dead zone, who is stealing my cpu? Is there a tool?

[okey]

There is something on my box that intermittently freezes everything.
While inputting data, and the application doesn't matter here, I can
type several characters ahead of the display. Then, boom, as the box
exits this dead zone, all of the characters suddenly appear.

The fact it comes and goes, at hours at a time, suggests some network
thing, but I really have no idea. This is not a cpu runaway, as far
as I can tell. Viewing the monitors in the task manager renders
nothing; memory doesn’t change much, utilization doesn’t even change.

Is there a “dead zone” tool of some sort? Is there a way to chart who
is using what and when and discover who is stealing my cpu? The dead
zones can last several seconds. You’d think there’s something out
there that could nail this down.

Thanks.

xp, all patches (but who really knows), networked

 

[JS]

It could be a sub-process or application that's running in the background
and taking all the CPU resources.

To find and display what could be the problem try Process Explorer:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

In your case after the total freeze is over use the CPU Graph
mentioned later in my post, it just may capture what the cause
is and when you move your mouse to the extreme right of the
CPU graph you should see a spike in CPU usage, mouse over
the spike and see what process is the culprit.

Once you have Process Explorer installed and running:
In the taskbar select View and check 'Show Process Tree' and the
'Show Lower Pane' options.
Then expand the process named 'Explorer' (click on the + sign)
In the column on the left named 'CPU', look for any high CPU usage.
Next click on the CPU column to sort the processes by %CPU usage
(Highest to Lowest).

Move the mouse cursor over any process,
you should see a popup with some detailed info.
Then mouse over the process that's using most or all the CPU %.
Then click on that process to highlight it,
Now that it's highlighted, right click and from the options listed select:
'Search Online'.
This should display what out there on the web about that process.
You can also double click on any process to open up a more detailed
'Properties' window.
Note: some entries like Explorer, System/Services, and Svchost
may need to be expanded to show the detail (sub processes),
in this case click on the + located to the left of the entry.

An alternate method when using Process Explorer
is to double click on the Graph just below the Menu bar.
This will open the 'System Information' window, which has a larger display
of all three graphs. Move your mouse over any spike in the
CPU Usage graph to see what process/application or service is the cause
of the spike.

--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com


There is something on my box that intermittently freezes everything.
While inputting data, and the application doesn't matter here, I can
type several characters ahead of the display. Then, boom, as the box
exits this dead zone, all of the characters suddenly appear.

The fact it comes and goes, at hours at a time, suggests some network
thing, but I really have no idea. This is not a cpu runaway, as far
as I can tell. Viewing the monitors in the task manager renders
nothing; memory doesn’t change much, utilization doesn’t even change.

Is there a “dead zone” tool of some sort? Is there a way to chart who
is using what and when and discover who is stealing my cpu? The dead
zones can last several seconds. You’d think there’s something out
there that could nail this down.

Thanks.

xp, all patches (but who really knows), networked

 

[Eric]

There is something on my box that intermittently freezes everything.
While inputting data, and the application doesn't matter here, I can
type several characters ahead of the display.  Then, boom, as the box
exits this dead zone, all of the characters suddenly appear.

The fact it comes and goes, at hours at a time, suggests some network
thing, but I really have no idea.  This is not a cpu runaway, as far
as I can tell.  Viewing the monitors in the task manager renders
nothing; memory doesn’t change much, utilization doesn’t even change.

Is there a “dead zone” tool of some sort?  Is there a way to chart who
is using what and when and discover who is stealing my cpu?  The dead
zones can last several seconds.  You’d think there’s something out
there that could nail this down.

Thanks.

xp, all patches (but who really knows), networked

I take it that you are not using a wireless keyboard. If you are, are
the batteries new or fully charged?

If you are using a wired keyboard, it could be faulty, so try using
another keyboard if you have one.

Eric,
PC Buyer Beware!
http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/

 

[okey]

I take it that you are not using a wireless keyboard. If you are, are
the batteries new or fully charged?

If you are using a wired keyboard, it could be faulty, so try using
another keyboard if you have one.

Eric,
PC Buyer Beware!http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/

No, just the plain old stuff (mouse is optical thou). Thanks all for
the suggestions. I'll let you know.