser - svchost locks up the CPU at 99% and
> nothing else can run.
>
> I've seen this problem on multiple PC's. Don't tell me it's a virus or spyware
> or anything else. This is a clean install. There's nothing on this machine but
> XP.
>
>