The PC is running very slow and the CPU is maxing out running a process called svchost.exe
computers stall at Windows startup (and other occasions, such as when loading IE) for minutes at a time, Mouse-clicks stack up and run all of a sudden.
Because svchost is a generic container for lots of windows services there are lots of causes of 100% CPU usage and and as many solutions.
Work throught the list below as appropiate and apply and changes where appropiate:
Unprinted document in 'Microsoft Image Printer'
open the Image printer print queue and delete any print jobs in there, if you do not use this printer, delete it to prevent any further occurance of this error.
Microsoft Update
Disabled 'Microsoft Update' (automated local sevice) via system properties and use 'Windows Update' (web based update service). This is a permenant fix which will allow normal operation to carry out the fix below.
- Windows Update is exactly what it says in the name - the site for updating Windows.
- Microsoft Update is an optional "upgrade" to Windows Update which contains all that is in Windows Update, but also includes other updates for Microsoft programs such as Office.
- Automatic Updates is the service that runs locally and checks periodically for critical updates for Windows.
1) Update to WUAgent v3
It may say "Install is not needed since Windows Update Agent is already installed." If so, then run the exe with the command line switch /wuforce
2) Run MS KB927891
3) Reboot
4) If still experiencing high CPU, run Office Update by itself from the Office support site. Install as requested, including any ActiveX.
5) Update and Reboot as necessary.
Microsoft article, (also inculdes links to other versions of V3 installer. ie 64 bit), forum 1, forum 2
Utilities
To view the list of services that are running in Svchost run the folowing in the command prompt:
Tasklist /SVC
Tasklist displays a list of active processes. The /SVC switch shows the list of active services in each process. For more information about a process, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
Tasklist /FI "PID eq processID" (with the quotation marks)