Windows 10: Why does MS download such LARGE files when logon?

This is an interesting idea and could help confirm if Cortana, Defender or any other app.

How to See What Web Sites Your Computer is Secretly Connecting To

 

*Smile Defender is enabled and up to date. *Smile

*Smile I did some more research. In 'resource monitor' I see 'cortana' as not running (I'm on a win 7 machine right now the term is not correct). IF it does run and then log off after downloading completes, I will have to first start the laptop without the internet connected until I can open/watch research monitor for cortana and the .dll mentioned earlier. After that, I'll start internet and watch for those two. *Smile

*Smile I'll have to research some more, that link. Thanks for the help so far. *Smile

 

OP - Per your quote ", your idea sounds logical, can I just find that file and delete it, or can I just 'disable' (simply) this 'cortana' unwelcome demand of my time and system?" - The name of the file is "SearchUI.exe". He is the downloader. What I did was search for his name on my WINDOWS drive (Note Directory name = "C:/windows/SystemApps/Microsoft.Windows.Cortana.cw5n1h2txyewy) and then I took "ownership" of the directory (note TenForums has a tutorial to add "Take Ownership" to the right click pull down menu - I forgot the link - you will have to search for it) and then I just RENAMED "SearchUI.exe" to "SearchUI.old".

Please note that I've observed several (not all) cumulative updates that will re-install "SearchUI.exe", which will require you to do the procedure again.

That will stop Cortana from downloading any info !

Enjoy

FYI - I forgot that you will receive once a week 3 new "Cortana Error events" in your event log. Just disregard them.

 

*Sad Thanks for trying I really appreciate it BUT... *Sad

*Sad Ran the tool, changed the searchui.exe, it saved OK. Restarted, and right now the service isn't showing up as suspended or even in any process as 'SearchUI.exe' BUT so far am at 130MB and counting..... *Sad

*Sad This is so frustrating! The IP that is doing all this downloading is ( Whois IP 13.107.4.50 ), additional info (maybe) at url ( 13.107.4.50 - Microsoft Corporation In Redmond United States | IP-Tracker.org Lookup Locator ). Sorry about taking so long to reply, its getting to the point I do not want to use my laptop any more! *Sad

*Sad During composing this msg, the download capped out at @ 140MB (might be because I was just online with the downloading of the tool and changing of the 'SearchUI' file (just before restarting to see if it stopped). *Sad

 

*Smile IT IS DONE! This morning, I checked to see if there was a reply and SURPRISE! No more huge files downloading. I suspect yesterday's download was maybe 'queued' and not interruptible (at the time I did the 'ownership' and rename)? Thank you storageman, so much, for your SPOT-ON diagnosis, and solution. IF people have the 'cortana' disabled, MS should have this 'SearchUI' disabled as well. Just another instance of MS not thinking (or is there another reason for it to be running?). Anyway, I can NOW log onto my laptop and use it right away instead of waiting for these danged time/resources delay! *Smile

 

*Eek Got a Dell 15-3521 laptop from a friend that was useless to them because they lost the password to access the computer account. Took it back to a barebones win 10 home machine with a USB boot/install win 10 home and it is 100% operational. Since they replaced this one before they gave it to me, they said go ahead and keep it.

Now my problem... I wanted to 'take ownership' of the Cortana folder so I could 'rename' the searchui file, it all went well, but then a weird thing happened. The original laptop is still working as set up (disabling searchui) but this one locks up the window icon lower left (desktop access to all programs). If I try to access 'settings' to update, it is 'dulled' out and doesn't work. This happens to every item on the list. Has anyone had this quirk happen to them? The only reason I was disabling searchui, is so the laptop didn't sit there downloading all those mega files whan started up like the original one from almost 2 years ago. HELP please!!!

 

*Smile Yes, fully activated (it is a UEFI system). No hardware problems and all updates to OS. Did not need to install any Dell 'bloatware' so it has just the OS installed. It runs fine, just that dang Cortana starts downloading at boot-up and can't use it for a few minutes until that searchui application (Cortana) is done downloading those large files. Any ideas? PS: Defender is also fully updated and no problems with any scans.

 

Could you run winver on both and post. I saw you said they are all updated.

Windows key + R, wiver, enter

Ken

 

I keep the network disabled on my W10 Home laptop (however W10 sneakily enables it every 3rd or 4th time I login).

I only manually enable the network when I've got time to waste on the ridiculously huge updates.

Obviously this is only practical:

• If you don't need to use it to access the Internet
• If you dual boot an alternate OS (e.g. W7 or Linux Distro)