After Windows 11 install - Windows Update + Powershell continuously running with High Power Usage

Question

Upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11 on a Lenovo ThinkPad P15.

Now after the install, I've noticed my laptop fans are always running at high speed. Looking at Task Manager, I keep seeing 3 tasks pop up together with High or Very High Power Usage:

1. Windows PowerShell
2. Service Host: Windows Update
3. Service Host: Remote Procedure Call

If left untouched, they will run for hours at high power usage, and it's incredibly annoying. I've taken to forcing - "End Task" on the Windows Update job, which kills the other two as well, but I have to do this every 2 hours. As soon as I end the task the fans starting calm down and I can get some relief, but in another hour or two the Windows Update task comes right back.

Potential fixes that have not worked so far:

• I've paused Windows updates
• I've run sfc scannow and dism, which found no issues.
• I've checked for updates and run all optional updates
• Gone to the Lenovo website and updated all the drivers I can find for Windows 11, including the Lenovo Intelligent Thermal Solution Drive for Windows 11
• Schedule a powershell script to run every 5 mins to kill tasks with the title "Service Host: Windows Update"
• Used gpedit to disable the the auto-update policies
• Edited the registry keys to disable to auto-update keys

What is up with Windows 11 that is doing this and how can I make it stop?

Answer 1

Disabled these two tasks in Task Scheduler. That fixed it: