DWM.exe process consumes excessive CPU resources after a lock screen display time-out occurs

Applies To
Windows 8 Windows 8 Enterprise Windows 8 Pro Windows Server 2012 Datacenter Windows Server 2012 Datacenter Windows Server 2012 Standard Windows Server 2012 Standard

Symptoms

You have a computer that's running Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012. At the lock screen, and after a display time-out occurs, the DWM.exe process consumes a high percentage of CPU resources. This excessive CPU usage continues until you move the mouse pointer or touch the keyboard.

Resolution

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft Support. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, go to the following Microsoft website:

http:⁠//support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must be running Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any previously released hotfix.

File information

The English (United States) version of this hotfix installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.

Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 file information and notesImportant Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only "Windows 8" is listed on the Hotfix Request page. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows 8" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.

  • The files that apply to a specific product, milestone (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.

    Version Product Milestone Service branch
    6.2.920 0.16 xxx Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 RTM GDR
    6.2.920 0.20 xxx Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 RTM LDR
    6.2.920 0.21 xxx Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 RTM LDR
  • The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012" section. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 8

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Dwmcore.dll 6.2.9200.21007 1,840,640 05-Apr-2014 04:05 x86
Microsoft-windows-desktopwindowmanager-compositor.ptxml Not Applicable 2,392 11-Oct-2012 00:39 Not Applicable
Dxgi.dll 6.2.9200.21007 366,080 05-Apr-2014 04:05 x86
Cdd.dll 6.2.9200.16384 166,400 26-Jul-2012 03:30 x86
Dxgkrnl.sys 6.2.9200.21007 1,228,632 05-Apr-2014 04:22 x86
Dxgmms1.sys 6.2.9200.20604 259,816 10-Jan-2013 05:52 x86
Lddmcore.ptxml Not Applicable 1,151 25-Jul-2012 20:32 Not Applicable

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 8 and of Windows Server 2012

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Dwmcore.dll 6.2.9200.21007 2,205,696 05-Apr-2014 04:31 x64
Microsoft-windows-desktopwindowmanager-compositor.ptxml Not Applicable 2,392 11-Oct-2012 00:37 Not Applicable
Dxgi.dll 6.2.9200.21007 459,264 05-Apr-2014 04:31 x64
Cdd.dll 6.2.9200.20828 199,680 19-Sep-2013 07:44 x64
Dxgkrnl.sys 6.2.9200.21007 1,445,208 05-Apr-2014 07:12 x64
Dxgmms1.sys 6.2.9200.20604 303,848 10-Jan-2013 07:35 x64
Lddmcore.ptxml Not Applicable 1,151 25-Jul-2012 20:29 Not Applicable
Dwmcore.dll 6.2.9200.21007 1,840,640 05-Apr-2014 04:05 x86
Microsoft-windows-desktopwindowmanager-compositor.ptxml Not Applicable 2,392 11-Oct-2012 00:39 Not Applicable
Dxgi.dll 6.2.9200.21007 366,080 05-Apr-2014 04:05 x86

Additional file information

Additional file information for Windows 8 and for Windows Server 2012

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows 8

File name Package_1_for_kb2957979~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,812
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:06
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_2_for_kb2957979~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,795
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:06
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_3_for_kb2957979~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 3,179
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:06
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_4_for_kb2957979~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,812
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:06
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_5_for_kb2957979~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,830
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:06
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_6_for_kb2957979~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,823
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:06
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_for_kb2957979_rtm~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 3,860
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:06
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_3b6531107d38e39f82ac895af736c9c4_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_faefaaa987162924.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 696
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:06
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_4cd7063ec005a3ebbf575f996ce28319_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_6372ceeb28cbdb27.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 700
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:06
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_d452fda6bf4e75138512a3b13c84ef62_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_7fdf112dcfacdc3d.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 719
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:06
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-d..wmanager-compositor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_03105d81299ee48a.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 116,655
Date (UTC) 05-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 04:39
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-directx-dxgi_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_380c82dd08cdafd5.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 90,010
Date (UTC) 05-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 04:39
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-lddmcore_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_a956a328cdcdbb89.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 283,125
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:06
Platform Not Applicable

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows 8 and of Windows Server 2012

File name Amd64_4cd7063ec005a3ebbf575f996ce28319_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_bf916a6ee1294c5d.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 702
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_511dddaf565353f8514aeef5112f0d39_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_cc045a2249441cb1.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,048
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_5522c8fe922a16778cdef764bcba1573_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_4f29b0df5156aa5a.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 700
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_5f08b5533fef08b4a3a7dcc2306afe29_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_516f5530ee67b320.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,086
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_fdd8423515409380c2f9b813998f76cf_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_677d24a07c8f98c8.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 704
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-d..wmanager-compositor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_5f2ef904e1fc55c0.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 116,659
Date (UTC) 05-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 07:14
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-directx-dxgi_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_942b1e60c12b210b.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 90,012
Date (UTC) 05-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 07:15
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-lddmcore_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_05753eac862b2cbf.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 283,129
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_1_for_kb2957979~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,822
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_2_for_kb2957979~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,805
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_3_for_kb2957979~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,483
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_4_for_kb2957979~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,284
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_5_for_kb2957979~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,282
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_6_for_kb2957979~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,319
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_7_for_kb2957979~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,040
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_8_for_kb2957979~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,077
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_9_for_kb2957979~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,833
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name Package_for_kb2957979_rtm~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not Applicable
File size 5,827
Date (UTC) 06-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 18:28
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-d..wmanager-compositor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_03105d81299ee48a.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 116,655
Date (UTC) 05-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 04:39
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-directx-dxgi_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.21007_none_380c82dd08cdafd5.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 90,010
Date (UTC) 05-Apr-2014
Time (UTC) 04:39
Platform Not Applicable

      

Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

References

Learn about the terminology that Microsoft uses to describe software updates.