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Windows Module Installer high cpu usage on my new tablet

fleshconsumed

fleshconsumed

Diamond Member
Got myself Dell Venue 11 Pro 7130 tablet, 8GB/256GB config. Did a clean Win8.1x64 reinstall, installed manufacturer drivers (as opposed to the ones provided by Dell), everything is running smooth except for the Windows Module Installer process. It keeps eating around 30% of my CPU time which drains the battery and also makes the fan spin up on an otherwise quiet tablet. I've googled the web and the only suggestion I've found is to turn off windows update notifications. I usually set it to "notify on new updates but let me choose what to install". If I set it to never notify/never check the Windows Module Installer goes away and my tablet goes back to 1-5% CPU usage while idle. Now, I can check for updates manually, but that is not ideal and I would greatly prefer if windows let me know when new updates are available. However, if I do that, then the stupid Windows Module Installer comes into picture and starts eating 30% of my CPU time. I installed all important updates and I even installed optional updates, but it does not help. As soon as I put windows update notifications to "notify me on new updates" the Windows Module Installer starts right up and consumes 30% of my CPU.

Does anyone know if there is a better way to deal with this other than disabling windows update checking?
 
My only suggestion would be to revert to Win7 if you can, and wait for Win10 to be released next year.

I had the same issue on a Dell Inspiron, and a HP DV7. Sort of happy that I'm not the only one that has had this issue with Win8/8.1.
 
Yes, I did install all the important updates, and even optional ones. I went back home yesterday, turned on windows update check and so far it's been fine. I don't know what to think. Really frustrating, hoping it won't happen again.
 
And the issue is back.... Even with check for updates disabled. What the heck? Disabled scheduled and idle maintenance tasks, as well as disabled updates, seems to have gone away for now? Man, this is stupid...
 
When you say the issue is back, are you saying the slowness is back, or slowness from the same process is back?
 
When I say issue is back I mean Windows Module Installer taking 30% of my cpu time all the time non stop. That is the issue - it heats up the CPU and makes the fan spin up every minute or so. I just got this tablet, so I may attempt to do another clean install over the weekend, see if that changes anything.
 
I suppose you could just cancel the service and turn it back on in an as-needed basis, but it would be interesting to see if it does the same after another install.
 
You are observing this process through the task manager I am assuming?

I can take a look at my VP8 tonight and see if it has the same issue.

That's my only real complaint with a W8 tablet so far. The idle battery drain is insane. I can go from a fully charged tablet, with absolutely 0 usage for three days to a completely dead battery. It is almost a deal breaker.
 
fleshconsumed said:
When I say issue is back I mean Windows Module Installer taking 30% of my cpu time all the time non stop. That is the issue - it heats up the CPU and makes the fan spin up every minute or so. I just got this tablet, so I may attempt to do another clean install over the weekend, see if that changes anything.
Click to expand...

When the issue is reproing, can you do two things:

run "sc query wuauserv" in an elevated command prompt. Paste its state here.
If the service is running, run "net stop wuauserv" and see if the issue stops.
Upload C:\windows\Windowsupdate.log to pastebin or similar and post a link to it here.
 
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I find it needs some time to run right after an update and reboot. For me it usually runs for a while and then settles down if you just leave it alone.
 
That's the thing, I gave it all the time in the world to run after update/reboot, it just kept taking CPU time never stopping.

Anyway, I did do a clean reinstall a week or so ago and I haven't had this issue ever since. I think something got borked on the first reinstall. Don't know what it was, just glad clean install seems to have solved the problem. Hopefully I didn't just jinx myself, rofl 🙂
 
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