100% CPU usage by svchost.exe on Windows Server 2003
If, with Automatic Updates enabled or when trying to download updates manually from Microsoft Update, CPU load rises to 50-100% (svchost.exe process) and updates fail to download, you need to install the Internet Explorer fix released by Microsoft to resolve this issue.
First, stop the Automatic Updates service: go to "Start" -> "Run..." and run the command net stop wuauserv (the CPU load should drop immediately. If it does not, the problem in your case is most likely not related to the update service and is caused by malware disguising itself as or injecting itself into the system process svchost.exe!)
Then download and manually install the corresponding update from Microsoft:
For our standard Windows 2003 template, install:
KB2870699: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40138
KB2879017: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40552
Be sure to download and install the ENGLISH version of the patch!
If you have a different OS installed, you can find the matching patch on the page https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/ms13-080
After installing the update, be sure to restart the server.
Note: After installing these hotfixes, the problem with searching for and downloading updates from the Windows Update website (via the browser) should be resolved (updates will start downloading), but CPU usage may still stay at 100% throughout the entire update process, and the process itself may take many hours! Currently there are no Microsoft updates for Windows 2003 / XP addressing this, and there may never be, since support for these operating systems has ended.
There are several ways to solve this problem:
1. Disable Windows Automatic Updates (and install the updates you need manually). To do this, run the commands net stop wuauserv and then sc config wuauserv start= disabled
2. Leave the server running for 3-5 hours so that the update download completes, then start the installation of the downloaded updates and wait for it to finish.
3. Install the newer Windows 2008 (possible for the VDS2 and VDS3 configurations).
Note: If stopping the Automatic Updates service does not solve the high CPU usage by the svchost.exe process, the server is most likely infected with malware that injects itself into (or disguises itself as) the system process svchost.exe. Learn more. If you cannot clean the system of viruses yourself, we recommend saving your important data, reinstalling your VDS and following our security recommendations from then on.
First, stop the Automatic Updates service: go to "Start" -> "Run..." and run the command net stop wuauserv (the CPU load should drop immediately. If it does not, the problem in your case is most likely not related to the update service and is caused by malware disguising itself as or injecting itself into the system process svchost.exe!)
Then download and manually install the corresponding update from Microsoft:
For our standard Windows 2003 template, install:
KB2870699: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40138
KB2879017: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40552
Be sure to download and install the ENGLISH version of the patch!
If you have a different OS installed, you can find the matching patch on the page https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/ms13-080
After installing the update, be sure to restart the server.
Note: After installing these hotfixes, the problem with searching for and downloading updates from the Windows Update website (via the browser) should be resolved (updates will start downloading), but CPU usage may still stay at 100% throughout the entire update process, and the process itself may take many hours! Currently there are no Microsoft updates for Windows 2003 / XP addressing this, and there may never be, since support for these operating systems has ended.
There are several ways to solve this problem:
1. Disable Windows Automatic Updates (and install the updates you need manually). To do this, run the commands net stop wuauserv and then sc config wuauserv start= disabled
2. Leave the server running for 3-5 hours so that the update download completes, then start the installation of the downloaded updates and wait for it to finish.
3. Install the newer Windows 2008 (possible for the VDS2 and VDS3 configurations).
Note: If stopping the Automatic Updates service does not solve the high CPU usage by the svchost.exe process, the server is most likely infected with malware that injects itself into (or disguises itself as) the system process svchost.exe. Learn more. If you cannot clean the system of viruses yourself, we recommend saving your important data, reinstalling your VDS and following our security recommendations from then on.
- 226 Users Found This Useful
Related Articles
How do I make programs start automatically on the server?
Let's look at how a server starts up, so that what follows is easier to understand:
1) you turn the server's "power" on or restart it using the "reset" function2) the server powers on and the OS boots!--> at this point the server does not...
No more than 2 people can connect to the server via Remote Desktop at the same time
To allow more than two people to work on the server at the same time, you need to install a terminal server on it.
Questions about antivirus protection and firewall on the server
Q: What antivirus protection is installed on the server?
A: An antivirus is not part of the operating system and, accordingly, is not included in its distribution.
Q: Do I need to install additional software (antivirus, firewall, etc.) to...
How do I enable sound when working via Remote Desktop?
If you want sound to work when connecting via Remote Desktop (i.e. sound played on the server is transferred to your computer), first of all you need to enable the corresponding option in the RDP client settings. To do this, after launching the...
What other ways are there to copy files to my server?
Besides copying files via the clipboard, you can use other file transfer methods. For example, Radmin or TeamViewer. If you want to use these tools, you need to install the corresponding software on the server. Additional information, instructions...
