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Antimalware Service Executable draining battery

Anonymous
2014-08-28T17:13:53+00:00

Recently I started noticing that Antimalware Service Executable keeps draining my battery and consumes lot of CPU power. It is always active in the background consuming about 10-12% CPU usage. Now this problem goes away temporarily when I restart my SP3. Once I put it to sleep and wakeup again Antimalware becomes active again.

I think this started happening after recent update. Is anyone else experiencing the same problem? Is there a fix for this?

Thank you

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-08-30T10:29:24+00:00

    Hi,

    I understand that Windows Defender is not scanning when Antimalware Service Executable is consuming high CPU.

    What are the updates you have installed recently?

    Let’s start your computer in safe mode with networking and check the functionality.

    Refer this link to start the computer in safe mode.

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IN/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-including-safe-mode

    If it works fine in safe mode with networking, let’s perform clean boot.

    Clean boot will help us identify if any third party applications or startup items are causing the issue.

    To do this, follow steps from this link:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

    Note: After checking the functionality in clean boot, follow the suggestions under “How to reset the computer to start normally after clean boot troubleshooting”.

    Keep us posted on the status of the issue.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-11-27T14:27:58+00:00

    I too have this same problem. It started recently - within the past couple of months.

    The fan runs almost all the time now (the case is warm as expected).

    The battery life has diminished considerably.

    Task Manger show that the AntiMalware Service Executable is consuming a constant 20% of the CPU.

    That's pretty impressive on an i7.

    No other processes are constant or above single digits.

    MICROSOFT - this is your issue, your software and hardware.

    We do Not need any additional inane responses from support posted as answers.

    We do need real answers.

    Do a Google search - this problem is pervasive and needs to be addressed.

    This problem is beyond your Support Staff and MVP's standard set of canned responses.

    Please provide some Engineering support for this problem.

    PCH

    7 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2014-11-27T14:40:55+00:00

    I had a similar problem with Antimalware Service Executable constantly taking 10%+ of CPU usage, and it seems to be fixed after I added C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MsMpEng.exe to the list of excluded files in the Windows Defender. Please see if instructions at http://www.wintips.org/how-to-fix-msmpeng-exe-high-cpu-usage-problem/#solution-3 solves your problem - you have to reboot in order for it to take effect.

    JoonRo - I tried your solution of adding MsMpEng,exe to the Defender File Exclusions.

    So far it seems to be working. I'll keep an eye on.

    Best regards,

    PCH

    Really Microsoft? You need to keep your own AV software from chasing it's own tail?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2014-11-28T19:35:31+00:00

    JoonRo's solution of excluding the MsMpEng.exe in the Defender Setting DID NOT WORK for me.

    It actually did not work for me either. Can you try this instead?

    Open Defender -> Settings -> MAPS -> check "I don't want to join MAPS" and then save.

    Please look at the comments at:

    http://www.majorgeeks.com/news/story/fixing\_the\_high\_cpu\_usage\_perfomance\_of\_microsoft\_security\_essentials\_and\_windows\_defender.html

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2014-11-28T18:00:37+00:00

    After about 4 hours of my SP3 running normally, the Malware Service Executable is back running constantly at 20% CPU.

    JoonRo's solution of excluding the MsMpEng.exe in the Defender Setting DID NOT WORK for me.

    MICROSOFT - Please address this issue. It makes your fine product look like junk.

    I wonder how long it will be before someone like Paul Thurott or Mary Jo Foley get wind of this and make it public....

    PCH

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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