Update seems to cause crashes

Though this problem existed before I recently reinstall windows XP, I am
clearer about the symptoms now.
I'm running XP (SP2) on a IBM laptop (R50e).
The main symptoms are if automatic updates is enabled the computer soon
slows down dramatically and becomes unreposnsive. This happens if I visit the
updates sites; this morning for instance it was scanning my computer for
suitable updates for around 30 mins until I gave up; during this time the
system had become unresponsive (even to ctrl alt del)
If I press ctrl alt del before this problem arises I notice that the CPU is
working at 100% because of a item called svchost. If I end this process, the
system works fine (though the menu bar changes to gray and less round in
appearance).
My internet reading suggests that there is a worm or virus causing this
problem with svchost but norton antivirus (up to date) cannot see it. I have
also run pctools registry mechanic and spyware doctor and although the
spotted and fixed lots of problems, this one still endures.
And is driving me nuts.

Your help would b much appreciated.

Have you checked out other fora, like this one:
http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/...m/786004271831

"Jonathan Andrews" wrote:

> Though this problem existed before I recently reinstall windows XP, I am
> clearer about the symptoms now.
> I'm running XP (SP2) on a IBM laptop (R50e).
> The main symptoms are if automatic updates is enabled the computer soon
> slows down dramatically and becomes unreposnsive. This happens if I visit the
> updates sites; this morning for instance it was scanning my computer for
> suitable updates for around 30 mins until I gave up; during this time the
> system had become unresponsive (even to ctrl alt del)
> If I press ctrl alt del before this problem arises I notice that the CPU is
> working at 100% because of a item called svchost. If I end this process, the
> system works fine (though the menu bar changes to gray and less round in
> appearance).
> My internet reading suggests that there is a worm or virus causing this
> problem with svchost but norton antivirus (up to date) cannot see it. I have
> also run pctools registry mechanic and spyware doctor and although the
> spotted and fixed lots of problems, this one still endures.
> And is driving me nuts.
>
> Your help would b much appreciated.

Jonathan Andrews <> wrote:

> I'm running XP (SP2) on a IBM laptop (R50e).
> The main symptoms are if automatic updates is enabled the computer
> soon slows down dramatically and becomes unreposnsive. This happens
> if I visit the updates sites; this morning for instance it was
> scanning my computer for suitable updates for around 30 mins until I
> gave up; during this time the system had become unresponsive

For a fix to this problem, please do BOTH of the following:

1. For 32-bit systems, download and save to hard disk, and then install:
<http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe>

2. (not for Vista) Download and install update KB927891 version 3:
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927891>

If the first of these produces an error message about "Update agent already
installed", then execute the installer again manually, with parameter
/wuforce as in:

WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe /wuforce

After the fixes have been installed, doing a Microsoft Update or Automatic
Update might still take some time (though not as much as before) and
processor and disk usage, but it should not lock out user-level interaction
with the system and applications, so it should not be such an inconvenience.

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]

Thank you. it worked


"Robin Walker [MVP]" wrote:

> Jonathan Andrews <> wrote:
>
> > I'm running XP (SP2) on a IBM laptop (R50e).
> > The main symptoms are if automatic updates is enabled the computer
> > soon slows down dramatically and becomes unreposnsive. This happens
> > if I visit the updates sites; this morning for instance it was
> > scanning my computer for suitable updates for around 30 mins until I
> > gave up; during this time the system had become unresponsive
>
> For a fix to this problem, please do BOTH of the following:
>
> 1. For 32-bit systems, download and save to hard disk, and then install:
> <http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe>
>
> 2. (not for Vista) Download and install update KB927891 version 3:
> <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927891>
>
> If the first of these produces an error message about "Update agent already
> installed", then execute the installer again manually, with parameter
> /wuforce as in:
>
> WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe /wuforce
>
> After the fixes have been installed, doing a Microsoft Update or Automatic
> Update might still take some time (though not as much as before) and
> processor and disk usage, but it should not lock out user-level interaction
> with the system and applications, so it should not be such an inconvenience.
>
> --
> Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
>
>
>
>