svchost.exe - what is it doing?

Dinkas · 13 Apr 2008 at 05:10

For around 10mins after every boot, my raid array is being thrashed by svchost.exe :rolleyes:

For instance, I look in Resource Monitor (running Vista 64bit SP1) and there are literally dozens (maybe 100+) instances of svchost.exe showing in the Disk section. One instance was showing as reading 1.3GB p/min from a 3.57GB World of Warcraft MPQ file??? WoW doesn't load anything on boot, so I have no idea why svchost.exe should be sniffing inside the WoW folder. That's just an example - svchost.exe is sniffing inside all manner of seemingly random folders

Defrag is disabled, along with Defender and Indexing. My AV suite is only set to scan files that are executed, and at startup it only scans memory and system files (certainly not the WoW folder) so I seriously doubt it's this that's doing it.

I suppose it could be prefetch? If it is, then it seems like total overkill for a fairly insignificant boost to app load times

Any ideas

superplay · 13 Apr 2008 at 07:42

This may be useful in tracking down what is using scchost

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/what-is-svchostexe-and-why-is-it-running/

Dinkas · 13 Apr 2008 at 14:13

Hey, thanks! That site has some useful tips for Vista's nuances (annoyances)

AbsenceJam · 13 Apr 2008 at 14:22

Use process explorer, you'll probably find it's windows update. If that's the case then have a good Google, very common problem with a variety of thng to try.

blastman · 13 Apr 2008 at 19:46

i was under the impression it was anti virus running a scan.

i could be wrong.........

jgreen726 · 16 May 2008 at 19:21

Just out of interest what was it?

As soon as i clicked on 'go to service' it stopped thrashing my array, how could it have known :eek:

edit: in fact it started again as soon as i clicked on the start button.

So right clicked on service host/goto service....ended the services attached to the process one by one and its superfetch thats causing it.

Funny, you can start the service and then click on your start button and it starts thrashing your array!!...would be a nice mod for a start button

THRASH!

iviv · 16 May 2008 at 19:41

blastman said:
i was under the impression it was anti virus running a scan.

i could be wrong.........

Anti-viruses wouldn't be running as svchost, would they? I'd have thought they would be using their own exe.

CliffyBiro · 16 May 2008 at 19:42

It's a part of Vista. Can't remember it's use though. Could be for indexing.

Burnsy2023 · 16 May 2008 at 20:27

skippi90 said:
It's a part of Vista. Can't remember it's use though. Could be for indexing.

The service host process does more then one function, but they are all integral Windows components.

Burnsy

oldbag · 16 May 2008 at 20:33

Usually the following stuff causes this:

Antivirus, Windows Defender, or Windows Updates.