Windows 10: System running high CPU usage after a Windows update failure in early January

Windows update KB5034441 error 0x80070643 - I'm not quite sure but I believe this was the one. "System" is running high CPU usage above 20% constantly since then. My PC was Windows 10 by then and I upgraded it to Windows 11 two weeks later but that doesn't fix the problem. What cause it and how do I fix it?

:)

 

High cpu and disk usage

after updating the wifi driver it seems that it's now normal.





This is sample from windows update there is a very long list and I didn't notice any update failure.

 

"System" process with high CPU usage

I have exactly the same issue (high CPU usage) on a brand new HP ProBook 440 G5 (i7-8550U, pre-installed Win 10 Pro).

I am pretty sure that there is a problem with audio drivers when the computer wakes up from a sleep mode. I first observed that process flow.exe (audio bloatware provided by HP/Conexant) was consuming (after waking up) ~10–15 % CPU. Here's what I did:

• I have updated Windows to 1709, build 16229.251 and installed all updates --> Nothing has changed.
  
• I have updated BIOS to the latest version provided by HP. --> Nothing has changed.
• I have run Windows troubleshooting and HP Support Assistant checks --> No problems found, nothing has changed
• I have manually updated Conexant ISST Audio Drivers (via Device Manager -> Update drivers). Windows installed a newer version. -->
  CPU usage by flow.exe has disappeared, but process called System in thread ACPI.sys+0x21cb0 started consuming ~20 % CPU.
• I have uninstalled all Conexant software&drivers and manually installed generic High Definition Audio Device drivers provided by Microsoft (Driver Date: 21.02.2018). --> ACPI.sys+0x21cb0 still consumes ~20 % CPU.

Same issues are discussed in these threads on HP site:

• ProBook 450 with high CPU usage - HP Support Community - 6520063
  
• HP Probook 440 G5 Fan issue - HP Support Community - 6567212

The result is I cannot use sleep mode (as advised by this post:
https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Business-Notebooks/ProBook-450-with-high-CPU-usage/m-p/6611446/highlight/true#M149605).

 

system process high cpu usage

Hello,

To fix high CPU usage issue, please refer these steps:

Try to identify the process creating this issue.

Download Process Explorer from Microsoft:

Process Explorer - Sysinternals

Run the tool then select the system process, right-click and select Properties.

Switch to the Threads tab. This will show which file is using the excessive CPU usage, from which you can then attempt to diagnose it.

Also refer: [FIX] Windows 10 High CPU Usage Problem

Let us know if this helps!

Note: Included link in this reply refers to blog post by a trusted Microsoft MVP.