If you are searching for “Modern Setup Host and How to Fix it“, It is safe to assume that you have either checked out your task manager because your PC was performing more poorly than usual to see the warning “Modern setup Host causing high CPU usage” or you have seen a warning with either “Modern Setup Host causing high CPU usage” or “Modern Setup Host has stopped working” displayed across your screen.
You might just be curious about what this means, how to fix it and if it is safe to kill the process. This article answers all of that and more
Page Contents
What Is Modern Setup Host?
The Modern Setup Host is an installer and a self-extracting archive located in C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources\ folder for the Windows 10 users and in windows.oldfolder for those using a PC that has been upgraded from windows 7 to 10. It is scheduled to run every time a user logs in to execute a process with the local user’s privileges within the context of its parent windowsstoresetupbox.exe.
Why Is Modern Setup Host Disk Usage High?
The modern setup host runs in the background when the beta windows system on your computer is detecting or installing an update or when you run the setup file that upgrades your PC to windows 10. The error usually occurs during the windows update because the process goes rogue, causing your PC to slow down. The reason why it is listed on the Task Manager can be because Modern Setup Host has suddenly started to run itself, causing high CPU usage and high disk usage (which can be as high as 100% constantly as long as the process is running).
How To Fix Modern Setup Host High Disk Usage
There are no hard and fast rules to fixing this error, you have to work your way through the hacks below and then find one that works for you. But before we begin, ensure that you –
⦁ Do not have any 3rd part anti-virus installed on your computer and that your firewall software is on.
⦁ Disconnect any unnecessary external devices connected to your pc
⦁ You have at least 20GB disk space
Fix 1: Scan for corrupted files using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool
The Modern setup host errors might occur when there is a sudden shutdown during windows update which causes it to create corrupted files causing high CPU and high memory usage. The DISM is a command-line tool that helps repair windows image.
This fix may take several minutes and you must let it run its full course. To run the DSIM, take the following steps :
⦁ Press down on the windows logo key on your keyboard to bring up the start menu or click on the search box or hold down the Windows key + S on your keyboard
⦁ Type cmd
⦁ Right-click on the command prompt to reveal a list of options
⦁ Select Run as Administrator
⦁ Click yes if asked for permission by the User Account Control
⦁ Once the command prompt is up, run the following commands by copying and pasting and clicking enter after each paste
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Checkhealth
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
⦁ Once the command is complete, check if the problem still exists
Fix 2: Run the windows update troubleshooter
For Windows 10 users,
⦁ Press down on the windows logo key on your keyboard to bring up the start menu or click on the search box or hold down the Windows key + S on your keyboard.
⦁ Type Troubleshoot in the search box
⦁ Select Troubleshoot from the options
⦁ Click Windows Update on the right pane
⦁ Click on Run the troubleshooter button
⦁ The troubleshooter will either respond with a problem marked Not Fixed or No Problem Detected. If it responds with the later, then the problem is probably not from windows update which means you have to try another fix.
For Windows 7 and 8 users,
⦁ Download the windows troubleshooter from Microsoft
⦁ Double-click on the downloaded executable file to run it
⦁ Select windows update and then next
⦁ The troubleshooter will either respond with a problem marked Not Fixed or No Problem Detected, If it responds with the later, then the problem is probably not from windows update which means you have to try another fix.
Fix 3: Perform a Clean boot
This problem might occur due to background interference from other programs running during windows update. If this is the case, it can be fixed by performing a clean boot since a clean boot starts up windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. To perform a clean boot:
⦁ Run the dialogue box by pressing down the windows key + R
⦁ Type msconfig into the dialogue box and click ok
⦁ Once the system configuration tab pops up, click on the general tab and uncheck Load the startup items
⦁ Navigate to the services tab, check the Hide all Microsoft services check box and then click Disable all
⦁ Navigate to the startup tab, click on Open Task Manager
⦁ On the Task Manager, Disable all the startup items with status enabled by right-clicking each of them and selecting Disable from the list of options
⦁ Close the task manager and go back to the system configuration window
⦁ Click ok
⦁ Restart your PC
⦁ Check if the issue is fixed
Fix 5: Set your system’s default UI language as your system language
The modern set up host error might also occur if your system’s language is not the same as your default system UI language causing the windows to update to encounter problems. To check that this is not the case and to fix it if it is,
⦁ Hold down the Windows logo key on your keyboard to bring up the start menu or click on the search box or hold down the Windows key + S on your keyboard
⦁ Type cmd
⦁ Right-click on the command prompt to reveal a list of options
⦁ Select Run as Administrator
⦁ Click yes if asked for permission by the User Account Control
⦁ Once the command prompt is up, run the following command by copying and pasting and clicking on your terminal and tapping the enter key
dism /online /get-intll
⦁ This should display your system’s default UI language
For Windows 10,
⦁ Open the Settings app by holding down the Windows key + I on your keyboard
⦁ Select Time & Language
⦁ Select Region & Language from the left pane
⦁ If the language is set to any other language apart from your default system UI language, change it to your system default UI language
⦁ Check for windows update or upgrade your PC and check if the problem still exists.
For Windows 7,
⦁ Hold down the Windows key + R to bring up a Run box
⦁ Type control and click ok
⦁ Click Region & Language after selecting to view by large icons
⦁ Check if the format is your default system UI language
⦁ If the language is set to any other language apart from your default system UI language, change it to your system default UI language
⦁ Check for windows update or upgrade your PC and check if the problem still exists.
Fix 6: Delete everything on your software distribution folder
The software distribution folder is a folder that holds temporary files necessary for windows update. Windows update could fail as a result of these temporary, sometimes unnecessary files. To delete these files,
⦁ Hold down the Windows key + R to bring up a Run box
⦁ Copy and paste this path: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download into the dialogue box
⦁ Click Ok
⦁ Select all the files by holding down the Ctrl Key + A
⦁ Right-click and select delete from the options
⦁ When prompted for administrator permission, check the Do this for all current items box
⦁ Click continue
⦁ Restart your computer
See Also: Avast Service High CPU Usage Issue and Ways To Fix It (Updated)
Fix 7: Disable windows update on your PC
For extreme measures, you can disable windows update from your system permanently. This solution should only be used if you are sure you are not going to upgrade or update your windows. If you are sure this is what you want,
⦁ Hold down the Windows key + R to bring up a Run box
⦁ Type services.msc into the dialogue box
⦁ Click Ok
⦁ Right-click on the windows update services to reveal more options
⦁ Select properties
⦁ On the General tab, change the startup type to disabled
⦁ Click stop
⦁ Navigate to the Recovery tab
⦁ Set First failure to Take No action
⦁ Click apply
⦁ Click Ok
By the time you are through all these hacks, your issue should be resolved.
