CPU Running at 100%

[Guest]

I am running Windows XP Pro SP2 on Dell Inspiron 5150 . For some reason , a
while after i startup , my CPU starts running at 100% and then shuts off the
computer and i have to restart . I have tried to see whats making it do this
but i can't figure it out . Someone out there please help me .

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

Download and run Process Explorer. Look for the process that's taking up all the CPU
recourses. This will help narrow the search.
Sysinternals Freeware - Process Explorer
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

 

[Ron Martell]

I am running Windows XP Pro SP2 on Dell Inspiron 5150 . For some reason , a
while after i startup , my CPU starts running at 100% and then shuts off the
computer and i have to restart . I have tried to see whats making it do this
but i can't figure it out . Someone out there please help me .

Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to bring up the Windows Task Manager.
Go to the Processes tab.
Click twice on the CPU column header to sort the process list into
descending order by CPU usage.

The offending process(es) should be at the top of the list.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[Guest]

Thanks Ron ... overwhelmingly , the " System Idle Process " is the one using
the most CPU . What can i do to change this ?

 

[Jim]

Thanks Ron ... overwhelmingly , the " System Idle Process " is the one
using
the most CPU . What can i do to change this ?

That is definitely not what is hogging your computer or filling up your
disk. The idle process is the placeholder for the activity of the cpu when
it has no real work.
One other thing to check is I/O writes. You can't fill a directory without
lots and lots of I/O.
Jim

 

[Bert Kinney]

This is normal, hence the word idle. It should be between 97 & 99% with nothing running in
the background.

 

[Ron Martell]

Thanks Ron ... overwhelmingly , the " System Idle Process " is the one using
the most CPU . What can i do to change this ?

If the CPU usage is showing as 100% in the performance tab then the
System Idle process should be showing zero or close to it when you
click to the processes tab.

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[Guest]

Hi!

I experienced the same problems too, but it was running windows 2000. But
anyway, maybe my experience to resolve this problem may be helpful to you too:

a. The symptom description, as it occured on my system:

I was running two applications (e.g. Word and Outlook in background), and
suddently the CPU uitlization was at 100 percent. My PC didn't restart (as
you described), but Outlook reported errors while trying to read my e-mail
accounts. I had to restart my PC, to get a normal CPU utilization back.

b. After reviewing a view articles about the same problem, I discovered,
that this problem may be an Intel Pentium 4 specific problem while using
Intels Hyperthreading Technology in conjunction with the appropriate machine
drivers used within the operating system (in my case windows 2000).

So I can give you following hints, probably solving your problem:

1. Simply turn of Hyperthreading support of your PC (see your
motherboard/bios manual for how to do this on your PC) and watch, if the
problem still remains.

2. If the problem does not remain (so it is definitly a hyperthreading
issue), try to get a bios update AND/OR motherboard specific machine drivers
for windows XP

Now I am running Windows XP and the problem didn't occured anymore (but
maybe it was resolved by upgrading my motherboard's bios, which i did before
installing windows XP).

Kind Regards,

Hans

 

[Guest]

Thanks guys . I have narrowed the problem even further . The problem occurs
as soon as i run more than one or two applications together . For example , i
use the aol software to check my email . If i have aol open then say i run
the windows media player to play cds while i work , as soon as i start the
media player or run any other program , the cpu will run at 100% for a few
seconds and then shut down the pc . Any ideas what could be wrong ? it didn;t
use to do this .

Thanks

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

Try opening several other application and see if the system shuts down. If the system
doesn't shut down open aol and see what happens.

 

[Guest]

You may have some bad activeX plugins? In IE, tools, internet options,
programs, manage add-ons, scan through and see if any are needed and disable
or enable. Look in, Show:Add-ons used by IE/currently loaded by IE..

In SBS&D advanced mode, tools, system startup you can check for bad startup
apps..update and check for spyware too..
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
Safe and easy to test startup probs...
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

Hope this can help..
j;-)

 

[Guest]

I have the same problem and this is precisely what does *not* happen. The
status bar shows CPU Usage near 100%, and the Processes tab shows System Idle
Process also near 100%. I would have thought that was not possilbe.
Presumably, there is something else that is running that masquerades as Idle
time.

Any recommendations for tracking down what is eating the CPU would be
appreciated. I am running the most recent versions of ClamAV, SpySweeper,
Norton, and TrendMicro (not all at the same time, of course). Nothing bad is
reported.

I installed Process Explorer and it shows that almost all of the time is
spent in Hardware interrupts, which may be due to the virus scan. Any way to
further refine the

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Gary

System Idle is the difference between the sum of all running processes
and 100%. If you are seeing a System Idle figure of 96% it means only 4%
of the CPU capacity is being used.

What Firewall are you using?

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
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[Guest]

I understand that Idle + CPU Usage should be 100%. However, that is not
what is appearing on the task manager. Running Process Explorer, I found
that Task Manager's Idle = System Idle + Hardware Interrupts, so if you have
a lot of interrupts, the Idle will look high AND Cpu Usage will look high at
the same time.

Now the question is why are the interrupts running so high.

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Gary

You could be heading into a cul de sac:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dncenet/html/AdvCppDev.asp

Which process is showing a lot? How many are you seeing and how long
since you booted?

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
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