Excessive CPU usage

[PSRumbagh]

Sometimes, specially when online with AOL, my laptop's Celeron M CPU goes
into 100% usage for several (2-5) minutes at a time. The computer gets very
sluggish. Windows task manager "Applications" shows only AOL to be active.
How can I find out what is causing this tie-up?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Sometimes, specially when online with AOL, my laptop's Celeron M
CPU goes into 100% usage for several (2-5) minutes at a time. The
computer gets very sluggish. Windows task manager "Applications"
shows only AOL to be active. How can I find out what is causing
this tie-up?

What about 'processes'?

 

[Gerry]

PSRumbagh

Download Process Explorer.
For further information about Process Explorer see here:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/SystemInformation/ProcessExplorer.mspx

What is the image name of the process producing high CPU usage? This
could help narrow down the source of the unexplained CPU usage.

It would be helpful if you could post the Command Line of the process
generating the excessive CPU usage. In Process Explorer place
cursor on Process and select Properties, Image.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Milt]

PSRumbagh,

Next time that happens, try shutting AOL down. Not just the "Close"
button,but go to your task bar icon and click "Exit". Then restart AOL and
see if it's OK. If it's working properly again, the problem is that AOL is
capturing but not releasing a lot of memory.

I've been seeing that problem ever since an AOL "patch" was installed in
late November or December. But trying to get AOL to look at the issue is next
to impossible. I don't think AOL has anyone with the I.Q. of a chicken
working there any more. They seem to be dedicated to driving subscribers
away, not addressing problems.

Anyway, if that fixes it, that's what you have to do when AOL hangs up your
computer.

 

[PSRumbagh]

Just "closing" AOL made CPU usage go from 100% to about 2%. This problem did
start about 2 months ago. I don't pay for AOL anymore but get it free,
without technical assistance, as an inducement to subscribe to Charter Cable
Internet. I think AOL's days are numbered and their software has gotten
terrible.

 

[PSRumbagh]

I already have Sysinternals Process Explorer V10.21 on my laptop. Is the
answer to my question contained in the intermittent numbers that appear in
the column titled "CPU"? If not, what do I look for in Process Explorer?
What do the numbers in the "CPU" column mean?

 

[Milt]

PSRumbagh,

Well, at least you have a "work-around". And sadly, I agree with you, AOL is
going "down the toilet"!

Milt

 

[PSRumbagh]

I assume that if a "hog" is running that the "CPU" column will show a high
percentage for the application / process for the duration that the "hog" is
active?