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Win7/64 SVCHost.exe process / DNSCache service uses 100% CPU

Anonymous
2011-04-17T17:17:53+00:00

I see this question being asked often, although none of the replies seem to apply to my circumstance. I hope someone can help me.

My Win7/Pro/64 laptop has developed an odd issue in the past few weeks. Sitting idle, the process svchost.exe will amp-up to 100% cpu -- essentially locking the computer untill I manually end the process via Task Manager. It consumes cpu in 25% incremenets... starting at 25, then several minutes later increasign to 50, 75, and finally 100%. When I look at the services running under svchost.exe I can see that it is DNSCache that is the culprit. By the time I hit 100% cpu, there are four instances of the DNSCache service running - each using 25%. My first thought was malware... so I did full scan with both McAfee and Microsoft AV/Malware detection sw and found nothing. Any suggestions on what I can do?

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-04-15T18:41:49+00:00

    This! I have this problem as well since 2012, its been 2 years. I know I don't have any virus or malware and this svchost.exe does spike to 40% 20% 60% and when at start-up it goes to 100% cpu. It even lags sound etc... I don't know how to solve it, I've tried updates and all of that but it simply doesnt work.

    Its not the HOSTS file as well.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-06-16T22:48:46+00:00

    Alan

    The combination of Malwarebytes and Superantispyware is  effective. I myself am sceptical about Security Essentials and have been ever since Microsoft started trying to develop anti-malware software with products like Windows Defender and their Total Care experiment. I do not like products that attempt to try combine many things in one product. Such products have proven many times in the past not to provide effective solutions. It is, however, very popular.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-06-16T21:47:53+00:00

    Thanks Gerry.

    I am using process explorer and have zeroed in on the services listed above (dnscache, tapisrv, etc.). I am going to revise my registry to have each of them run independently under svchost so I can tell which of them is using all the resources.  If you are saying that Microsoft Security Essentials cannot competently detect malware versions of their own programs, well, call me skeptical.

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-06-16T21:30:37+00:00

    What is your computer make and model?

    Use Process Explorer rather than Task Manager to check unexplained CPU activity.

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653

    Try other anti malware software.

    It is always sensible in this situation to run a check for malware

    Boot the computer to safe mode with networking and download and install Malwarebytes (freeware version for home users only), update definitions and run in safe mode. Disable other security software whilst you are doing scans.

    http://www.malwarebytes.org/

    Download and run SuperAntiSpyware (Free Edition)

    http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html

    Some malware is now installing proxy server entries redirecting internet connections. If you encounter this problem see Step 2 in the link which follows:

    http://www.myantispyware.com/2011/02/21/how-to-remove-internet-security-essentials-virus/

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