Q: AppleMobileDeviceService.exe is hogging up to %50 of CPU

The only Autoruns I have are for Bonjour and also VMWare.  Now looking at the support article, VMWare is known to have issues, however I can't find any information about how I might work around this.

Needless to say if I need to un-install a critical component like VMWare to get around this issue, it's not a fix........

Between this and the WIFI issue with my iPhone5 (that many people seem to have, yet no fix or acknowledgement at all from Apple anywhere, I'm about almost done with Apple products after many many years.

I gave up and after many various high tech attempts. just ended up disabling wifi sync.

It is an Apple problem.  Apple needs to hire some good Window programers to fix this.

Wow.  TWO YEARS later and still no fix.  The only explanation is that this is a really underhanded way to get people to switch to a MAC.  You hear that apple, it's the bell, and it tolls for thee!

Although I haven't heard of any specific fix from Apple I will say that I only did the reset-fix once or twice a long time ago (I think it's over a year now) and haven't had the problem since. I should also mention that I'm still using XP. We'll see what happens when I go to Windows 7.

After all these years, does anyone think Apple even bothers to monitor this thread?

I tried the "netsh winsock reset" command because I was trying to get Home Sharing to work (again) and accessing my iTunes library from my Apple TV would just get stuck on Loading. It worked. Briefly. It's at it again.

Seriously, now that I have the Flash plug-in blocked, iTunes is the sole reason on my computer for slow-downs, crashes, and headaches. iTunes ***** and the latest and greatest lipstick on the pig doesn't do squat to solve any problems.

I am facing the same problem. I like to use iTunes for iTunes U and for the fact I have heavily organised my music around it. But such rubbish bugs that aren't fixed for such a long time make me search for alternatives.

Can I transfer by music ratings to another player? If so, I think I am switching.

And Apple: I am a user who has made a purchase of iTunes, but looks like I will be switching elsewhere.

I might as well throw away my iPod shuffle, I anyway use it only once a year.

End of Rant. Phew!

All, I finally found a source that will FIX the issue!  This site has all the known fixes for this problem to include the solution explained in this thread (video form, link)!  They are all temporary fixes but the site does give you an opportunity to get the permanent fix.  I went ahead got it for a measly one buck and got rid of the problem for good!  I recommend it, try it, you’ve got nothing to lose!  The site, for-the-people-online.com. Good Luck !!

Apple really disappointing ... fix this issue please.

As mentioned before, thanks to all who has contributed to this issue in this thread!  However, as I mentioned before above, the source that has all the fixes in one place to include a video link to the "winsock" fix is :

http://for-the-people-online.com , my bad, I didn't include the link before, so that you can just hover over it and go.

I just tried to connect my iPad and it worked as it should!

I have not done anything special and I have not dared to repeat it, yet.

I'm interested in if more persons have the same experience. Please try and report!

It's intermittent, and usually takes some period of time for the CPU hogging to show up.  If you leave wifi sync enabled for a week and do multiple syncs and you still don't have anything hogging the CPU, then that might be interesting.     

What is causing it is syncing your contacts and calandars with Outlook.
Simply take out the tick for syncing (try not syncing contacts first) and you should notice your CPU go back to normal.

Anarkil seems to be spot on.  The solution seems to be: DISABLE THE SYNCING WITH OUTLOOK/Calendars/etc.

Netsh winsock reset alone did not work or me.  I did the following:

1. netsh winsock reset on PC

2. reboot PC

3. disable the outlook syncing (I don't need this anyway as I prefer just having my contacts sync to icloud).

I have not had the CPU spike in over 24 hours.

Thank you, Anarkil!

Actually -- nevermind.  What I posted does not resolve the issue.