wuauclt.exe process running even with automatic updates turned off.

[nomofoshobro]

Immediately after logging on, the process svchost.exe would hog the entire cpu for 5-10 minuntes. Nothing could be done but to wait it out. With the help of Process Explorer I finally narrowed it down to the process wuauclt.exe......the process for automatic updates. I have since turned off the automatic updates, solving the problem at startup. A couple of web searches made it obvious to me that this problem is widespread.

On to the current problem. Since I turned the automatic updates off, they have twice been turned on again automatically. I am positive that I did not turn them back on, but there it was tying up the cpu again. Needless to say, I was wondering what was going on.

Now I have noticed (by using Process Explorer) that even with the automatic updates turned off, the wuauclt.exe sometimes starts running for short periods of time. Is this strange, or am I just paranoid?

Has anyone had this problem, or can anyone shed some light on this situation?

system specs:
OS: Windows XP home with sp2 and all current updates
brand: Proworx
mobo: ECS P4S5A/DX+ with a P4 2.8 GHz processor
power supply: Task International TK-930TX 300W
graphic card: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440-SE (128MB)
Ram: 512 MB DDR 2100 (Melco)
HD: Western Digital Caviar 120 GB

[alexcraw]

This file gave me all sorts of difficulties recently. Here is the thread where I recieved help, check out post number 15 where I discovered that the file you mention was giving me grief.

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=170574

[nomofoshobro]

thanks for your response.

however, i have read about this as well and i only have the legit file on my pc. it is definitely the windows update process. i was mainly wondering about the fact that automatic updates is turing itself on sometimes.

[cmillar6]

wuauclt.exe will periodically start running even though automatic updates are turned off, that is normal and I have no idea why. To prevent wuauclt.exe from starting do this

control panel-->administrative tools-->Services-->disable the automatic update service.