cryptsvc, CPU hog
My CPU will mysteriously max out, occasionally forcing a power button reboot. Task Manager shows svchost using the most cpu. I tried shutting down the services in that PID one by one. Killing cryptsvc restored cpu usage to a reasonable level. Occasionally after being killed it has started in another svchost PID, again driving up CPU until I kill it. Any idea what's going on?
January 12th, 2008 3:44pm

Hi, Let's perform a Clean Boot at first. A Clean Boot will allow us to isolate any device drivers or programs that are loading at startup that may be causing a conflict with other device drivers or programs that are installed in your computer. 1) Run MSCONFIG.EXE. (MSCONFIG is a built-in tool for Windows XP\2003 systems.)2) In the Services tab, click "Hide All Microsoft Services" and click "Disable All". 3) In the Startup tab, click "Disable All". Click OK. (This will temporarily prevent third-party programs from running automatically during start-up.)4) Restart the computer. Does the problem still persist? If the problem does not occur, it indicates that the problem is related to one application or service we have disabled. You can use the MSCONFIG tool again to re-enable the disabled item one by one to find out the culprit. If the problem still happens, please refer to the following article to generate log from Process Monitor for further analysis: 1. Visit the following Web site to download Process Monitor: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/ProcessesAndThreads/processmonitor.mspx 2. At the bottom of the page, click Download Process Monitor, and then click Save to save the package to the hard disk. 3. Open the folder where you saved the downloaded file. Right-click the file, and then click Extract All. 4. Select to extract the contents of the tool to "this folder," and then click Extract. 5. After the contents is extracted, double-click the Procmon file to start Process Monitor. 6. While Process Monitor is running, repeat the activity that generated the error. 7. After the error again occurs, switch to the Process Monitor window, and then click the microscope icon in the toolbar to stop the capture. 8. On the File menu, click Save. Save the Process Monitor log to any folder that you want. You can send the logs to us via SCEDATA@microsoft.com . Note: Please include the following three lines in the email body: Cryptsvc, CPU hoghttp://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=2672887&SiteID=17%20Guozhen Wang- MSFT Regarding more information about how to send email to SCEDATA@microsoft.com, please refer to: How to send files to the Microsoft SCE team for review http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1680389&SiteID=17 Post a quick note in the current thread after sending the email. Thanks!-----------------------------Sincerely,Guozhen WangMicrosoft Online Community Support
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January 15th, 2008 5:26am

Hi, As this thread has been quiet for a while, we assume that the issue has been resolved. At this time, we will mark it as 'Answered' as the previous steps should be helpful for many similar scenarios. If the issue still persists and you want to return to this question, please reply this post directly so we will be notified to follow it up. You can also choose to unmark the answer as you wish. In addition, we'd love to hear your feedback about the solution. By sharing your experience you can help other community members facing similar problems. Thanks!-----------------------------Sincerely,Guozhen WangMicrosoft Online Community Support
January 18th, 2008 3:03am

Hi everybody, I have apparently the same problem. If I kill the correct instance of svchost.exe, the processor calms down ;-) If I stop the cryptsvcservice, the problems is also resolved. So it may be the source of the problem. How can I repair this service? Can I directly replace it by another dll file from another computer? Thanks a lot and regards, Guillaume
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September 30th, 2008 1:15pm

I am having this same problem on Vista x64 w/ SP1. It appears to start when I view a video from Netflix (streaming). After killing the process (or service) I am unable to view videos until I reboot. Is there a solution?
December 17th, 2008 8:51am

Hello - a few days ago,I started experiencing a very similar problem with svchost.exe using 50% of system resources on my Dell XPS410PC, and interfering with UAC, Windows Update and other functions. I tracked it down to cryptsvc.dll. As per the suggestion above, I am sending an email to SCEDATA@microsoft.comwith additional details andthe associated Process Monitor log. Thank you for your support!
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September 21st, 2009 10:44am

Hello - a few days ago, I started experiencing a very similar problem with svchost.exe using 50% of system resources on my Dell XPS410 PC, and interfering with UAC, Windows Update and other functions. I tracked it down to cryptsvc.dll. As per the suggestion above, I am sending an email to EMAIL GONE with additional details and the associated Process Monitor log. Thank you for your support! Hello,same problem on an HP Compaq 6820s Vista business Sp2: svchost about 50%, I tracked it down too to cryptsvc.dll. with process explorer/process monitor i kill the thread cryptsvc.dll. then its o.k. in cannot find the reason. i did au_check_v78f.exe and shutdown windows update. same problem. windows updates are possible i a normal way. now the system is clean of viruses, before there was one win32.Alureon!IK. how its possible ti dectect, why cryptsvc is using 50% CPU? As per the suggestion above, I am sending an email to EMAIL REMOVED with additional details and the associated Process Monitor log. Thank you for your support!
October 10th, 2009 6:47am

Hi,I also got the same problem on a Dell Latitude D630 Vista Business SP1When the computer starts up svchost.exe uses about 50% CPU. In Process Explorer it points to cryptsvc.dll.The problem occured after a failed installation of updates from Microsoft Update.When I try to install updates, it starts but it doesn't complete.If I kill the process during installation, Microsoft Update fails.The computer have been scanned for virus and malware, all clean.I also tried a clean reboot without any change in the behavior of svchost.exe.I've sent the log from Process Monitor to the address mentioned aboveThank you!
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October 12th, 2009 5:46pm

Thank you pedrowg! I have had the same problem. I have an Acer with Vista. Svchost.exe used about 50% CPU or more. I spent hours trying to find the solution. I followed your instructions and renamed the catroot2 folder, now my computer is running normally again. I have been looking for an answer for a while and have run across many people with the same problem. What's up Microsoft?
February 5th, 2010 11:48am

My solution today: start, cmd (as amin or in save mode or recovery console) net stop cryptsvc renname the catroot2-folder in system32: ren catroot2 catroot2_old net start cryptsvc the catroot2 was damaged, but i habe not interruppted a windows update. My laptop runs Win7 x86 The CryptSvc utilizes lots of CPU power and WIFI performance was dropped and also disconnected several times a day. Thanks pedrowg for the solution, it just WORKS :)
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November 24th, 2010 12:15pm

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