svchost.exe 100% Utilization - Help

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Hello,

I am have a having an awful problem with SVCHOST.EXE driving CPU utilization
to between 95% and 100% on my son's system. In addition there are many
functions that no longer work such as: when I minimize a screen it does not
show up on the Task Bar; when I go into User Accounts through the Control
Panel I get an empty screen; when I try to copy files from a CD using Windows
Explorer nothing happens; when I try to install PC-cilling Internet Security
2005 I receive a Windows error about the Installer and the installation
terminates; similar result with Norton IS 2004; and numerous other examples
of blank screens or no response to commands.

The specifics:
1. System is running windows XP Home with SP2 and all current MS updates;
2. System had PC cil IS 2005 but my son had uninstalled it trying to solve
problem himself.
3. System is a Dell 4300 with 512MB RAM
4. I can access Internet from the system how ever some pages do not load
5. When I check Network Connections in Control Panel it is empty
6. Device Manager shows all devices are working properly.
7. The system has Webroot SpySweeper installed but not loaded -- it has
been updated and finds nothing.
8. I have tried to reinstall PC-cillin IS 2005 but I get an "Installer"
error and the process terminates.
9. I also tried installing a copy of Norton IS 2004 and that crashes during
the install process.

-- I have already spent substantial time searching online for help with this
including newsgroups.
-- I have used Hijack This which had no effect as only minimal prcoesses are
loaded.

One tool that has provided some insight is Process Explorer by Sysinternals.
This program display all running process along with in-depth information
about each process. Several svchost.exe process are running but when I get
more info on the one that is driving CPU utilization I find that it is one
particular problem Thread. That Thread is ADVAPI32.DLL. Process Explorer
allows me to Kill the Thread without killing the process. When I kill the
Thread all CPU utilization goes back to normal. However the strange system
behavior problems do not go away. And when I reboot the runaway CPU
utilization returns. So while I can identify the Thread I cannot prevent the
process from starting.

Perhaps things are too corrupted and its time to reformat and reinstall --
UUGGHH.

Your help is greatly appreciated as I have spent many, many hours on trying
to resolve this already.

--Mike

 

[Quintin]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

do you have PC cillan? I suggest running a diagnostic startup and then if
that fails you may need to run the repair console.

MSCONFIG

http://netsquirrel.com/msconfig/
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prmb_tol_dxth.asp
This explains all details of how to use the utility.

In brief what you will need to do is go to the start menu then go to the run
command box. Once there type “msconfig�. This will bring up the Microsoft
Configuration Utility. Once in it there are two options.

1. If you believe you know what is causing the problem go through to the
services tab. Click on the hide all Microsoft services tab. Then go through
the list and untick what you think is causing you problems. Be careful, but
do not worry. If you untick a vital services MS will automatically retick it
on restart. Next go to the startup tab. Untick everything that you think may
be causing you the problem and then apply your changes, and restart your
computer to see if you are still experiencing the problem.
2. If number one does not work or you do not know what is causing the
problem do the following. In the Microsoft Configuration Utility’s welcome
screen, click diagnostic startup. Restart the computer. Do you have the same
problem? If so then use system restore (located in the start menu’s
accessories tab) to undo the msconfig change. If it has it is now your job to
find what was causing the problem. So to the services tab. Click on the hide
all Microsoft services tab. Then go through the list and retick 5 services
(at a time i.e. between each restart) and find what you think is causing your
problems. Be careful, but do not worry. If you untick a vital services MS
will automatically retick it on restart. Next go to the startup tab. Retick 5
programs (at a time i.e. between each restart) and find what you think is
causing your problems. Then apply your changes, and restart your computer to
see if you are still experiencing the problem.

THE REPAIR CONSOLE

This method will reinstall Windows XP, and delete all drivers and windows
updates, BUT IT WILL NOT DELETE YOUR PROGRAMS OR FILES!

To use it you need to insert your Windows XP CD, and then restart your
computer. Then when the boot screen comes up, click ‘boot from cd’ and once
the XP cd has loaded, select the repair console.

Here are some websites that describe the process
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058/EN-US/ Please not this is very detailed
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm this is quite a good
step by step guide which I recommend printing off and looking at while doing
your first repair

Do not worry. Repairs are very easy, but afterwards you will need to
reinstall drivers, and run Windows Update.

Hope that helps

Cheers

Quintin

"Mikem" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I am have a having an awful problem with SVCHOST.EXE driving CPU utilization
> to between 95% and 100% on my son's system. In addition there are many
> functions that no longer work such as: when I minimize a screen it does not
> show up on the Task Bar; when I go into User Accounts through the Control
> Panel I get an empty screen; when I try to copy files from a CD using Windows
> Explorer nothing happens; when I try to install PC-cilling Internet Security
> 2005 I receive a Windows error about the Installer and the installation
> terminates; similar result with Norton IS 2004; and numerous other examples
> of blank screens or no response to commands.
>
> The specifics:
> 1. System is running windows XP Home with SP2 and all current MS updates;
> 2. System had PC cil IS 2005 but my son had uninstalled it trying to solve
> problem himself.
> 3. System is a Dell 4300 with 512MB RAM
> 4. I can access Internet from the system how ever some pages do not load
> 5. When I check Network Connections in Control Panel it is empty
> 6. Device Manager shows all devices are working properly.
> 7. The system has Webroot SpySweeper installed but not loaded -- it has
> been updated and finds nothing.
> 8. I have tried to reinstall PC-cillin IS 2005 but I get an "Installer"
> error and the process terminates.
> 9. I also tried installing a copy of Norton IS 2004 and that crashes during
> the install process.
>
> -- I have already spent substantial time searching online for help with this
> including newsgroups.
> -- I have used Hijack This which had no effect as only minimal prcoesses are
> loaded.
>
> One tool that has provided some insight is Process Explorer by Sysinternals.
> This program display all running process along with in-depth information
> about each process. Several svchost.exe process are running but when I get
> more info on the one that is driving CPU utilization I find that it is one
> particular problem Thread. That Thread is ADVAPI32.DLL. Process Explorer
> allows me to Kill the Thread without killing the process. When I kill the
> Thread all CPU utilization goes back to normal. However the strange system
> behavior problems do not go away. And when I reboot the runaway CPU
> utilization returns. So while I can identify the Thread I cannot prevent the
> process from starting.
>
> Perhaps things are too corrupted and its time to reformat and reinstall --
> UUGGHH.
>
> Your help is greatly appreciated as I have spent many, many hours on trying
> to resolve this already.
>
> --Mike