System Hangs, Green Bar Loops Forever, CPU runs at 100%

Dell Dimension L800r with fresh Windows XP SP2 Upgrade install.

After installing Windows, I installed a Linksys wireless network card,
connected to the network and then attempted to download the Windows Updates
using IE6 on Windows' Updates site. Here I was asked to install the latest
ActiveX control. After installing it, my system became unstable and I had to
reboot. Now within about two minutes after rebooting, my processor is
consumed 75% to 95% by svchost.exe. I realize this sounds like a virus, but
this computer is behind an NAT modem and an NAT router and there is little
chance of a virus.

If I visit the windows update website, (whether Automatic Updates is enabled
or not) the green bar just loops forever. I even tried disabeling the
Automatic Update service and then went back to the update site, but the same
thing occurs.

I did a Windows XP repair and then visited the update site. This time I was
allowed to reinstall the ActiveX control and then my processor consumation
problem started all over again.

Here is some information I wrote to another user (who's having a similar
problem) on how I have been troubleshooting this issue:

In order to get back my processor, I visited the management console and
disabled the Automatic Updates service. My Computer > Right Click > Manage
> Services and Applications > Services > Right Clicked on Automatic Updates >
Properties > Select "Startup Type" Disabled > Then clicked on "Stop" to stop
the service from running.

Next, I downloaded Process Explorer from SysInternals. I started Process
Explorer, restarted the automatic update service and then I visited Windows
Update website again. At this point I noticed that my processor is consumed
by svchost again, 70% to 95%. Next, in Process Explorer, I double clicked
svchost to see which thread is consuming my processor. It is one called
ntdll.dll!RtlAllocateHeap+0x18c. Here is where the problem lies, but I
haven't been able to find anyone that can help me with it yet. I can kill
that thread, but I'm still unable to download Windows Updates. The green bar
just goes forever.

Another thing I did in troubleshooting this was I booted into safe mode and
deleted the new windows update files that got downloaded when I installed
that ActiveX control. (I assume that's what I'm deleting here.) This got me
back to original, or nearly so. I did a file search for wu*.dll and deleted
all results in Windows\System32. I also deleted wuauclt.exe. Now I was able
to restart the Automatic Update service without the negative processor
problems. I was also able to visit the Windows update website and download
the same buggy files all over again.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this machine functional with
Microsoft's Update software?

I have the exact same situation. Here is the weird thing. I'm installing
from a Windows XP CD PRE-sp1 and all, it's pretty old. Anyway, I installed
it last week (09/07/06) on my PII366 laptop. Auto update worked just fine.
I was a bit unhappy with the speed of XP on the laptop so I blew everything
away and installed Win2k over the weekend (09/10/06). When I tried to auto
update with that, I got the CPU 100%/green bar problem. I figured it was
just Win2k or something, so ended up reinstalling WinXP (from the same XP CD
mentioned above) today. Now Auto update isn't working with my clean XP
install either, I get the 100% CPU and green bar back and forth.

Anyway, I mention this because this leads me to believe something happened
at Microsofts end within the past week. I didn't do anything different
between the 1st XP install and the XP install I did today, it's even on the
same laptop!

"HKComputerServices" wrote:

> Dell Dimension L800r with fresh Windows XP SP2 Upgrade install.
>
> After installing Windows, I installed a Linksys wireless network card,
> connected to the network and then attempted to download the Windows Updates
> using IE6 on Windows' Updates site. Here I was asked to install the latest
> ActiveX control. After installing it, my system became unstable and I had to
> reboot. Now within about two minutes after rebooting, my processor is
> consumed 75% to 95% by svchost.exe. I realize this sounds like a virus, but
> this computer is behind an NAT modem and an NAT router and there is little
> chance of a virus.
>
> If I visit the windows update website, (whether Automatic Updates is enabled
> or not) the green bar just loops forever. I even tried disabeling the
> Automatic Update service and then went back to the update site, but the same
> thing occurs.
>
> I did a Windows XP repair and then visited the update site. This time I was
> allowed to reinstall the ActiveX control and then my processor consumation
> problem started all over again.
>
> Here is some information I wrote to another user (who's having a similar
> problem) on how I have been troubleshooting this issue:
>
> In order to get back my processor, I visited the management console and
> disabled the Automatic Updates service. My Computer > Right Click > Manage
> > Services and Applications > Services > Right Clicked on Automatic Updates >
> Properties > Select "Startup Type" Disabled > Then clicked on "Stop" to stop
> the service from running.
>
> Next, I downloaded Process Explorer from SysInternals. I started Process
> Explorer, restarted the automatic update service and then I visited Windows
> Update website again. At this point I noticed that my processor is consumed
> by svchost again, 70% to 95%. Next, in Process Explorer, I double clicked
> svchost to see which thread is consuming my processor. It is one called
> ntdll.dll!RtlAllocateHeap+0x18c. Here is where the problem lies, but I
> haven't been able to find anyone that can help me with it yet. I can kill
> that thread, but I'm still unable to download Windows Updates. The green bar
> just goes forever.
>
> Another thing I did in troubleshooting this was I booted into safe mode and
> deleted the new windows update files that got downloaded when I installed
> that ActiveX control. (I assume that's what I'm deleting here.) This got me
> back to original, or nearly so. I did a file search for wu*.dll and deleted
> all results in Windows\System32. I also deleted wuauclt.exe. Now I was able
> to restart the Automatic Update service without the negative processor
> problems. I was also able to visit the Windows update website and download
> the same buggy files all over again.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this machine functional with
> Microsoft's Update software?
>

I am having a Linksys wireless problem as well, my updates ran overnight, and
today my wirless PC does not work... but my other wireless PC does, which I
haven't updated yet. I've reinstalled Linksys, nothing.

"HKComputerServices" wrote:

> Dell Dimension L800r with fresh Windows XP SP2 Upgrade install.
>
> After installing Windows, I installed a Linksys wireless network card,
> connected to the network and then attempted to download the Windows Updates
> using IE6 on Windows' Updates site. Here I was asked to install the latest
> ActiveX control. After installing it, my system became unstable and I had to
> reboot. Now within about two minutes after rebooting, my processor is
> consumed 75% to 95% by svchost.exe. I realize this sounds like a virus, but
> this computer is behind an NAT modem and an NAT router and there is little
> chance of a virus.
>
> If I visit the windows update website, (whether Automatic Updates is enabled
> or not) the green bar just loops forever. I even tried disabeling the
> Automatic Update service and then went back to the update site, but the same
> thing occurs.
>
> I did a Windows XP repair and then visited the update site. This time I was
> allowed to reinstall the ActiveX control and then my processor consumation
> problem started all over again.
>
> Here is some information I wrote to another user (who's having a similar
> problem) on how I have been troubleshooting this issue:
>
> In order to get back my processor, I visited the management console and
> disabled the Automatic Updates service. My Computer > Right Click > Manage
> > Services and Applications > Services > Right Clicked on Automatic Updates >
> Properties > Select "Startup Type" Disabled > Then clicked on "Stop" to stop
> the service from running.
>
> Next, I downloaded Process Explorer from SysInternals. I started Process
> Explorer, restarted the automatic update service and then I visited Windows
> Update website again. At this point I noticed that my processor is consumed
> by svchost again, 70% to 95%. Next, in Process Explorer, I double clicked
> svchost to see which thread is consuming my processor. It is one called
> ntdll.dll!RtlAllocateHeap+0x18c. Here is where the problem lies, but I
> haven't been able to find anyone that can help me with it yet. I can kill
> that thread, but I'm still unable to download Windows Updates. The green bar
> just goes forever.
>
> Another thing I did in troubleshooting this was I booted into safe mode and
> deleted the new windows update files that got downloaded when I installed
> that ActiveX control. (I assume that's what I'm deleting here.) This got me
> back to original, or nearly so. I did a file search for wu*.dll and deleted
> all results in Windows\System32. I also deleted wuauclt.exe. Now I was able
> to restart the Automatic Update service without the negative processor
> problems. I was also able to visit the Windows update website and download
> the same buggy files all over again.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this machine functional with
> Microsoft's Update software?
>

I was actually troubleshooting this same problem about two months ago
already, on a Windows XP Pro machine. Didn't realize then that Windows
Updates might be the problem. So I'm reluctant to say when this problem
really started. But it's true that there are a lot of people posting about
the issue recently.

My original post wasn't so much about my Linksys card as it was about Windows
Updates. My Linksys is still working fine, although I can't rule out the
possibility of a conflict just yet.

Have you check the event logs in the management console? That's a good
place start looking for problems. Do you have a little more description of
the symptoms? I think the updates may have something to do with it, but it's
difficult to say. Have you tried uninstalling the updates? Does the
wireless card get an IP address?

"THink" wrote:

> I am having a Linksys wireless problem as well, my updates ran overnight, and
> today my wirless PC does not work... but my other wireless PC does, which I
> haven't updated yet. I've reinstalled Linksys, nothing.

This was what worked for me.

This what I wrote in a previous post:

Problem fixed! After waiting some time on WA website with the window frozen
the updates finally came up and installed.

Everything back to normal now even with auto updates turned on.
WA website searches quickly now too.

Sometimes it's good to walk away from the computer for a while! This was all
I did to fix it.

Just leave the green bar looping.
It takes ages, don't know why, but in my case the updates finally came up.
I had auto updates disabled when doing this.
Then after installing the updates I turned auto updates back on.
No further issues after that.

I did experience 100% CPU activity prior to fixing the issue.(with
everything frozen)
After that CPU use when update checking varies a lot but doesn't stay
locked on 100% as before.

Hope this may be some help.

Linz



"HKComputerServices" <> wrote in
message news:ED9ACFE8-1ED9-4DA7-A522-...
> My original post wasn't so much about my Linksys card as it was about
> Windows
> Updates. My Linksys is still working fine, although I can't rule out the
> possibility of a conflict just yet.
>
> Have you check the event logs in the management console? That's a good
> place start looking for problems. Do you have a little more description
> of
> the symptoms? I think the updates may have something to do with it, but
> it's
> difficult to say. Have you tried uninstalling the updates? Does the
> wireless card get an IP address?
>
> "THink" wrote:
>
>> I am having a Linksys wireless problem as well, my updates ran overnight,
>> and
>> today my wirless PC does not work... but my other wireless PC does,
>> which I
>> haven't updated yet. I've reinstalled Linksys, nothing.
>

"HKComputerServices" wrote:

> Dell Dimension L800r with fresh Windows XP SP2 Upgrade install.
>
> After installing Windows, I installed a Linksys wireless network card,
> connected to the network and then attempted to download the Windows Updates
> using IE6 on Windows' Updates site. Here I was asked to install the latest
> ActiveX control. After installing it, my system became unstable and I had to
> reboot. Now within about two minutes after rebooting, my processor is
> consumed 75% to 95% by svchost.exe. I realize this sounds like a virus, but
> this computer is behind an NAT modem and an NAT router and there is little
> chance of a virus.
>
> If I visit the windows update website, (whether Automatic Updates is enabled
> or not) the green bar just loops forever. I even tried disabeling the
> Automatic Update service and then went back to the update site, but the same
> thing occurs.
>
> I did a Windows XP repair and then visited the update site. This time I was
> allowed to reinstall the ActiveX control and then my processor consumation
> problem started all over again.
>
> Here is some information I wrote to another user (who's having a similar
> problem) on how I have been troubleshooting this issue:
>
> In order to get back my processor, I visited the management console and
> disabled the Automatic Updates service. My Computer > Right Click > Manage
> > Services and Applications > Services > Right Clicked on Automatic Updates >
> Properties > Select "Startup Type" Disabled > Then clicked on "Stop" to stop
> the service from running.
>
> Next, I downloaded Process Explorer from SysInternals. I started Process
> Explorer, restarted the automatic update service and then I visited Windows
> Update website again. At this point I noticed that my processor is consumed
> by svchost again, 70% to 95%. Next, in Process Explorer, I double clicked
> svchost to see which thread is consuming my processor. It is one called
> ntdll.dll!RtlAllocateHeap+0x18c. Here is where the problem lies, but I
> haven't been able to find anyone that can help me with it yet. I can kill
> that thread, but I'm still unable to download Windows Updates. The green bar
> just goes forever.
>
> Another thing I did in troubleshooting this was I booted into safe mode and
> deleted the new windows update files that got downloaded when I installed
> that ActiveX control. (I assume that's what I'm deleting here.) This got me
> back to original, or nearly so. I did a file search for wu*.dll and deleted
> all results in Windows\System32. I also deleted wuauclt.exe. Now I was able
> to restart the Automatic Update service without the negative processor
> problems. I was also able to visit the Windows update website and download
> the same buggy files all over again.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this machine functional with
> Microsoft's Update software?
>

I'm experiencing something similar. Linksys BEFF11S4 router with a
Linksys WMP11 PCI wireless NIC. Doing a fresh install of XP Pro (pre
SP2). Installing XP goes fine, and I install the driver for the WMP11.
Machine connects to the router, and my network connectivity is fine.
I go to Windows Update in a browser, add all the ActiveX stuff, and it
starts running (green bar). There is some hard drive activity during
the first 4 minutes, then the CPU goes to 100% and all HDD (and
network) activity stops. It stays like that for ~20 minutes before
timing out with a hex error code that indicates connectivity problems.

The interesting thing is that this same computer, using the same
wireless card and same router, used to work, prior to my re-install.
What changed? I switched from Cable to DSL for my internet service. I
also have a second computer connected to the router directly (not
wireless) and it handles Windows Update just fine.

Given that the other computer works fine, and that the problem machine
formerly worked when I had cable service, I have to conclude this is
some weird interaction between my router and my DSL service that *only*
affects wireless clients.

I would test this theory by connecting the problem computer to the
router directly, but unfortunately it doesn't have built-in LAN and the
only PCI NIC I have is the wireless Linksys.

Alan wrote:
> I have the exact same situation. Here is the weird thing. I'm installing
> from a Windows XP CD PRE-sp1 and all, it's pretty old. Anyway, I installed
> it last week (09/07/06) on my PII366 laptop. Auto update worked just fine.
> I was a bit unhappy with the speed of XP on the laptop so I blew everything
> away and installed Win2k over the weekend (09/10/06). When I tried to auto
> update with that, I got the CPU 100%/green bar problem. I figured it was
> just Win2k or something, so ended up reinstalling WinXP (from the same XP CD
> mentioned above) today. Now Auto update isn't working with my clean XP
> install either, I get the 100% CPU and green bar back and forth.
>
> Anyway, I mention this because this leads me to believe something happened
> at Microsofts end within the past week. I didn't do anything different
> between the 1st XP install and the XP install I did today, it's even on the
> same laptop!
>
> "HKComputerServices" wrote:
>
> > Dell Dimension L800r with fresh Windows XP SP2 Upgrade install.
> >
> > After installing Windows, I installed a Linksys wireless network card,
> > connected to the network and then attempted to download the Windows Updates
> > using IE6 on Windows' Updates site. Here I was asked to install the latest
> > ActiveX control. After installing it, my system became unstable and I had to
> > reboot. Now within about two minutes after rebooting, my processor is
> > consumed 75% to 95% by svchost.exe. I realize this sounds like a virus, but
> > this computer is behind an NAT modem and an NAT router and there is little
> > chance of a virus.
> >
> > If I visit the windows update website, (whether Automatic Updates is enabled
> > or not) the green bar just loops forever. I even tried disabeling the
> > Automatic Update service and then went back to the update site, but the same
> > thing occurs.
> >
> > I did a Windows XP repair and then visited the update site. This time I was
> > allowed to reinstall the ActiveX control and then my processor consumation
> > problem started all over again.
> >
> > Here is some information I wrote to another user (who's having a similar
> > problem) on how I have been troubleshooting this issue:
> >
> > In order to get back my processor, I visited the management console and
> > disabled the Automatic Updates service. My Computer > Right Click > Manage
> > > Services and Applications > Services > Right Clicked on Automatic Updates >
> > Properties > Select "Startup Type" Disabled > Then clicked on "Stop" to stop
> > the service from running.
> >
> > Next, I downloaded Process Explorer from SysInternals. I started Process
> > Explorer, restarted the automatic update service and then I visited Windows
> > Update website again. At this point I noticed that my processor is consumed
> > by svchost again, 70% to 95%. Next, in Process Explorer, I double clicked
> > svchost to see which thread is consuming my processor. It is one called
> > ntdll.dll!RtlAllocateHeap+0x18c. Here is where the problem lies, but I
> > haven't been able to find anyone that can help me with it yet. I can kill
> > that thread, but I'm still unable to download Windows Updates. The green bar
> > just goes forever.
> >
> > Another thing I did in troubleshooting this was I booted into safe mode and
> > deleted the new windows update files that got downloaded when I installed
> > that ActiveX control. (I assume that's what I'm deleting here.) This got me
> > back to original, or nearly so. I did a file search for wu*.dll and deleted
> > all results in Windows\System32. I also deleted wuauclt.exe. Now I was able
> > to restart the Automatic Update service without the negative processor
> > problems. I was also able to visit the Windows update website and download
> > the same buggy files all over again.
> >
> > Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this machine functional with
> > Microsoft's Update software?
> >