I am trying to figure out why my system is doing this and have been
unsuccessful so far, so I thought I would try here.

I am running a Dell XPS 400 box; P4 3.0 Ghz with 3 MB Ram. OS was upgraded
to Vista Home Premium and also upgraded Video Card to ATI Radeon X1950 Pro
256 MB. The system should handle anything I throw at it, but since the
upgrade it "pegs" at 100% at random times. I have looked at the logs and
cannot tell what is causing this to happen. It releases after about 1 minute
usually, but it is becoming very tiresome as you can never tell when it is
going to happen (in fact it happened while I was typing this).

I have turned off UAC and set the system setting off of Aero and
transparency inc case it was that, but it is still happening.

Does ANYONE have any clues?

I have a similar problem with my single core processer. Microsoft "does"
specify that a dual core processor is desirable for Vista.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)



"John Harris" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4C0564D3-AECD-4860-BD52-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I am trying to figure out why my system is doing this and have been
>unsuccessful so far, so I thought I would try here.
>
> I am running a Dell XPS 400 box; P4 3.0 Ghz with 3 MB Ram. OS was upgraded
> to Vista Home Premium and also upgraded Video Card to ATI Radeon X1950 Pro
> 256 MB. The system should handle anything I throw at it, but since the
> upgrade it "pegs" at 100% at random times. I have looked at the logs and
> cannot tell what is causing this to happen. It releases after about 1
> minute usually, but it is becoming very tiresome as you can never tell
> when it is going to happen (in fact it happened while I was typing this).
>
> I have turned off UAC and set the system setting off of Aero and
> transparency inc case it was that, but it is still happening.
>
> Does ANYONE have any clues?

So I need to buy a dual core?

"Richard Urban" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a similar problem with my single core processer. Microsoft "does"
>specify that a dual core processor is desirable for Vista.
>
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Urban
> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>
>
>
> "John Harris" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:4C0564D3-AECD-4860-BD52-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I am trying to figure out why my system is doing this and have been
>>unsuccessful so far, so I thought I would try here.
>>
>> I am running a Dell XPS 400 box; P4 3.0 Ghz with 3 MB Ram. OS was
>> upgraded to Vista Home Premium and also upgraded Video Card to ATI Radeon
>> X1950 Pro 256 MB. The system should handle anything I throw at it, but
>> since the upgrade it "pegs" at 100% at random times. I have looked at the
>> logs and cannot tell what is causing this to happen. It releases after
>> about 1 minute usually, but it is becoming very tiresome as you can never
>> tell when it is going to happen (in fact it happened while I was typing
>> this).
>>
>> I have turned off UAC and set the system setting off of Aero and
>> transparency inc case it was that, but it is still happening.
>>
>> Does ANYONE have any clues?
>

I can state that I have worked on many dual core computers that are with
less RAM than I have and the processor is of a lower speed. Yet these
systems seem to load faster and they respond quicker when starting many
functions, than my single core box does.

I am slowly ordering the components I need to build up a multi-core system.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)



"JOHN HARRIS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:5ABC9DCA-05B7-42A1-922B-(E-Mail Removed)...
> So I need to buy a dual core?
>
> "Richard Urban" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I have a similar problem with my single core processer. Microsoft "does"
>>specify that a dual core processor is desirable for Vista.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Richard Urban
>> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
>> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>>
>>
>>
>> "John Harris" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:4C0564D3-AECD-4860-BD52-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>I am trying to figure out why my system is doing this and have been
>>>unsuccessful so far, so I thought I would try here.
>>>
>>> I am running a Dell XPS 400 box; P4 3.0 Ghz with 3 MB Ram. OS was
>>> upgraded to Vista Home Premium and also upgraded Video Card to ATI
>>> Radeon X1950 Pro 256 MB. The system should handle anything I throw at
>>> it, but since the upgrade it "pegs" at 100% at random times. I have
>>> looked at the logs and cannot tell what is causing this to happen. It
>>> releases after about 1 minute usually, but it is becoming very tiresome
>>> as you can never tell when it is going to happen (in fact it happened
>>> while I was typing this).
>>>
>>> I have turned off UAC and set the system setting off of Aero and
>>> transparency inc case it was that, but it is still happening.
>>>
>>> Does ANYONE have any clues?
>>
>

Vista runs just fine even when watching Live TV on my not very fast, single
core laptop, with 1GB of memory, and on which Aero is enabled. It did run
faster after I added 2GB of flash memory and enabled it for Ready Boost. Of
course a dual core is desirable in any system but it is certainly not
required.
What applications are you running when your CPU spikes? I suggest that you
keep task manager running so that you spot the task that is consuming your
CPU as soon as you sense that the problem is happening.

"JOHN HARRIS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:5ABC9DCA-05B7-42A1-922B-(E-Mail Removed)...
> So I need to buy a dual core?
>
> "Richard Urban" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I have a similar problem with my single core processer. Microsoft "does"
>>specify that a dual core processor is desirable for Vista.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Richard Urban
>> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
>> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>>
>>
>>
>> "John Harris" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:4C0564D3-AECD-4860-BD52-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>I am trying to figure out why my system is doing this and have been
>>>unsuccessful so far, so I thought I would try here.
>>>
>>> I am running a Dell XPS 400 box; P4 3.0 Ghz with 3 MB Ram. OS was
>>> upgraded to Vista Home Premium and also upgraded Video Card to ATI
>>> Radeon X1950 Pro 256 MB. The system should handle anything I throw at
>>> it, but since the upgrade it "pegs" at 100% at random times. I have
>>> looked at the logs and cannot tell what is causing this to happen. It
>>> releases after about 1 minute usually, but it is becoming very tiresome
>>> as you can never tell when it is going to happen (in fact it happened
>>> while I was typing this).
>>>
>>> I have turned off UAC and set the system setting off of Aero and
>>> transparency inc case it was that, but it is still happening.
>>>
>>> Does ANYONE have any clues?
>>
>

"JW" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:0FEB2B64-05A5-4F09-A204-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Vista runs just fine even when watching Live TV on my not very fast,
> single core laptop, with 1GB of memory, and on which Aero is enabled. It
> did run faster after I added 2GB of flash memory and enabled it for Ready
> Boost. Of course a dual core is desirable in any system but it is
> certainly not required.
> What applications are you running when your CPU spikes? I suggest that
> you keep task manager running so that you spot the task that is consuming
> your CPU as soon as you sense that the problem is happening.
>
>

I agree. I don't have any problems relating to speed or lock ups on my
single core system. Vista is just as fast as XP was.

Rob

--
Red meat isn't bad for you....Blue, Green fuzzy meat is bad for you.

Dell Dimension 8300 Desktop
P4 3.0GHz
1GB RAM
Windows Vista Ultimate 32Bit
ATI Radeon 9800 XT
Creative SB Audigy 2

In the Start search box type performance then click on Performance
Information and Tools in the list above. Click on Advanced Tools. Often the
problem will be listed on this screen. If it's not work through the links
and usually you will will find clues leading to a solution.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca


"John Harris" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4C0564D3-AECD-4860-BD52-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I am trying to figure out why my system is doing this and have been
>unsuccessful so far, so I thought I would try here.
>
> I am running a Dell XPS 400 box; P4 3.0 Ghz with 3 MB Ram. OS was upgraded
> to Vista Home Premium and also upgraded Video Card to ATI Radeon X1950 Pro
> 256 MB. The system should handle anything I throw at it, but since the
> upgrade it "pegs" at 100% at random times. I have looked at the logs and
> cannot tell what is causing this to happen. It releases after about 1
> minute usually, but it is becoming very tiresome as you can never tell
> when it is going to happen (in fact it happened while I was typing this).
>
> I have turned off UAC and set the system setting off of Aero and
> transparency inc case it was that, but it is still happening.
>
> Does ANYONE have any clues?

I have tried that but there is no sign of slowdown before it just stops dead
for a minute. When it does this there is no way to get the task manager up.
I have stopped all services not needed (i.e. sidebar) and features (Aero,
transparency) but nothing is working. Maybe it is ZoneAlarm??

"JW" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:0FEB2B64-05A5-4F09-A204-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Vista runs just fine even when watching Live TV on my not very fast,
> single core laptop, with 1GB of memory, and on which Aero is enabled. It
> did run faster after I added 2GB of flash memory and enabled it for Ready
> Boost. Of course a dual core is desirable in any system but it is
> certainly not required.
> What applications are you running when your CPU spikes? I suggest that
> you keep task manager running so that you spot the task that is consuming
> your CPU as soon as you sense that the problem is happening.
>
> "JOHN HARRIS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:5ABC9DCA-05B7-42A1-922B-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> So I need to buy a dual core?
>>
>> "Richard Urban" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>I have a similar problem with my single core processer. Microsoft "does"
>>>specify that a dual core processor is desirable for Vista.
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Richard Urban
>>> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
>>> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "John Harris" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:4C0564D3-AECD-4860-BD52-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>I am trying to figure out why my system is doing this and have been
>>>>unsuccessful so far, so I thought I would try here.
>>>>
>>>> I am running a Dell XPS 400 box; P4 3.0 Ghz with 3 MB Ram. OS was
>>>> upgraded to Vista Home Premium and also upgraded Video Card to ATI
>>>> Radeon X1950 Pro 256 MB. The system should handle anything I throw at
>>>> it, but since the upgrade it "pegs" at 100% at random times. I have
>>>> looked at the logs and cannot tell what is causing this to happen. It
>>>> releases after about 1 minute usually, but it is becoming very tiresome
>>>> as you can never tell when it is going to happen (in fact it happened
>>>> while I was typing this).
>>>>
>>>> I have turned off UAC and set the system setting off of Aero and
>>>> transparency inc case it was that, but it is still happening.
>>>>
>>>> Does ANYONE have any clues?
>>>
>>
>

Start task manager before the problem happens then when you do bring it back
after the one minute freeze it may still have data from the time of the
freeze.
It appears that your system may be doing something that causes a one minute
time out to occur which is freezing the other programs till the time out is
over. but I would think this would show up in the event logs.
It may be timing on with your network connection. So I suggest that try
running with out your network connected.
"John Harris" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:2847CF31-AA9A-42DF-8A20-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have tried that but there is no sign of slowdown before it just stops
>dead for a minute. When it does this there is no way to get the task
>manager up. I have stopped all services not needed (i.e. sidebar) and
>features (Aero, transparency) but nothing is working. Maybe it is
>ZoneAlarm??
>
> "JW" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:0FEB2B64-05A5-4F09-A204-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Vista runs just fine even when watching Live TV on my not very fast,
>> single core laptop, with 1GB of memory, and on which Aero is enabled.
>> It did run faster after I added 2GB of flash memory and enabled it for
>> Ready Boost. Of course a dual core is desirable in any system but it is
>> certainly not required.
>> What applications are you running when your CPU spikes? I suggest that
>> you keep task manager running so that you spot the task that is consuming
>> your CPU as soon as you sense that the problem is happening.
>>
>> "JOHN HARRIS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:5ABC9DCA-05B7-42A1-922B-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> So I need to buy a dual core?
>>>
>>> "Richard Urban" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>I have a similar problem with my single core processer. Microsoft "does"
>>>>specify that a dual core processor is desirable for Vista.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Richard Urban
>>>> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
>>>> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "John Harris" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>> news:4C0564D3-AECD-4860-BD52-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>>I am trying to figure out why my system is doing this and have been
>>>>>unsuccessful so far, so I thought I would try here.
>>>>>
>>>>> I am running a Dell XPS 400 box; P4 3.0 Ghz with 3 MB Ram. OS was
>>>>> upgraded to Vista Home Premium and also upgraded Video Card to ATI
>>>>> Radeon X1950 Pro 256 MB. The system should handle anything I throw at
>>>>> it, but since the upgrade it "pegs" at 100% at random times. I have
>>>>> looked at the logs and cannot tell what is causing this to happen. It
>>>>> releases after about 1 minute usually, but it is becoming very
>>>>> tiresome as you can never tell when it is going to happen (in fact it
>>>>> happened while I was typing this).
>>>>>
>>>>> I have turned off UAC and set the system setting off of Aero and
>>>>> transparency inc case it was that, but it is still happening.
>>>>>
>>>>> Does ANYONE have any clues?
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

I will do that. Thanks for all the input.

--
JOHN C. HARRIS, MPA, MBA
JCZ CONSULTING OF TAMPA BAY
813-361-8826
(E-Mail Removed)
"Kerry Brown" <(E-Mail Removed)*a*m> wrote in message
news:F4BBB25C-36FD-4E53-B6F5-(E-Mail Removed)...
> In the Start search box type performance then click on Performance
> Information and Tools in the list above. Click on Advanced Tools. Often
> the problem will be listed on this screen. If it's not work through the
> links and usually you will will find clues leading to a solution.
>
> --
> Kerry Brown
> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
> http://www.vistahelp.ca
>
>
> "John Harris" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:4C0564D3-AECD-4860-BD52-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I am trying to figure out why my system is doing this and have been
>>unsuccessful so far, so I thought I would try here.
>>
>> I am running a Dell XPS 400 box; P4 3.0 Ghz with 3 MB Ram. OS was
>> upgraded to Vista Home Premium and also upgraded Video Card to ATI Radeon
>> X1950 Pro 256 MB. The system should handle anything I throw at it, but
>> since the upgrade it "pegs" at 100% at random times. I have looked at the
>> logs and cannot tell what is causing this to happen. It releases after
>> about 1 minute usually, but it is becoming very tiresome as you can never
>> tell when it is going to happen (in fact it happened while I was typing
>> this).
>>
>> I have turned off UAC and set the system setting off of Aero and
>> transparency inc case it was that, but it is still happening.
>>
>> Does ANYONE have any clues?
>