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

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]" wrote in message
...
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/...0-63810962cb8c


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...

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]" wrote in message
...
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/...0-63810962cb8c


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...

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

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

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/...0-3e7f559c7c46

" 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 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

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/...0-3e7f559c7c46

" 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 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

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message
...
Spamlet wrote:
"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message
...
Spamlet wrote:
snippage
cf.
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...0-63810962cb8c

cf.
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...4-2b82806193b6


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/windowsu...&&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/wind....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

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message
...
Spamlet wrote:
"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message
...
Spamlet wrote:
snippage
cf.
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...0-63810962cb8c

cf.
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...4-2b82806193b6


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/windowsu...&&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/wind....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

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...

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...

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
snip
It takes me to:
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu...&&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.

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
snip
It takes me to:
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu...&&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.

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

Daave wrote:
PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
Spamlet wrote:
"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message
...
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/windowsu...&&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/wind....aspx?ln=en-us
















.mspx

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

Daave wrote:
PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
Spamlet wrote:
"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message
...
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/windowsu...&&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/wind....aspx?ln=en-us
















.mspx

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
snip
It takes me to:
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu...&&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!