Problem with svchost and related programs

[teax1]

After today's windows 8.1 update, i cannot connect to the internet and some processes are taking WAY to many cpu resources (excluding explorer.exe in the 2nd screenie, i was copying something big).
I have a bad feeling that i am being used to mine bitcoins or used in botnet attacks.

Oh, and i cannot turn on my firewall (my antivirus firewall or my windows one)

What do you suggest i do (please do not say reinstall windows, i can think of that as well)?

 

[MilesAhead]

If you have a Restore Point from just before the update I would use it. Otherwise it is process of elimination to figure out which update did you in.

 

[teax1]

If you have a Restore Point from just before the update I would use it. Otherwise it is process of elimination to figure out which update did you in.

How would i figure out which update it was?

PS i have no restore point

 

[MilesAhead]

This is a basic guide how to troubleshoot problems by performing a clean boot:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/23382-troubleshoot-problem-clean-boot-windows-8-a.html

The idea is to isolate the problem. In your case I don't know how many updates were installed. If it is a manageable number you might uninstall one by one. If they are many use the clean boot method to narrow it down to the usual suspects and uninstall those first.

For future reference there are many free system imaging programs that can save a lot of hair pulling if you need to get your system back to a known state. The main cost would be storage such as an external USB drive or a large USB stick. I use Macrium Reflect but you can find a list of free imaging utilities on TheFreeCountry