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Win up-date uses so much Ram my computer becomes un-responsive

P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

Flightless Bird
Spamlet wrote:
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:exQhUY9QLHA.4996@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Spamlet wrote:
>> <snippage>
>>>> cf.
>>>> http://social.answers.microsoft.com...9a9a03b/#44e80262-9a91-4ddb-9770-63810962cb8c
>>>>
>>>> cf.
>>>> http://social.answers.microsoft.com...a300922/#d098eb64-7910-4f3c-9f64-2b82806193b6
>>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks for the extra detail Robear.
>>>
>>> In my case though it is *Windows* Update that is hogging resources...
>>
>> Does http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com take you to
>> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate or
>> http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate ?
>
> It takes me to:
> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/thanks.aspx?ln=en&&thankspage=5

Then your default update source is *Microsoft* Update and the links in my
previous post apply to your computer. Yes, the naming conventions are
unfortunate & confusing. As posted in one of the links in my previous post:

<QP>
What are the differences between Windows Updates, Automatic Updates, and
Microsoft Updates?

While Windows Update provides you with updates specifically for Windows,
Microsoft Update expands the service to download and install updates for
other Microsoft software, such as Microsoft Office and Windows Live [as well
as Silverlight & Microsoft Security Essentials]. Automatic updating is a
feature that allows you to set your PC to automatically download and install
updates using either service, making it easy and convenient for you to keep
your Windows PC current.
</QP>
Source: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/windowsupdate/FAQ.mspx
 
D

Daave

Flightless Bird
PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> Spamlet wrote:
>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:exQhUY9QLHA.4996@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> Does http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com take you to
>>> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate or
>>> http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate ?
>>
>> It takes me to:
>> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/thanks.aspx?ln=en&&thankspage=5
>
> Then your default update source is *Microsoft* Update

How do you figure? It says "windowsupdate" in the URL he gave.

FWIW, this is my URL when I go to Windows Update:

http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us
















..mspx
 
T

Tim Meddick

Flightless Bird
The problem with my PC is with the image: "wuauclt.exe" when initialized by
Automatic Updates. I also have XP running with 512 Mb RAM.

It can hog up to 400 of my 512Mb of memory! Causing my PC to almost
totally freeze up.

My solution it to disable Automatic Updates and double-click on my icon
with the command-line :

C:/WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe /detectnow

....about twice a week - which accomplishes exactly the same thing as my
system was doing only at times I choose (i.e when I'm not working on
anything else).

What's wrong with that.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)


P.S. Actually, I haven't disabled Auto Updates at all. What I do in
reality is to bring up a cmd prompt window and use pskill to terminate the
"wuauclt" process manually.

I simply have to do this or nothing else at all is possible on the PC....

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:eNbKY9ARLHA.4212@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> No, quite the contrary. The temporary fix is to change your default
> update source from Microsoft Update to Windows Update without disabling
> Automatic Updates.
>
> cf.
> http://social.answers.microsoft.com...9a9a03b/#44e80262-9a91-4ddb-9770-63810962cb8c
>
>
> Tim Meddick wrote:
>> I also get the "wuauclt.exe" process hogging as much as 80% of all
>> memory
>> on my PC as well.
>>
>> My advice would be to disable Automatic Windows Updates...
>
 
M

MowGreen

Flightless Bird
Tim Meddick wrote:
> The problem with my PC is with the image: "wuauclt.exe" when initialized
> by Automatic Updates. I also have XP running with 512 Mb RAM.
>
> It can hog up to 400 of my 512Mb of memory! Causing my PC to almost
> totally freeze up.
>
> My solution it to disable Automatic Updates and double-click on my icon
> with the command-line :
>
> C:/WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe /detectnow
>
> ...about twice a week - which accomplishes exactly the same thing as my
> system was doing only at times I choose (i.e when I'm not working on
> anything else).
>
> What's wrong with that.
>
> ==
>
> Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
>
>
> P.S. Actually, I haven't disabled Auto Updates at all. What I do in
> reality is to bring up a cmd prompt window and use pskill to terminate
> the "wuauclt" process manually.
>
> I simply have to do this or nothing else at all is possible on the PC....


Tim,

Would you answer these questions, please -

1) What is the size of DataStore.ebd, located in
WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore ?

2) Is the installed AV monitoring or scanning the above file ?



MowGreen
================
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
================

"Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked
 
M

MowGreen

Flightless Bird
MowGreen wrote:
> Tim Meddick wrote:
>> The problem with my PC is with the image: "wuauclt.exe" when initialized
>> by Automatic Updates. I also have XP running with 512 Mb RAM.
>>
>> It can hog up to 400 of my 512Mb of memory! Causing my PC to almost
>> totally freeze up.
>>
>> My solution it to disable Automatic Updates and double-click on my icon
>> with the command-line :
>>
>> C:/WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe /detectnow
>>
>> ...about twice a week - which accomplishes exactly the same thing as my
>> system was doing only at times I choose (i.e when I'm not working on
>> anything else).
>>
>> What's wrong with that.
>>
>> ==
>>
>> Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
>>
>>
>> P.S. Actually, I haven't disabled Auto Updates at all. What I do in
>> reality is to bring up a cmd prompt window and use pskill to terminate
>> the "wuauclt" process manually.
>>
>> I simply have to do this or nothing else at all is possible on the PC....
>
>
> Tim,
>
> Would you answer these questions, please -
>
> 1) What is the size of DataStore.ebd, located in
> WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore ?
>
> 2) Is the installed AV monitoring or scanning the above file ?
>
>
>
> MowGreen
> ================
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ================
>
> "Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked


This was posted 4 hours ago in the Windows Update forum by Keith, MS
Support Engineer:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com...fbda084/#baf3e55a-fc4a-4915-a2f0-3e7f559c7c46

" If you are currently experiencing issues with XP running slowing due
to the wuauclt.exe using too much memory, we are interested in hearing
from you. Please send an email to commod@microsoft.com and include your
forum display name and contact information.


Important: When you are composing the email, be sure to include “XP
Wuauclt.exe” in the subject line. In the body of the email, please
describe the exact symptoms that you are experiencing, your forum
display name, a link to any forum thread that applies to your issue, and
any other information that you feel is relevant to your issue.

Also include the following information:

XP Service Pack level

Antivirus Installed

Amount of RAM


Please note that this is not a normal support channel and you may not be
contacted for a follow up. In the event that you are not contacted, you
may find additional support options at http://support.microsoft.com."



MowGreen
================
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
================

"Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked
 
S

Spamlet

Flightless Bird
"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:-OO$H60ARLHA.456@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Spamlet wrote:
>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:exQhUY9QLHA.4996@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> Spamlet wrote:
>>> <snippage>
>>>>> cf.
>>>>> http://social.answers.microsoft.com...9a9a03b/#44e80262-9a91-4ddb-9770-63810962cb8c
>>>>>
>>>>> cf.
>>>>> http://social.answers.microsoft.com...a300922/#d098eb64-7910-4f3c-9f64-2b82806193b6
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for the extra detail Robear.
>>>>
>>>> In my case though it is *Windows* Update that is hogging resources...
>>>
>>> Does http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com take you to
>>> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate or
>>> http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate ?
>>
>> It takes me to:
>> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/thanks.aspx?ln=en&&thankspage=5
>
> Then your default update source is *Microsoft* Update and the links in my
> previous post apply to your computer. Yes, the naming conventions are
> unfortunate & confusing. As posted in one of the links in my previous
> post:
>

Well I don't know how you could tell, because after going to the site and
paging down to select to remove the MSUpdate software, and restarting, your
link still takes me to:
http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

Though, once there, paging down no longer gets the tick box to remove MSU!

Yes, it sure is confusing!

Anyhow, thanks for your persistence and I look forward to having some ram
for other purposes now!

Cheers,
S
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

Flightless Bird
You are certainly welcome to begin your own, new thread about YOUR problem
and YOUR computer. Thank you.

Tim Meddick wrote:
> The problem with my PC is with the image: "wuauclt.exe" when initialized
> by
> Automatic Updates. I also have XP running with 512 Mb RAM.
>
> It can hog up to 400 of my 512Mb of memory! Causing my PC to almost
> totally freeze up...
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

Flightless Bird
Oops! Thanks...needed more coffee, I guess.

Daave wrote:
> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>> Spamlet wrote:
>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:exQhUY9QLHA.4996@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>> Does http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com take you to
>>>> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate or
>>>> http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate ?
>>>
>>> It takes me to:
>>> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/thanks.aspx?ln=en&&thankspage=5
>>
>> Then your default update source is *Microsoft* Update
>
> How do you figure? It says "windowsupdate" in the URL he gave.
>
> FWIW, this is my URL when I go to Windows Update:
>
> http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> .mspx
 
D

Daave

Flightless Bird
PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> <snip>
>>> It takes me to:
>>> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/thanks.aspx?ln=en&&thankspage=5
>>
>> Then your default update source is *Microsoft* Update and the links
>> in my previous post apply to your computer...
>
> SCRATCH THAT! Your default is *Windows* Update and so whatever your
> problem is, it has nothing to do with the very specific behavior I'd
> been discussing.

I wonder if there is a related problem.

That is, if OP disables Automatic Updates and manually downloads and
installs updates from the Windows Update website, I wonder how that
would affect his PC's behavior.

I once had a similar issue (on another PC, yes an older one). And it was
Windows Update. And the problem did go away when I disabled Automatic
Updates.

Not the best solution, of course. But I was diligent in keeping that PC
patched!
 
S

Spamlet

Flightless Bird
"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:-OJv8TnKRLHA.6004@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> <snip>
>>> It takes me to:
>>> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/thanks.aspx?ln=en&&thankspage=5
>>
>> Then your default update source is *Microsoft* Update and the links in my
>> previous post apply to your computer...
>
> SCRATCH THAT! Your default is *Windows* Update and so whatever your
> problem is, it has nothing to do with the very specific behavior I'd been
> discussing.

Or maybe you did stumble on to something: read my last post.

Cheers,
S
 
T

Tim Meddick

Flightless Bird
I have no idea what your thinking is...

(in all likelihood, I'm showing my ignorance!)

...however; the answers to your query are; approx 170Kb and I don't know
if Resident Shield will pick up the test virus I placed in that dir....

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)




"MowGreen" <mowgreen@nowandzen.com> wrote in message
news:i53lvq$k8o$1@speranza.aioe.org...
> Tim Meddick wrote:
>> The problem with my PC is with the image: "wuauclt.exe" when initialized
>> by Automatic Updates. I also have XP running with 512 Mb RAM.
>>
>> It can hog up to 400 of my 512Mb of memory! Causing my PC to almost
>> totally freeze up.
>>
>> My solution it to disable Automatic Updates and double-click on my icon
>> with the command-line :
>>
>> C:/WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe /detectnow
>>
>> ...about twice a week - which accomplishes exactly the same thing as my
>> system was doing only at times I choose (i.e when I'm not working on
>> anything else).
>>
>> What's wrong with that.
>>
>> ==
>>
>> Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
>>
>>
>> P.S. Actually, I haven't disabled Auto Updates at all. What I do in
>> reality is to bring up a cmd prompt window and use pskill to terminate
>> the "wuauclt" process manually.
>>
>> I simply have to do this or nothing else at all is possible on the
>> PC....
>
>
> Tim,
>
> Would you answer these questions, please -
>
> 1) What is the size of DataStore.ebd, located in
> WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore ?
>
> 2) Is the installed AV monitoring or scanning the above file ?
>
>
>
> MowGreen
> ================
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ================
>
> "Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked
 
T

Tim Meddick

Flightless Bird
For god's sake, we're back to the obsequious condescension are we?

The reason I posted the details of my own experiences, was to demonstrate
the reasoning behind the advice I gave to the OP in my previous post to
that one.

If you can't keep up?!.......

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)




"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23Q5kTnKRLHA.6004@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> You are certainly welcome to begin your own, new thread about YOUR
> problem and YOUR computer. Thank you.
>
> Tim Meddick wrote:
>> The problem with my PC is with the image: "wuauclt.exe" when initialized
>> by
>> Automatic Updates. I also have XP running with 512 Mb RAM.
>>
>> It can hog up to 400 of my 512Mb of memory! Causing my PC to almost
>> totally freeze up...
>
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

Flightless Bird
MYOB

Tim Meddick wrote:
> For god's sake, we're back to the obsequious condescension are we?
>
> The reason I posted the details of my own experiences, was to demonstrate
> the reasoning behind the advice I gave to the OP in my previous post to
> that one.
>
> If you can't keep up?!.......
>
> ==
>
> Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
>
>
>
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:%23Q5kTnKRLHA.6004@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> You are certainly welcome to begin your own, new thread about YOUR
>> problem and YOUR computer. Thank you.
>>
>> Tim Meddick wrote:
>>> The problem with my PC is with the image: "wuauclt.exe" when initialized
>>> by
>>> Automatic Updates. I also have XP running with 512 Mb RAM.
>>>
>>> It can hog up to 400 of my 512Mb of memory! Causing my PC to almost
>>> totally freeze up...
 
U

Unknown

Flightless Bird
What happened to your 'Bite Me' retort?
"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23scgYATRLHA.4212@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> MYOB
>
> Tim Meddick wrote:
>> For god's sake, we're back to the obsequious condescension are we?
>>
>> The reason I posted the details of my own experiences, was to demonstrate
>> the reasoning behind the advice I gave to the OP in my previous post to
>> that one.
>>
>> If you can't keep up?!.......
>>
>> ==
>>
>> Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:%23Q5kTnKRLHA.6004@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> You are certainly welcome to begin your own, new thread about YOUR
>>> problem and YOUR computer. Thank you.
>>>
>>> Tim Meddick wrote:
>>>> The problem with my PC is with the image: "wuauclt.exe" when
>>>> initialized
>>>> by
>>>> Automatic Updates. I also have XP running with 512 Mb RAM.
>>>>
>>>> It can hog up to 400 of my 512Mb of memory! Causing my PC to almost
>>>> totally freeze up...
>
 
M

MowGreen

Flightless Bird
Tim Meddick wrote:
> I have no idea what your thinking is...
>
> (in all likelihood, I'm showing my ignorance!)
>
> ..however; the answers to your query are; approx 170Kb and I don't
> know if Resident Shield will pick up the test virus I placed in that
> dir....
>
> ==
>
> Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)


We've been trying to document to MS an issue where XP systems that have
512MB RAM or less become completely bogged down or non-responsive when
opted in to Microsoft Update. Since you stated your system is not opted
in to MU, but updates from Windows Update, I was hoping that, with your
cooperation, we could document that the issue is affecting systems that
are NOT updating from MU.

The size of DataStore.edb on your system shows that you've either
deleted it recently or "reset the updating components", which also
deletes the database file.

The other question I asked involves the monitoring or scanning of the
location of DataStore.edb by the installed AV -
WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore <--- this subfolder

There's a known issue when the AV is monitoring or scanning files that
are locked that causes corruption which is described in this KB -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822158

" Note If these files are not excluded, antivirus software may prevent
proper access to these files, and security databases can become
corrupted. Scanning these files can prevent the files from being used or
may prevent a security policy from being applied to the files. These
files should not be scanned because antivirus software may not correctly
treat them as proprietary database files. "

I've found that excluding just DataStore.edb from an AV's scan and *not*
monitoring with a 'RealTime Shield' puts *much* less strain on an XP
system that updates from WU.
Technically speaking, it does lower a system's overall Security but,
I've never seen nor heard of any system becoming compromised by
excluding DataStore.edb from monitoring and scanning.


MowGreen
================
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
================

"Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked
 
S

Spamlet

Flightless Bird
"Spamlet" <spam.morespam@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:i53thi$flq$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:-OO$H60ARLHA.456@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Spamlet wrote:
>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:exQhUY9QLHA.4996@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>> Spamlet wrote:
>>>> <snippage>
>>>>>> cf.
>>>>>> http://social.answers.microsoft.com...9a9a03b/#44e80262-9a91-4ddb-9770-63810962cb8c
>>>>>>
>>>>>> cf.
>>>>>> http://social.answers.microsoft.com...a300922/#d098eb64-7910-4f3c-9f64-2b82806193b6
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks for the extra detail Robear.
>>>>>
>>>>> In my case though it is *Windows* Update that is hogging resources...
>>>>
>>>> Does http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com take you to
>>>> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate or
>>>> http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate ?
>>>
>>> It takes me to:
>>> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/thanks.aspx?ln=en&&thankspage=5
>>
>> Then your default update source is *Microsoft* Update and the links in my
>> previous post apply to your computer. Yes, the naming conventions are
>> unfortunate & confusing. As posted in one of the links in my previous
>> post:
>>
>
> Well I don't know how you could tell, because after going to the site and
> paging down to select to remove the MSUpdate software, and restarting,
> your link still takes me to:
> http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us
>
> Though, once there, paging down no longer gets the tick box to remove MSU!
>
> Yes, it sure is confusing!
>
> Anyhow, thanks for your persistence and I look forward to having some ram
> for other purposes now!
>
> Cheers,
> S


Whether this observation has any significance I don't know, but since
carrying out the above procedure I have not noticed the windows updating
process taking over the svchost process in the way that it did: this has
stayed around 16k, so far (maybe I'm not updating at all...). However, I
have noticed something I had not noticed before in that (running Process
Explorer in the notification area) something called 'Interrupts' now
regularly takes up up to 90% of the processor. What is that all about?

Cheers,
S
 
L

leoliver

Flightless Bird
--
your friend,
Larry


"MowGreen" wrote:

> leoliver wrote:
> > I have never had any problems with Windows Automatic up-dates before , but in
> > the last month, the auto up-date process has suddenly started eating so much
> > of my RAM that my computer becomes non-responsive. I didn't know what was
> > causing the memory usage problem at 1st , but when I disabled Windows
> > Automatic up-date the problem stopped.
> > Windows Auto up-date would start to eat up memory when I brought my computer
> > out of Standby or after a system re-start. Does anyone have any ideas why
> > Windows Auto up-date would suddenly start to eat up all of my memory ?
> > My system is a Win XP Pro SP3 computer .
> > Thanks.
>
>
> Larry,
>
> 1.a. How much RAM is installed? *Right* click My Computer either on the
> Desktop or Start Menu, choose Properties.
> The installed RAM is listed under 'Computer:'
>
> b. What is the installed antivirus/security suite and is a 3rd party
> firewall being used ?
>
> 2. Has the system been opted into Microsoft Update ? Open the Start Menu
> and see if Microsoft Update is listed. If you don't see it at first,
> click (All) Programs. If the system has been opted into MU it will show
> at the top of the list.
>
> 3. Is Office or any Office components (Word, Excel or Powerpoint Viewer)
> installed ?
>
> 4. Using Windows Explorer ( Start> Programs >Accessories>
> Windows Explorer) please check
> Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\DataStore.edb. <-- this file
> *Right* click it, choose Properties. What is the file's Size ?
>
> Also, check to see what the total Size is of the contents of
> Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download.
> When you navigate to the Download subfolder click Edit on the Menu bar,
> choose Select All. Now click File on the Menu bar and choose Properties.
> What is the Size reported ?
>
>
> MowGreen
> ================
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ================
>
> "Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked

It took me too much time to reply to your reply to my post , but here are
the answears to your questions....................

1a. 512 RAM

1b. Avira Personal anti-virus , Windows Firewall.

2. Yes , Microsoft up-date.

3. Microsoft Frontpage 2003

4. 164 MB.

5. Total sixe of Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download is 468 MB. , there is
also a "Download.old folder" at 2.68 MB. and a "Download(2).old" folder at 16
MB.
> .
>
 
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