Windows 7 - Windows Updater - causing screwy slowdown

Asked By Jim

11-Nov-09 10:59 PM

Recently, at times, my IBM laptop running XP Pro slows down, almost
to a crawl.  Doing a CTL ALT DEL and I look at the process running,
the Windows Updater is showing 5 or 6 of the thing running, doing
what I do not know, as I had just done an update manually the day
before.

I tried removing Windws Updater from the Start Menu,but when I went
to do a manual update, it said I must reactivate it to update.

Could a virus cause this weird behavior?  How can I stop these
multiple update operations from starting in the first place?

I scanned the computer with Super Anti Spyware and AVG anti
virus is running in backgound all the time, and a few Trojans
and tracking cookies were found and removed.

Any suggestions appreciated.  If I reboot, the computer seems to
go back to it is original speed.

12-Nov-09 05:12 AM

UPDATE:  I just booted the laptop and did CTL ALT DEL and found that
when the boot was finished there were 6 Windows Updaters running and
none of them were responding.

I remember that just the day before all these problems started I did
a Windows Update and it had installed 12 or 13 updates to XP, Office,
IE, etc, whatever Microsoft had recommended in their EXPRESS INSTALL.

Ever since then it appears all these WINDOWS UPDATERS are running.

Can someone please advise how to turn this darn thing off, but that I
will still be able to check for updates now and then?

I am running Windows XP Pro on an IBM Thinkpad.

THanks for any suggestions....

12-Nov-09 09:25 AM

If you run MSUpdate and review history does it show any failed updates?
And what settings do you have for updates? - automatic, download and notify
or?

There is a specific Windows update group

12-Nov-09 11:47 PM

Dang, I had typed a long detailed reply and accidentally deleted it.

Well, I could not select REVIEW UPDATE HISTORY, it was greyed out, so
finally decided to do a WINDOWS UPDATE to see if it would allow
selecting UPDATE HISTORY.

Well, when I clicked on Update, it began installin the updating
program again, and when finished, it allowed the Review History to
be selected, and there were no missing or messed up updates, all
12 of the updates from the other night went OK according to the
History.

HOWEVER, there are still 6 WINDOWS UPDATE shown running in the
TASK MANAGER.  In the manager window, it shows the 6 updates
RUNNING, then it goes to NOT RESPONDING for a few seconds, then
it goes back to RUNNING.

If I hightlight all 6 of the Updates, then tell them to End
they stop running.

What I need to know is how to keep them from starting in the first
place.

Any further suggestions?  Thanks for your help.

13-Nov-09 07:18 AM

Problem has been solved by my restoring the computer to the last
complete backup which was last Sunday.  I clone my hard drive every
Sunday just in case of situations like this.  The restore took about
30 minutes and now I am back where I was before I did that stupid
Windows XP update.

Thanks for suggestions, but I was getting nowhere.

Jim

30-Nov-09 12:00 PM

Hi Jim I think I can help. I am confsuedwhen you say "Windows updater".  What
exactly do you mean?  Are you trying to get updates from Microsoft?  Are they
showing you what updates are available and allowing to choose to install or
is it installing updates with the gold shield icon in the bottom right corner
next to the clock automatically?  Are you getting an error message?  If so
what exactly is it?If you go to http://www.microsoft.com and go to updates
and view your update history what does it show?  Does it show that updates
were succesfully installed, or does it say that the installation failed?  If
you answer and clarify I am fairly certain I can help you more, but i need
more clarification and information.

Now your computer on XP is slowing down.  This could indicate a number of
things.  Since I cant sit down in front of your computer I am going to take my
best shot and try to diagnose and ask you questions to better diagnose and
troubleshhot which is what I do as a tech.  If you annswer my questions well
I can help you more.

Now you mentioned startup and processess which can be viewed in the task
manger as well as your CPU load.  Now how that affects speed speficially is
in your startup speed.  From when you turn the computer on to when it boots
and you get on the desktop.  I am assuming you meant that was slow.  Correct
me if I am wrong. Forget about this. it is very complicated to remedy just wait.

Now then you say the system is slow and you have found some infections. OK
well there could be a causaul factor because when a computer is infected it
shows certain behavhiors one of which is slowing down, pop ups, unwanted home
page changes AKA hijacked home page and you say you got a trojan.  Now from
that I glean maybe you still did not get your system clean. Perhaps there are
other infections that need to be cleaned.  I do not know.

Now as far as your computer speed speed is in my experience determined by
three things provided you have no infection:

1.  Your CPU chip the speed of that
2. The amount of RAM you have.  Go to start computer, right click select
properties and it will show you this.

3.  The amount of free disk space you have on your C or hard drive.

How old is the computer?

What is the CPU speed?

How much RAM do you have?
On your hard drive what is the capacity, the free space and the used space?

Is the OS XP, if so what version and what service packs do you have installed?

What antivirus program/programs are you using?

If you answer me I will can try to help you more

I am volunteering my services so be kind.

Kaja