Trustedinstaller.exe uses 100% CPU in Vista

• September
• 3

Sometimes in Vista, the TrustedInstaller.exe service will start up and eat up all of your cpu power. Here is how to eliminate this process bug.

#1. Method One - Remove the file

Deleting TrustedInstaller.exe is not a simple task. It is a system file and needs to have its rights modified first. Browse to C:\Windows\servicing. Right click on the TrustedInstaller.exe file and select “Properties”.

In the properties dialog box, select the “Security” tab and click “Edit”.

In the permissions screen that appears, give the current user full rights and remove rights from everything else, save for the TrustedInstaller user. This ensures that the settings will stick. Click “OK” and you may now delete the TrustedInstaller.exe file.  If the file will still not delete, open the task manager and check if the TrustedInstaller.exe process is running in the processes area. If it is, right click on the process and select “Kill Process Tree”. You may now try deleting the file again.

#2. Method two - Kill the file 

If the current user is unable to modify the permissions for TrustedInstaller.exe, you can have an application called Killbox (download here) remove the file for you. Open Killbox and click the browse button. Point the browser to C:/Windows/servicing/TrustedInstaller.exe. Select “Delete on Reboot” and click the delete button.

#3. Method three - Disable automatic updates 

If the file remains undeletable, The problem can be resolved by disabling the Automatic Updates service. Under the start menu, right click on “Computer” and  select “Services”. In the services menu, find the “Windows Update” service. Right click on it and select “Properties”. In the properties dialog box, set the “Startup Type” to “Manual”.

Under the “Recovery” tab, set “First Failure” to “Take no Action”.

Click “OK” and the problem should be resolved. Be aware that you will have to manually check for updates from now on.

Article keywords: Trustedinstaller.exe, windows module installer, eats up, uses, utilization, 100%, freezes, stalls, windows update

Adjusting Visual Settings

• November
• 2

You can tweak the visuals in XP according to your system. Here’s how to turn XP’s graphics to optimal settings:

#1. Open visual settings.
Right click on “My Computer”. Select “Advanced” and click the “Settings” button under the “Performance” section.

#2. Adjust settings.
In the “Visual Effects” tab, leave only the following options checked:

“Show shadows under menus”
“Show shadows under  mouse pointer”
“Show translucent selection rectangle”
“Show window contents while dragging”
“Smooth edges of screen fonts”
“Smooth-scroll list boxes”
“Use common tasks in folders”
“Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop”
“Use visual styles on windows and buttons”

Article keywords: adjust tweak change optimize XP visual theme advanced graphics settings

Moving Users to a Domain

• October
• 29

When moving users from a workgroup to a domain or from one domain to another, you may want to transfer their user profiles to their new login. Windows XP provides a quick function to do so…

#1. Open advanced user management.
Make sure that you are logged on as an Administrator. Right click on “My Computer” and select “Properties”. In the system properties window select the “Advanced” tab. Click the “Settings” button under the “User Profiles” section.

#2. Copy user data.
Find the old user profile that you wish to copy FROM, select it and click “Copy to”. In the copy window, click the “Browse” button.

You will be prompted to find the domain login profile. It should be called something like YourName.YOURDOMAIN. After you browse to the correct folder, click “OK” and the documents and settings will be moved over.

Article keywords: moving transferring copying copy to from workgroup domain user profile login logon documents and settings