CPU bogged down by "SYSTEM" process

[aitkinst]

My computer's CPU is running at nearly 98% continually even immediatel
after I reboot. The process in task manager which is using is th
System process alternating with the idle process but that seems norma
when no other applications are running. The bizarre part is that it'
in some sort of demanding loop starving my CPU of all it's power. I a
running XP Pro with SP 1 (fairly new install and haven't been able t
get sp 2 to load correctly for some other strange reason even prior t
this problem) I booted in safe mode and the same problem occured. M
whole system is so lagged out that I'm amazed it even boots up at all.
Any thoughts in regards to how to troubleshoot this one down to the ugl
source of my problems? I'm at a loss

 

[Ted Zieglar]

Thought about viruses or spyware?

 

[Gerry Cornell]

How much RAM memory? Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to bring Task Manager and
select the Performance Tab. What is the Commit Charge? What was the
Peak? What is the processor speed?

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
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[aitkinst]

I am running McAfee firewall and viruscan and haven't picked up
anything. Don't know about the spyware. Any suggestions for a
realiable spyware search program?

 

[aitkinst]

Commit Charge (K)
Total 325420
Limit 3973792
Peak 333324

Pentium 4 3.GHz 1.93GB Ram

 

[Ted Zieglar]

"Any suggestions for a realiable spyware search program?"

That's like asking 'what car do you recommend'? Everybody has their
opinions. You should read the reviews in the major online magazines (like
CNet, PC Magazine, etc.) and form your own conclusion.

The term spyware is often used as a metaphor for many times of malicious
software, all of which is also known as malware. You need to be just as
vigilant against spyware as you are against viruses. In fact, you need to be
more vigilant against spyware because it's very difficult to detect and
remove. That's why should have more than one anti-spyware program installed
on your system. At least one of those anti-spyware programs has to start
with Windows and run full time in the background.

Since you have no anti-spyware program currently on your computer, you need
to use an online scanner to detect the spyware that is probably on your
computer. Because spyware is so difficult to spot, you should scan your
computer with several different online spyware detectors to be sure that
you've identified all the malware on your computer.

Here are two online scanners to start with:

Trend Micro™ Anti-Spyware for the Web
http://www.trendmicro.com/spyware-scan/

Pest Patrol Online Spyware Scan
http://pestpatrol.com/prescan.htm

 

[Gerry Cornell]

When dealing with a persistent virus / trojan you need to delete system
restore points and not use them as they will contain the virus and put
it back into your system. Turn off System Restore until cleaning is
finished. Also run your anti-virus with updated definitions in safe
mode. Sometimes you need to run an anti-virus from a floppy and Trend
offer one that can be used.

Create a new folder named Sysclean (e.g., C:\Program files\Sysclean, or
just a desktop folder).
Download Sysclean.com (http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp) and
place it in this folder.

Download the latest Controlled Pattern Release zip
(http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp, e.g., lpt123.zip) and
extract its contents to the same folder. See the Readme text file for
additional instructions.

Download HijackThis (Freeware)
http://tomcoyote.com/hjt/

Delete Temporary Internet Files (IE Tools>Internet Options>General)
accepting the option to delete all offline content. Reboot and delete
contents of all TEMP folders and then your Recycle Bin.

Close all running programs including your anti-virus application, go
offline, and run Sysclean. For best results, do nothing with the machine
until the scan completes.

If the scan shows any infections in System Restore files and you're
running WinXP, create a new Restore Point
(Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore), then delete
all but the most recent Restore Point (Start>Programs>Accessories>System
Tools>Disk Cleanup>More options).

Work through the spyware removal programmes etc in turn in safe mode
until you get no results.

Afterwards, update your own anti-virus application and perform another
full system scan.

Finally run HijackThis and post the HijackThis log to the HijackThis
forum here:
http://aumha.net/

You will need to register with Aumha to be able to post.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA

Using invalid email address

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please tell the newsgroup how any
suggested solution worked for you.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~