Svchost.exe plug and play using CPU cycles only when Steam is active

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Elitehunter34 Sep 2, 2013 @ 7:44pm

I'm not sure if it's always been like this, but I find it strange how svchost.exe plug and play is using CPU cycles only when Steam is active. Offline mode doesn't seem to make a difference. I don't have any controllers plugged in at the moment, but I do use an Xbox 360 controller sometimes. Restarting my computer also didn't seem to make a difference. I don't remember this happening before. To be fair, it's only using 1-2% of my CPU, but I don't see why it's even active in the first place.

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Showing 1-15 of 23 comments

kalel Sep 3, 2013 @ 6:47pm

I have the same problem and we are not alone.
http://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/864974467385793171/

Elitehunter34 Sep 3, 2013 @ 11:11pm

Well this is really strange. I use Avast anti-virus free and when I turn of the real time shields the CPU usage stops. Perhaps this might help you too? Steam does recommend disabling active protection when playing games. I have no idea why Avast would be using resources under the Svchost.exe plug and play, especially only when Steam is active. According to Windows plug and play allows you to easily connect devices to the computer. This doesn't make any sense at all. Anyone have insight into this?

Last edited by Elitehunter34; Sep 3, 2013 @ 11:20pm

662 Sep 3, 2013 @ 11:16pm

xmm...

Elitehunter34 Sep 4, 2013 @ 9:35pm

Well turning off the Avast shields now isn't stopping the CPU usage. This just keeps getting stranger and stranger. Just to clarify, I have run a scan with Avast and Malwarebytes, but both are getting nothing.

kprof Sep 8, 2013 @ 11:06pm

Noticed this as well recently (since roughly end of August). I tried both the standard release Steam client and the latest beta. Both immediately cause the issue. Unfortunately I have no previous Steam client releases available to test.

Launching the Steam client causes CPU usage to rise with the sole cause being the svchost.exe process associated with plugplay and Dcomlauncher.

Fully closing the Steam client causes the CPU usage and behaviour of svchost.exe to return to normal levels.

I attempted a more indepth analysis by using Sysinternals process explorer and process monitor. In particular I noted that it seem tied to audio behaviour and after trying various solutions as detail in forums such as these ones I:
- Validated that the correct audio drivers were loading and no other audio devices or drivers were present.
- Traced the usual svchost behaviour and the behaviour when the Steam client was active.

One obvious effect is that as soon as the Steam client runs it causes the svchost process to start enumerating all the audio devices, including the Vista system audio mixer services.

Elitehunter34 Sep 16, 2013 @ 12:34am

I've tried doing that but even after rebooting my computer I still see the CPU usage.

Last edited by Elitehunter34; Sep 16, 2013 @ 12:35am

kalel Sep 16, 2013 @ 3:40am

It works in safe mode so it has to be some program interfering with Steam. I talked to support but they only send me this:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9828-SFLZ-9289&l=english

Elitehunter34 Sep 23, 2013 @ 2:33am

Since no one knows how to fix this, is there any way I can directly contact Steam and bring it to their attention? This seems to be an issue endemic to Steam and not something that is unique to me.

tjplayss Sep 24, 2013 @ 11:37am

go in to big pic mode and then exit big pic mode and that stopped it for me!

tjplayss Sep 24, 2013 @ 11:57am

Just luck I found that to work! games run better again! Yes!

#10

kprof Sep 24, 2013 @ 5:37pm

Nice spotting Sir tjplayss!

I've got an open Steam support ticket so I'll add a reference to your workaround and hopefully get something positive back.

Originally posted by tjplayss:
go in to big pic mode and then exit big pic mode and that stopped it for me!

#11

Elitehunter34 Sep 25, 2013 @ 12:39am

Entering and exiting big picture mode does seem to stop the cpu usage. Is sending a support ticket the only way to bring this to their attention though? It's weird how there is no bug repporting forum or something.

#12

tjplayss Sep 25, 2013 @ 7:53am

Sorry it did not work for you. Do it a couple of times! I think its a problem in the steam code or something?
I don't know if steam will and fix it as it uses so little CPU on newer chips. I only noticed as I am using a crappy Pentium D and it was using 18 to 20 percent of it's power. Contact steam and see what they can do.

#13