svchost.exe taking 100% of cpu utilization

Here is a Microsoft Fixit page that I have used before: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058  I am currently having this problem with some older XP computers I have here.  I'm starting to wonder if MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials) is part of the problem because it's on the computers that have the update problem.

First, use the Select all link just below the following code block, then copy (Ctrl+C) and paste (Ctrl+V) everything from it into notepad. In notepad use File->Save As..., change the Save as Type to All Files (*.*) and save it to a file named svchostfix.bat

regsvr32 ATL.DLL /s
regsvr32 acelpdec.ax /s
regsvr32 actxprxy.dll /s
regsvr32 asctrls.ocx /s
regsvr32 browseui.dll /s
regsvr32 browseui.dll /I /s
regsvr32 comcat.dll /s
regsvr32 shdoc401.dll /s
regsvr32 shdoc401.dll /i /s
regsvr32 oleaut32.dll /s
regsvr32 shdocvw.dll /I /s
regsvr32 shdocvw.dll /s
regsvr32 msrating.dll /s
regsvr32 mlang.dll /s
regsvr32 hlink.dll /s
regsvr32 mshtmled.dll /s
regsvr32 urlmon.dll /s
regsvr32 plugin.ocx /s
regsvr32 sendmail.dll /s
regsvr32 scrobj.dll /s
regsvr32 mmefxe.ocx /s
regsvr32 corpol.dll /s
regsvr32 jscript.dll /s
regsvr32 msxml.dll /s
regsvr32 imgutil.dll /s
regsvr32 thumbvw.dll /s
regsvr32 cryptext.dll /s
regsvr32 rsabase.dll /s
regsvr32 inseng.dll /s
regsvr32 iesetup.dll /i /s
regsvr32 cryptdlg.dll /s
regsvr32 dispex.dll /s
regsvr32 occache.dll /s
regsvr32 occache.dll /i /s
regsvr32 iepeers.dll /s
regsvr32 urlmon.dll /i /s
regsvr32 cdfview.dll /s
regsvr32 webcheck.dll /s
regsvr32 mobsync.dll /s
regsvr32 pngfilt.dll /s
regsvr32 licmgr10.dll /s
regsvr32 icmfilter.dll /s
regsvr32 hhctrl.ocx /s
regsvr32 inetcfg.dll /s
regsvr32 tdc.ocx /s
regsvr32 MSR2C.DLL /s
regsvr32 msident.dll /s
regsvr32 msieftp.dll /s
regsvr32 xmsconf.ocx /s
regsvr32 ils.dll /s
regsvr32 msoeacct.dll /s
regsvr32 inetcomm.dll /s
regsvr32 msdxm.ocx /s
regsvr32 dxmasf.dll /s
regsvr32 l3codecx.ax /s
regsvr32 mpg4ds32.ax /s
regsvr32 voxmsdec.ax /s
regsvr32 danim.dll /s
regsvr32 Daxctle.ocx /s
regsvr32 lmrt.dll /s
regsvr32 datime.dll /s
regsvr32 dxtrans.dll /s
regsvr32 dxtmsft.dll /s
regsvr32 WEBPOST.DLL /s
regsvr32 WPWIZDLL.DLL /s
regsvr32 POSTWPP.DLL /s
regsvr32 CRSWPP.DLL /s
regsvr32 FTPWPP.DLL /s
regsvr32 FPWPP.DLL /s
regsvr32 WUAPI.DLL /s
regsvr32 WUAUENG.DLL /s
regsvr32 WUCLTUI.DLL /s
regsvr32 WUPS.DLL /s
regsvr32 WUWEB.DLL /s
regsvr32 wshom.ocx /s
regsvr32 wshext.dll /s
regsvr32 vbscript.dll /s
regsvr32 scrrun.dll mstinit.exe /setup /s
regsvr32 msnsspc.dll /SspcCreateSspiReg /s
regsvr32 msapsspc.dll /SspcCreateSspiReg /s
regsvr32 /s actxprxy.dll
regsvr32 /s urlmon.dll
regsvr32 /s mshtml.dll
regsvr32 /s shdocvw.dll
regsvr32 /s browseui.dll
regsvr32 /s jscript.dll
regsvr32 /s vbscript.dll
regsvr32 /s scrrun.dll
regsvr32 /s msxml.dll
regsvr32 /s softpub.dll
regsvr32 /s wintrust.dll
regsvr32 /s dssenh.dll
regsvr32 /s rsaenh.dll
regsvr32 /s gpkcsp.dll
regsvr32 /s sccbase.dll
regsvr32 /s slbcsp.dll
regsvr32 /s cryptdlg.dll
regsvr32 /s schannel.dll
regsvr32 /s oleaut32.dll
regsvr32 /s ole32.dll
regsvr32 /s shell32.dll
regsvr32 /s initpki.dll
regsvr32 /s msscript.ocx
regsvr32 /s dispex.dll
regsvr32 jscript.dll /s
del %temp% /Q /F
net stop wuauserv
ren %windir%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.old
cd /d %windir%\SoftwareDistribution
rd /s DataStore /Q
regsvr32 wuapi.dll /s
regsvr32 wups.dll /s
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll /s
regsvr32 wucltui.dll /s
regsvr32 wuweb.dll /s
regsvr32 msxml.dll /s
regsvr32 msxml2.dll /s
regsvr32 msxml3.dll /s
regsvr32 urlmon.dll /s
net start wuauserv
exit

Select allOpen in new window

Download and Save the Windows Update Agent 3.x
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=100334

Download and Save KB927891
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=6458

It would be easiest if you save all 3 of those files in the same subdirectory, such as in C:\svcfix\.

Reboot to Safe mode (start tapping F8 about once per second during the hardware info screen, then choose Safe mode or Safe mode with Networking when offered)

Click on Start->Run, Browse to where you saved svchostfix.bat,
(the file you made from the code block at the beginning)
select that batch file, Open it, then click OK back in the Run box.
It could take a few minutes to finish... wait for its DOS window to close.

Start->Run windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe

Start->Run WindowsXP-KB927891-v3-x86-ENU.exe

Reboot to 'normal' mode, and check Task Manager for 100% CPU use by svchost process.

@Darr247, I tried your procedure on the computer I'm having trouble with and it failed after about 30 minutes with svchost finally going to 99% and locking up the computer.  It's Windows XP SP3, HP 7905 with an Athlon CPU.  The svchostfix.bat ran but showed 'Access Denied' on one item.  windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe said it was already installed and WindowsXP-KB927891-v3-x86-ENU.exe said the service pack was newer than the fix.

Sorry... I should have noted to logon as the Administrator user in Safe mode.
That thought popped into my head later, but I was nowhere near a computer and my phone will no longer logon the EE mobile site.

I was going to do that but I wasn't given the choice.  I may try that again later.

I had to recreate the Administrator account on the machine because it had been deleted.  But that still didn't fix the problem.  I went on to another machine only to have the same problem happen even quicker.  I haven't tried any of the fixes on it yet.  

That makes 4 or 5 machines (out of 12) that worked perfectly last month at update time that have had noticeable problems this time.  One of the symptoms has been that the initial set of updates (when they work) will show the gold shield while they are downloading but it disappears when the downloads are complete.  Then you have to install the downloads by turning off the computer and letting them install then.

All the computers are different models and brands, several old HPs and Dells and a no-name.

With only 6 months or so left, perhaps Microsoft's getting more aggressive with its upgrade encouragements.  :)

I've been wondering the same thing...

It looks like the first computer I mentioned has a more serious problem than svchost taking 99%.  I tried to do a System Restore and now it won't boot, not even to the setup screen.  Just shows memory and drives and stops.

Picking up on what Darr247 mentioned, I get the feeling that Microsoft is deliberately messing up some of its updates (or not taking as much care with the XP ones) so they can tell us "We told you so, XP is now outmoded, buy Windows 8".  We recently had two updates that simply failed to tell Windows Update that they were already installed, and I'm sure more will follow.  They are desperate to get out of having to code updates for the older (pre-Vista) operating system.  The irony is that I believe XP SP3 is the best and most stable OS they have created.

I thought Microsoft was trying to sell more Linux systems.  ??  Glad I still have my Windows 98 systems.

@Darr247, my first computer I mentioned is probably toast since it now won't even boot to the setup screen.  I fired up the second computer tonight and let it sit there at 99% for a while and it started working and finally did the updates.  

And... I have another computer with different symptoms.  Windows Update would crash every time in IE8.  I figured since your BAT file just re-registers a bunch of DLLs, I tried it on that machine.  And it worked!  IE8 went to Windows Update without any problems this and it's doing updates.  Looks like it's done and time to reboot.

:)

I wonder why we haven't heard anything from frankbustos ?

I applied this and it worked for me.

Then Frank, you should award points and close the question.  Oops, I see that you did.

@Darr247, I ran your BAT file on this computer and got two strange responses.  #1 my Default Browser and Email no longer work along with some other things on the Start Panel and #2, an Update for .NET Framework 1.1 finally installed after months of not working.  I'm going to open another question for the problem part.

It appears that Microsoft has done something to fix the problem with updates this month because (so far) all the updates are being done quickly.