mystery CPU usage?

[JT]

Task manager shows that my computer runs a task that takes about half
a second (est.) and uses about 30% of my 1 ghz machine. It does this
frequently, sometimes every second or so for a while, sometimes at
about 20 second intervals. The time between events doesn't seem to be
precise.

I've shut down all the running tasks I can (leaving system tasks) and
done the same with services. That leaves a pretty useless machine, but
that job still runs.

It does seem that it runs less frequently in that mode, though.

I ran perfmon but none of the counters I had available showed any
activity coincident with the mystery job. There doesn't seem to be an
IP or similar network activity, so it's probably not a trojan phoning
home. I'm behind a WinProxy firewall (although the computer also hosts
the netcard that connects to the cable modem, and could be accessed
directly in this case).

In any case a virus scan shows nothing.

Thoughts?

 

[Enkidu]

Task manager shows that my computer runs a task that takes about half
a second (est.) and uses about 30% of my 1 ghz machine. It does this
frequently, sometimes every second or so for a while, sometimes at
about 20 second intervals. The time between events doesn't seem to be
precise.

I've shut down all the running tasks I can (leaving system tasks) and
done the same with services. That leaves a pretty useless machine, but
that job still runs.

It does seem that it runs less frequently in that mode, though.

I ran perfmon but none of the counters I had available showed any
activity coincident with the mystery job. There doesn't seem to be an
IP or similar network activity, so it's probably not a trojan phoning
home. I'm behind a WinProxy firewall (although the computer also hosts
the netcard that connects to the cable modem, and could be accessed
directly in this case).

In any case a virus scan shows nothing.

Thoughts?

Yeah, what's the *name* of the task?

Cheers,

Cliff