Windows defender advanced scan extreme cpu overload

I routinely do Windows defender advanced scans. Up until about 2 weeks ago, that is.

All of a sudden the scan was completely maxing out my cpu. I wouldn't say it crashed the computer, but if I tried to do the simplest task while it was running, it rendered the machine unusable due to the draining of resources. Not to mention the scan would disappear, but was still running in the background. The only thing I could do at that point was to wait until it was done scanning, or shut down the unit

I found this thread that's about a year old, followed some of the suggestions, but nothing really helps.

I have no problem with the Quick scan.

High CPU usage when Windows Defender perform a Full Scan in Windows 10 - Microsoft Community

Windows Defender is my only virus protection, so there is nothing to create a conflict.

I put my defender installer folders in the excluded list. I changed my power settings from High Performance to Balanced.

I ran chkdsk /scan, sfc /scannow, dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth, and a Memory diagnostic. All normal.

Finally, I did a fresh install.

Is anybody else experiencing this?

Is it true that ssd's are more prone to this sort of thing?

Hi bro67,

Do you rely solely on Windows Defender as I do, or 3rd party software?

I've never experienced this sort of thing, Not with machines that were far less powerful than my current one. Not with any third party virus/malware software. Not with this one until very recently. It's one thing to put stress on the chip, it's quite another thing to incapacitate the machine.

So I'm left with the question, why now?
I'd really like to appeal to those out there who only use Windows Defender as I do, to see if they experience the same thing, and If there is some way to deal with it.

After "2019-07 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems (KB4507435)", the extreme cpu overload effect essentially subsided. My CPU still goes to 100%, but does not impede using the machine while running an advanced scan.

I do have another issue that has since cropped up that also occurred in the past.

The only way I can run an advanced scan is, for example, by right clicking the C:\ drive, and selecting "Scan with windows defender."

I can't run an advanced scan by accessing "Virus and threat protection" from either the Windows defender systray icon, or windows settings. The "Advanced scan" link is either greyed out, or if it is not, clicking on it only produces a momentary "blink/flash", like a shortcut with a bad location, after which nothing happens.