Why does Windows Update & Modules Installer run even when paused?!

Ok, so here's the situation that I've got right now, perhaps I had it before but didn't pay too much attention.

I have noticed that every time I start-up Windows or even restart the PC on Windows 10 Pro the Windows Modules Installer will begin after exactly 15 minutes, every single time no exceptions!!!

I'm assuming this has something to do with Windows Update? My Windows Update is up to date and TrustedInstaller.exe TiWorker.exe will start running in the background and take up 100% disk usage.

I also noticed that Windows Update service will run in the background for a short while despite being up to date. I decided to pause the Windows Updates for 35 days and still after restart of computer Windows Modules Installer will run in the background along with Windows Update. I manually disabled Windows Update and once again that only took care of Windows Update not launching at startup.

But once again TrustedInstaller.exe and TiWorker.exe will run after 15 minutes. Is this some sort of programming by task scheduler or is this designed by default or defect?

If you restart your PC and check task manager and have a look at your CPU uptime and see if after 15 minutes TrustedInstaller.exe and TiWorker.exe start running by themselves and then few minutes later they stop but then again they come back one or two more times after that it's fine for the rest of the hours until next time I restart or startup my PC again!

This is happening under Windows 10 1809 update. I don't know how it is on 1903. But it is an annoying issue.

Alternatively I know I can disable the Windows Modules Installer but I would like to find the cause of the trigger so it does not auto-start by itself rather than have it simply disabled which doesn't solve the root cause of the issue.

Absolutely all updates have been successfully installed. None have failed. I am up to date even for Recommended updates.

It doesn't appear to be a Windows Update thing, despite the fact that by schedule it does launch and then goes away.

The most confusing thing for me is why TrustedInstaller.exe and TiWorker.exe at exactly 15 minutes and 30 seconds after a computer boot or restart. Also smartscreen.exe launches after 14 minutes and 20 seconds and stays there for a few minutes before they disappear.

But after a while TrustedInstaller.exe and TiWorker.exe Windows Modules Installer will relaunch again for a couple more times before it goes away for the rest of the hours this happens even if Windows Update service is not triggered. Is this a bug or is it a design feature in Windows 10?

There are no exception to this rule. I turn on the computer leave my task manager on the screen wait 15 minutes and Windows Modules Installer will start running.

I have checked Task Scheduler and I can't seem to find what triggers this to launch every 15 minutes on PC boot. I have never experienced this in Windows 8.1 or 7.

SFC /Scannow reports no integrity violations.

Probably it's looking for store apps updates and/or defender definition updates.

roy111 said:

Probably it's looking for store apps updates and/or defender definition updates.

Just updated all my store apps and it is up to date.

The only thing I don't have running is Windows Defender. I have set that to disabled. I wonder if re-enabling it and installing the defender definition updates will solve the problem?

But I want to be 100% certain, otherwise I'll just be wasting my time doing this without knowing if it will fix this.

I haven't updated to 1903 update yet even though it now pops up in my Windows Update as a feature update to install.

But I've had this problem with TrustedInstaller.exe and TiWorker.exe since the very beginning of reinstallation of Windows from 12th of May.

None of you guys are getting this thing to run after 15 minutes of your computer boot? I want to know this, please do let me know if any of you experience the same thing! 15 minutes in after a PC boot or restart TrustedInstaller.exe and TiWorker.exe start running in Task Manager!

Windows 10 is a Client OS, I have any kind of things running all the time that are part of the win 10 OS.
If you think you ahve some kind of virus, it's another story; if you want control over your pc, you have to use another OS.

Well the TrustedInstaller.exe has not been modified. I have checked the file and it is located in C:\Windows\servicing Created ‎15 ‎September ‎2018, ‏‎07:09:27, ‎Modified 15 ‎September ‎2018, ‏‎07:09:27.. So it has not been tampered. It is fresh clean install of 1809 from Microsoft website.

Something is triggering it to occur after exactly 15 minutes and 30 seconds, but I don't know what is triggering it. Maybe I need some resource monitoring software to find out. But it would've been really useful if someone running Windows 10 could tell me if they had the exact same experience. If they don't then at least I will know whether I should take any further steps to try and resolve it.

If absolutely all Windows 10 Operating Systems produce the same behaviour then at least I know there's nothing wrong with my system. I just wanted to be sure of that for the benefit of the doubt. So far no one has managed to answer me this very simple question.

It is so easy for someone to just have a look at their PC boot up their systems and wait 15 minutes. Just open the Performance Tab in Task Manager have a look at the Up time and report back and respond if TrustedInstaller.exe and TiWorker.exe started running in the background Details tab after 15 minutes.

I don't have any other problems with my PC for now. Unless I have major issues then only then I will go back to Windows 8.1 or 7 as a last resort. But so far I'm ok with Windows 10 and I don't want to give up just yet.