IE and Windows Explorer peg CPU utilization at 100%

[Brian]

When I launch either Internet Explorer or Windows
Explorer, CPU utilization spikes to 100% for approximately
2 to 5 minutes. Utilization is split 50/50 between the
System process and either application process. I have
tried running AdAware, Spybot, HijackThis and have
manually removed several processes that I thought may have
caused the problem, but nothing has worked. I am running
Windows XP on a P3/500. Upgrade to SP2 also did not
help. Any ideas? Thank you.

 

[Guest]

I'm having this exact same problem but I can't figure out what is causing it.
I have WinXP SP2 and my machine is only about 1 month old (a dell). Event
viewer isn't giving any clues and I can't determine a consistent user action
that is causing the problem. Any new ideas?

 

[Rock]

I'm having this exact same problem but I can't figure out what is causing it.
I have WinXP SP2 and my machine is only about 1 month old (a dell). Event
viewer isn't giving any clues and I can't determine a consistent user action
that is causing the problem. Any new ideas?

:

Have you done a thorough check for malware?

Run these programs to check for spyware/malware. After installing
update them, then boot into safe mode and run them. You should update
and run them weekly.

Cwshredder
http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#cwshred

Ad-aware SE
http://www.lavasoftusa.com

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner
http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10247783.html

Pest Patrol Free Pest Scanner
http://www.pestscan.com/ScanOrTrial.asp

If you’re still having problems after running these then run HijackThis
and post the log to one of the specialty forums, _NOT_ this one.

HijackThis
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155

Forums to Interpret HijackThis Logs:

http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/

After your system is clean use these programs to help keep it clean:

Spywareblaster
www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

Spywareguard
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html

IE-SPYAD
http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm

For viruses, start with Trend Micro's Sysclean. Download it and the
signature file. Turn off system restore, boot into safe mode and run
sysclean. Boot back into normal mode and run a full AV scan with your
normal AV program. Then turn system restore back on.

Trend Micro Sysclean
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp

Trend Micro Signature File
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp

You should also regularly run at least two of these online scans in
addition to your regular up to date AV program:

Online and Downloadable Virus Scanning:

Panda ActiveScan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

Bit Defender Online Virus Scan:
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php

Symantec Online Virus and Security Scan:
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp

TrendMicro:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

McAfee Online Virus Scan:
http://www.mcafee.com/myapps/mfs/default.asp

RAV AntiVirus - Scan Online
http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/

F-Secure:
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml