CPU next to zero :-(

Nikiya

Hello! For the last few months my laptop has been slowing down and these days it crawls. Sometimes I can't even open a page. Half of my memory is free so that is not the issue.
A friend who knows about IT has found the Windows update application (can't remember its name) is using up all my CPU. However, he says I cannot get rid of it because I would be exposed to attacks (viruses, trojans, etc). But I've had this laptop for some time and it did not happen before (???).
Does anybody know what might be happening or if there is a way to sort this out? I have Windows 7.
Many Thanks in advance!!!

John_Gray

Read through this Microsoft article Windows Update is taking an unusually long time to scan and install updates and carefully follow all the steps in the Resolution section. If you can't do them, get your "friend who knows about IT" to help!

Make sure you know whether you are running 32-bit Windows 7 or 64-bit...

Nikiya

Thanks John! Where are the bits? However, if it is installation...it might be installing all the time! Is that possible?

WobblyDog

I had a similar situation on my PC. Windows Update had effectively got confused about what updates it needed to download and so was constantly busy. I had to go through Microsoft's recommended repair procedures a couple of times before they worked. The PC is much more useable now.

C_Mababejive

I had the same issue on windows 8.1. I finally killed it stone dead by switching off windows auto update. At one point my pc was revving away, fan huffing and puffing, at cpu 80 odd percent. Now I will decide when to check for updates and what to install. My lappy has been fully quieting since i switched it off,, total joke.

John_Gray

Nikiya wrote: »

Thanks John! Where are the bits?

You can find this information from Control Panel -> System.

esuhl

If you get stuck, sometimes it helps to manually download install the latest version of the Windows Update Client.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/949104

If that doesn't help, try running the Windows Update Diagnostic Tool:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/2714434

bluesnake

Very generally speaking, if it is not adware/spyware/... then it is the virus checker. This is said as 'if you do not drive black car, then you drive a grey one'.

You only have 1 virus checker running?

The product to freely download from MS is called ProcessExplorer. Make sure that under View in the menu 'Show ?????' boxes are ticked. Look in the CPU column. Bigger numbers in there do not mean better.

There is another free tool from MS called 'ProcessMonitor'

Probably best to run them as Administrator, but the first one Procexp usually show the bottle necks.

Nikiya

Thanks! Now I am a bit confused as to which advice to follow.... my internet knowledge is pretty poor. Bluesnake: I only have Panda antivirus and had a spyware before which we uninstalled thinking it was slowing down, but the culprit is the update (as researched by my friend while I watched). Mababejive: to do what you did I suppose I'd need to know more than I do, unfortunately.

bluesnake

it could be updates, it could be lots of things not even mentioned. You check for viruses, then uninstall the virus checker (usually a special piece of software from the manufacturer - not Add/Remove programs), then re-install. More chance it is the AV than winning the Lotto, but it is just a guess.

I would go down the process explorer route, as it is quick and costs £0, does no harm and does not leave itself lurking.

I have no sound on my PC at work, but these youtube titles look good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfxI9NtUa8U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgmVDMDtAKY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyhXjtbTViU

If you are sure it is only the Updates, then MS usually have their latest updater package to install and run
http://www.infoworld.com/article/3086811/microsoft-windows/microsoft-releases-kb-3161647-kb-3161608-to-fix-slow-windows-7-update-scans.html

And even faster updates
http://www.infoworld.com/article/3120365/microsoft-windows/kb-3185911-speeds-up-the-windows-7-scan-for-updates.html

If the updates do still not work AND you have the installation DVD, then from a dos prompt run 'sfc /scannow as per http://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-run-system-file-checker-analyze-its-logs-in-windows-7-vista