Once everyday the Windows update process wuauclt.exe runs for almost 40 mins during which time the system is completely unresponsive. Is this normal? I'm running Windows XP service pack 3 and I've got Norton AntiVirus installed.I've just done a complete search for "wuauclt.exe" on my system. I found four candidates. Here are their sizes and message digests:C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch\WUAUCLT.EXE-399A8E72.pf (size: 71kb -- md5: d334d955d85727879430f67f44cc8a81)C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe (size: 53kb -- md5: 62bb79160f86cd962f312c68c6239bfd)C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386\wuauclt.exe (size: 109kb -- md5: ed7262e52c31cf1625b65039102bc16c)C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\wuauclt.exe (size: 53kb -- md5: 62bb79160f86cd962f312c68c6239bfd)10 people need an answerI do too

Do you mean to say that the process if it finding updates happens or just that the process itself runs? If it is the latter then I wouldn't worry. If it is finding updates then just let it do that and simply reboot your computer once it finishes. Sorry if this is no help but I wasn't too sure what you meant. Jackz.

I mean the process itself runs for about an hour once a day (not sure what exactly its doing, sometimes I get updates, most of the time I don't), during which time the system becomes very unresponsive, which I find very annoying.

You need to set your auto updates to once a week and not everyday. this should take care of the problem.Young and learning...Have mercy - ChaosIf this post resolves your issue, please click the "Mark as Answer" or "Helpful" buttons. This helps other users with similar problems find the answer faster.

I've set auto update to 1ce a week (tomorrow afternoon) but wuauclt.exe has just run again for 1 hour causing my machine to page to no end. During this time I noticed that Norton claimed to update itself several times (ran . Could it be that Norton is piggy-backing on wuauclt.exe? I am this close to flipping my lid.

That is VERY likely, I run used to run McAfee and it used the same or a similar process.Norton is a resource hog, and this sounds like EXACTLY something Norton would do.Before dumping Norton, disable the update for ONE day, and see if this is the issue. I would dump it, use the removal tool:Norton Removal Tool ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe And then run the following FREE setup:Setup:http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.phpThis will check for malware, AND registry key errors, or so most of the forums say. >.>http://superantispyware.com/You can download the free version and it will check for spyware as wellhttp://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.htmlThis is a GREAT AV it works EXTREMELY well in conjunction for the above. OR, if you're not interested in Freeware: I would Recommend eSet NOD32Young and learning...Have mercy - ChaosIf this post resolves your issue, please click the "Mark as Answer" or "Helpful" buttons. This helps other users with similar problems find the answer faster.

The file in the Prefetch folder is just there to speed up loading; it's not a "real" file. Regardless of what you may find on the Internet about "cleaning" Prefetch, leave it alone.The file in ServicePackFiles is the version from before you installed the most recent Service Pack. You can ignore this as well.The file that is actually used is the one in Windows\system32. The dllcache folder is where Windows stores copies of system files in case the "in use" file is deleted or corrupted. SeeDescription of Windows File Protection .As you can see, the files in \system32 and in \dllcache are identical, which is a good sign. I checked, and on my XP SP3 system wuauclt.exe has the same MD5 hash as yours, so it's highly unlikely that this file is itself infected.All that being said, I suspect that the problem is that your Norton Antivirus is somehow interfering with wuauclt.exe. I can't tell you how to re-configure Norton a/v, but I'd suggest two experiments:Disable Norton a/v as much as you can. At least turn off real-time file system protection. Open Task Manager and then go to Windows Update. Wuauclt.exe should start. Monitor it in Task Manager and see how much it uses in terms of CPU percentage. If merely turning off Norton's real-time file system protection doesn't help, reboot the computer into Safe Mode with networking and try the same experiment.Obviously, while you have your a/v disabled, don't download anything and don't surf anywhere other than Windows Update.You can also take a look at the WindowsUpdate.log which is located in C:\Windows to see if there is any clue there, but I bet it's Norton.If disabling Norton fixes your problem, you have two options: (a) find out how to configure Norton to stop this behavior or (b) remove Norton entirely from your system and get a less intrusive a/v. If it were me, I'd go with option (b).Decent free a/v options include Avast! and Microsoft Security Essentials. I like NOD32 Antivirus 4 from eset.com, but it's not free.

Thanks for the changes you've recommended. While I take time to study/try them out take a look at the snip of my WindowsUpdate.log for yesterday.http://pastebin.com/embed_iframe.php?i=72Nr9eWk

Thanks for the changes you've recommended. While I take time to study/try them out take a look at the snip of my WindowsUpdate.log for yesterday.http://pastebin.com/embed_iframe.php?i=72Nr9eWkThere are more "WARNINGS" there than I would expect. There also are far more entries in a 22-hour period than I would expect, but I'm not an expert when it comes to Windows Update. I'd suggest that you post a short question in theWindows Update forum and include links to both your log excerpt and this thread.Because the WU Forum covers more than one OS, be sure to include the following information:Minimum information to post:Version of Windows and Service pack level.(Windows XP Home, SP3; Vista Home Premium, SP1; Windows 7 Ultimate, etc...)Also post if you are using 32bit or 64bit version of Windows.Update number of the last update installed prior to any problems. If you don't know the update number then give the date that the update was installed. The update number of any failed updates.Error code from any failed updates or if you believe an update has caused a blue screen, give the error codes from the blue screen.Other information to post:Steps already taken to correct the issue and the results of the steps.If the issue has ever happened before with other updates.A couple other helpful pieces are: What anti-virus program you use, if it is up to date, and if there has ever been any other anti-virus program installed. If your version of Windows was upgraded from a previous version or if it came with (or was clean installed with) the version you are currently running.

Have the same problem with a friend, wuauclt and svchost is eating memory (not cpu) and slowing down pc while user processes become unresponsive for several minutes (memory and disk swapping is done), reinstalling windows xp sp3 + manual updates of all microsoft components did not help!I will consider, even though it is from 2007:http://blogs.technet.com/asiasupp/archive/2007/05/29/automatic-update-causes-svchost-exe-high-cpu.aspxAutomatic Update causes SVCHOST.exe high CPUWill give feedback in a few days...

I also experience wuauclt and svchost is eating memory (not cpu) and slowing down the pc for 40-60+ minutes while the harddisk is at 100%. I am not sure when this started, but i'll say within the last month.When checking http://pastebin.com/embed_iframe.php?i=72Nr9eWk provided above I notice a weird gap between the timestamps of line 70 and 71. 19 minutes+! I see the same kind of time gaps in my own WindowsUpdate.log and I can assure that wuauclt and svchost are NOT idle during these 19 minutes.

By the way I am using Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows XP SP3.

Xjahjah,I had a look at the Windows Update log you posted. From 1 to 65 it is checking if windows update modules are up-to-date themselves, then from 66 to 71 it is initiating the windows update process.At 72 (19 minutes later) it produces some errors; During these 19 minutes it probably examined your registry and the windows system files in detail, resulting in slow processing of normal user processes.To get back to a healthy system: the trick will be get to get passed these errors, in some way. Have you tried to do a manual "Windows Update" via the web browser?My friend's slow system only has AVG 9 Free Edition. My notebook has the same but runs just fine.

rawbone62I have tried a manual "Microsoft Update" via the browser. Started it today at about 1 am local time. Approx 1+ hour later it had found 15 updates (the updates for august). Updating and restarting took another 1+ hour. Maybe that's why I feel a bit tired now.As far as I can see, wuauclt and svchost behaves in the same way whether one uses manual or automatic update.

Problem solved. All I had to do was delete the directory C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStoreRead all about it here .

I was having same issue last two days with XP SP3 and I do have Norton, all memory just chewed up by wuauclt.exe. It was working like a cancer. Followed your suggestion and now it seems to be working and is stable. Removed the DataStore. There seems to be a lot of misinformation of the exact status of wuauclt.exe and just what it should look like and where it should be.

Went to my friend and deleted C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore (in safe mode) then restarted Windows in normal mode.Unfortunately this did not solve the problem. The files were rebuilt by Windows Upate and upon examining WindowsUpdate.log I found the same error messages.Even deleting the entire SoftwareDistribution folder did not solve the performance problem!To help him out temporary, I have disabled the service "Automatic Updates" and at last the pc runs at full performance again. After the weekend, I will try the full procedure "clean boot" + reset windows update components... as described in related post

I was having same issue last two days with XP SP3 and I do have Norton, all memory just chewed up by wuauclt.exe. It was working like a cancer. Followed your suggestion and now it seems to be working and is stable. Removed the DataStore. There seems to be a lot of misinformation of the exact status of wuauclt.exe and just what it should look like and where it should be.I wonder if Norton is to blame.

Well, it's not JUST Norton. Both xjahjah and myself have the same symptoms, and we use Microsoft Security Essentials and XP, SP3.

I am also having the same problem. I do not have Norton but I use AVG 9.0 and Windows XP. I have ran spybot, ComboFix, AdAware, etc. but nothing has found a problem. The task manager shows svchost and wuauclt running as fast as it can for about an hour, then the computer runs fine after it finishes doing whatever it is doing. The virtual memory also runs out of memory many times while these are running. If I disconnect the internet the computer runs fine so it is only a problem while online. Disabling the automatic updates did not help, the wuauclt still runs. HELP

I am also having the same problem. I do not have Norton but I use AVG 9.0 and Windows XP. I have ran spybot, ComboFix, AdAware, etc. but nothing has found a problem. The task manager shows svchost and wuauclt running as fast as it can for about an hour, then the computer runs fine after it finishes doing whatever it is doing. The virtual memory also runs out of memory many times while these are running. If I disconnect the internet the computer runs fine so it is only a problem while online. Disabling the automatic updates did not help, the wuauclt still runs. HELPSee the advice from MVP Mow Green in this thread in the Windows Update forum.

I've looked at that as well bt because I'm a girl I'm too scared to delete the folder C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore...what does it do? Some one on the other thread suggests this has onlY started since a recent microsoft update, ahs anyone else found this has only happened recently?

This DataStor map contains a database of all Windows Updates that were found installed on your machine, as well a a few log files about the last Windows Update processes. If deleted, they will simply be reconstructed by the next Windows Update process. Deleting the map should ensure that the database is not corrupt.So it could very well solve the performance problem, but in my case it doesn't!Yes, to my knowledge the performance problem with wuauclt.exe started about a month ago. Exact date is unclear.

I've looked at that as well bt because I'm a girl I'm too scared to delete the folder C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore...what does it do? Some one on the other thread suggests this has onlY started since a recent microsoft update, ahs anyone else found this has only happened recently?General rule of thumb: if you're unsure of whether you should delete something, rename it or move it to a temporary location. If after some time things seem to be working, then you can delete it; if things instead get worse, rename it back to its original name or move it back to its original location. To make it easier to remember the correct original name, add something obvious to the name. For example, you might change"C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore"to"C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStoreXXX"

I'm having the same problems.Other Posts floating around the net are suggesting that it is a virus problem but my research shows that it is not a virus.I was able to reproduce the svchost & wuauclt problem from a virgin xp with sp3 install, drivers installed, no security updates or applications installed yet, and installing Microsoft Security Essentials right away.Before MSSE was installed, I had no problems, Install MSSE and the problems started. The ram usage was between 200MB to 400MB used. Also it is not computer specific. I tried this on multiple computers all with different hardware so I don't think it is a driver issue.Uninstalling MSSE does not fix the issue and the only way to stop svchost and wuauclt from running away was to turn off automatic updates. The delete/rename of the DataStore directory did not fix it for me either.I hope that this info will help someone figure out a fix for this problem.

I also have exactly the same probem and it started a few weeks ago. I am confident there is no malware on my systems (plural) and whats more, having googled around, it seems there are MANY other people experiencing the same problem. See this link: http://www.techsupportforum.com/microsoft-support/windows-xp-support/505461-wuauclt-exe-svchost-exe-memory-problem.html . In my case it can take my memory allocation up from an normal operating level of about 500mb up to peak at 1.1gb! As I only have 768mb physical ram it goes without saying that it hits the swap file and hence the painfully slow degradation in system speed (yes folks, this is what happens and why your system dies for that period of time). The memory allocation for SVCHOST service responsible can jump from normal operating at 18mb up to 300mb during the update! (If you user Process Explorer on your system, you can see all this).Im sure that the range of people affected are all using a range of antivirus programs and for sure it is unlikely that ALL of these professional AV programs cannot be to blame for causing the same problem (I use McAfee, Avira, AVG, and AVAST not to mention Norton from the other user. They cant ALL be wrong!) One man who is responsible for many PC's (maybe a company's support bod), has said that all of his machins seem to have started doing the same all together. As many have the same, and they all started about the same time, in conclusion it seems to me (and others) that it is DEFINITELY a microsoft issue and hopefully it will be recognised and fixed by them. It is annoying, really.For now I am turning off the Windows Update (if need be I will stop the service) and will manually enable and run the updates periodically at a convenient time to me. I am confident enough to do this, but other 'user level' users will/should not be doing so.I hope this thread and the others help show people that they have a problem that is with Microsoft and gives them some confidence in that they havent been affected by malware (it is tortuous to go through hours of 'system cleanups and disinfecting' for something that isnt there to clean!)

I ran the Malwarebytes and it solved my problem. Log below ...Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46www.malwarebytes.orgDatabase version: 4438Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3Internet Explorer 7.0.5730.138/16/2010 7:02:20 PMmbam-log-2010-08-16 (19-02-20).txtScan type: Quick scanObjects scanned: 134299Time elapsed: 12 minute(s), 17 second(s)Memory Processes Infected: 0Memory Modules Infected: 0Registry Keys Infected: 1Registry Values Infected: 0Registry Data Items Infected: 3Folders Infected: 0Files Infected: 1Memory Processes Infected:(No malicious items detected)Memory Modules Infected:(No malicious items detected)Registry Keys Infected:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\The Weather Channel (Adware.Hotbar) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.Registry Values Infected:(No malicious items detected)Registry Data Items Infected:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\AntiVirusDisableNotify (Disabled.SecurityCenter) -> Bad: (1) Good: (0) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\FirewallDisableNotify (Disabled.SecurityCenter) -> Bad: (1) Good: (0) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\UpdatesDisableNotify (Disabled.SecurityCenter) -> Bad: (1) Good: (0) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.Folders Infected:(No malicious items detected)Files Infected:C:\RECYCLER\ADAPT_Installer.exe (Trojan.Agent) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

You are fortunate(!) I think to have SOMETHING affecting your computer that is detectable. It may be that this 'hotbar' might be flagged as suspicious by Malwarebytes (although I have never seen that the Weather Channel hotbar is a real problem). How its removal has fixed the problem that the rest of us is reporting I dont know. I can say that I for one has the same problem on 4 machines, all separate, and all starting at the same time and none of them show any malware on them. And all of them have the same symptoms matching the other users in this thread. (Perhaps your symptoms were different and didnt exactly match the problem we are discussing.)Just so you know, here is the start of my log file:Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46www.malwarebytes.orgDatabase version: 4440Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3Internet Explorer 7.0.5730.1317/08/2010 18:41:38mbam-log-2010-08-17 (18-41-38).txtScan type: Quick scanObjects scanned: 138966Time elapsed: 23 minute(s), 12 second(s)Memory Processes Infected: 0Memory Modules Infected: 0Registry Keys Infected: 0Registry Values Infected: 0Registry Data Items Infected: 0Folders Infected: 0Files Infected: 0...

I'm having the same problem.I tried renaming C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Datastore & then ran a Manual Update to recreate the file.I could see that a new file had been created but after letting the update run for 4 hours, I decided it was not working & reverted back to the original file.I too have now switched off the automatic updates & await a solution.

Temporary fix - Opt out of Microsoft Updates visit http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdateclick Change Settings on the left Scroll down and DISABLE MICROSOFT UPDATE

My computer (XP Home, SP3) shows almost the same 'feature'. It runs at start-up for appr. 25 min. According to the Task Manager, which takes almost one minute to appear, wuauclt.exe and svchost.exe are constantly active. This happens since appr. one month. I changed from AVG to avast, I deleted SoftwareDistribution and I went through almost all advices on the Internet. I checked with various (online) AV and Malware. The machine seems to be clean. Nothing helps. After that busy period, the computer works fine. BTW, my wife's computer (XP Home, SP3) shows the same problem.If somebody could help me with this issue - I appreciate it very much. Thank you.

Edit: After opting out of Automatic Updates, and after the next reboot, yellow shield came up and express update showed KB 980195 was being installed. (huh?...box should have been current)I'm going to put things back to normal and see what happens.

cf. http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/thread/ef18ff87-db7f-4705-8105-33dcf9a9a03b/#44e80262-9a91-4ddb-9770-63810962cb8c ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft

Yeah, disabling Microsoft Update while keeping Windows Update enabled does solve the problem on my machines.Microsoft should really trace & fix this Microsoft Update issue...

@rawbone62:NB: If you "flip" your default update source from Microsoft Update to Windows Update,your computer will NOT be offered any updates for MS Office, Windows Live, or Silverlight. If any of those applications are installed, you will want to "flip" back to Microsoft Update shortly after each month's Patch Tuesday updates have been released and then check for & install updates manually via Microsoft Update website before "flipping" your default back to Windows Update.~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft

.........alternatively just switch off automatic updates (as suggested above) and then WHEN you are ready to commit your PC to 30 minutes or so of free time to turn itself over whilst you have a shower or cook dinner, manually run Windows Update. Choose to do it daily, weekly or even after 'patch tuesday' (whenever that is) if you wish. In any case, its less hassle. (single click, select, walk away- no flipping of settings or arseing around). Main thing is that it doesnt freeze up unnecessarily EVERY day you switch on and for no apparent result.However we choose to handle this, it SHOULD be temporary as the responsibility lies with Microsoft to fix this.

Due primarily to exchanges with several MS MVPS on the behalf of users like you, Microsoft is aware of and has acknowledged the issue:"We have gotten reports from multiple sources and consider this to be a live service issue and we are investigating it as a Priority 1."~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft

Thats fab news to hear. Shows that they have at least recognised the difficulties people are having and hopefully they will alleviate the problem. Thanks for the news PA Bear.

I slapped a read only attribute on the datastore file and this appears to have fixed the problem on my end until a fix is issued.C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\DataStore.edb

I wonder, though, if in doing this it really is just effectively being the same as turning of the updates. Not actually knowing how the service performs the update, maybe it could be necessary that it performs a writing to the datastore file (after a system review) and then proceeds on to checking for further online updates and applies them. Maybe if it cannot write to the datastore (as it is now read only) in the first stage then it aborts the whole procedure - ending quickly and alleviating the problem but effectively not completing the check for updates.Who knows.

I'm guessing this is true. The datastore file may be used for other purposes as well. After adding the read only attribute, my computer hangs for around three minutes when MS Word is closed or when attemtping to shut down.The best suggestion so far seems to be the Aug. 19th note above about disabling Microsoft Update until Microsoft issues a fix.

I slapped a read only attribute on the datastore file and this appears to have fixed the problem on my end until a fix is issued.C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\DataStore.edbBad idea: Doing that will effectively disable Automatic Updates.~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft

(At least) Three threads, same issue:http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/thread/7f401392-268c-4840-a458-8b063fbda084http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/thread/c41d2ef2-b755-41ec-8924-8ce618f3e939http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/thread/a446de99-65b1-485f-b6ec-c52fc163e2a4I'm not disabling Auto Updates (Windows OR Microsoft) on a LAN w/ ~150 PCs.Any other fix from MS? (Here's another outside thread on same topic, but as yet no answer there that hasn't been suggested here.)http://www.techsupportforum.com/microsoft-support/windows-xp-support/505461-wuauclt-exe-svchost-exe-memory-problem.html

@jabadm: See http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/xpperformance/thread/2e9bce71-788f-4f8a-bfed-bb713a300922/#d098eb64-7910-4f3c-9f64-2b82806193b6 ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft

Due primarily to exchanges with several MS MVPS on the behalf of users like you, Microsoft is aware of and has acknowledged the issue:"We have gotten reports from multiple sources and consider this to be a live service issue and we are investigating it as a Priority 1."~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for MicrosoftHi Robear,Any news about a fix?Thanks

Nope, nothing from MS to-date.~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft

MS says it should be fixed now. See...Sluggish XP sp3's in the August time frame (10 Sept-10) • http://marc.info/?l=patchmanagement&m=128413444818548 • http://marc.info/?l=patchmanagement&m=128414795804512 To test:1. Flip your default back to Microsoft Update.2. Run a manual check for updates: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com NB: Chances are you will NOT see any improvement yet so be very patient.3. Reboot (optional) then run another manual check for updates & see if the "memory hog" behavior persists.~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft

ero2009 wrote: Any news about a fix?...See http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/xpperformance/thread/2e9bce71-788f-4f8a-bfed-bb713a300922/#9b65785e-6ea9-45a5-8f3c-02d2cc6260cf~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft

I can verify the above three step approach worked on my computer to fix this issue.

Yes its fixed!I have just checked three of my machines and indeed the update does now seem to start and finish in a matter of a couple of minutes. The fix seemed to have come in my last update which I manually ran earlier in the week (as my first manual run today ran quick).After running my memory usage 'peak' now touches only about 650mb and not the 1GB that it was before with the poblem, and finishes within less than a minute or so (as oppsed to the 20 before). (Worth pointing out to people that are not aware and have physical RAM less than this 'peak' acheived whilst running that they will still suffer a minimum amount of performance slow up as the hard disk virtual memory will be utilised - but for sure no where near to the same as before).A result for the masses! And thanks to MS for listening to us!Thank you to Robear Dyer for his input into this thread and problem.

@jimimaseye: You're most welcome & thanks for your feedback.~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft