svchost.exe taking up all CPU cycles

[Gary]

I am experiencing this situation and it appears to occur
randomly. Sometimes performance is fine, then all of a
sudden the system seems to stop for a few seconds then be
fine for a few seconds and then stop for a few seconds,
etc. This goes on until I reboot. I checked the
processes running when this occurs and noticed the
svchost.exe called system idle process is using up 99% of
the CPU cycles.
Does anyone know what is causing this?
I found a knowledge base article 838884 which seems to
describe this problem and it says there is a hotfix. How
do I get the hotfix from Microsoft? Can I download it
from somewhere? Help.

 

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

Try this first:

Symantec Online Virus and Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/default.asp?productid=symhome&langid=ie&venid=sym

Rocky

 

[Gary]

Rocky

Thanks for the quick reply. I read your comment to
another user with this problem and I went to this website
and ran this. It found nothing. Do you have any other
ideas?

Gary

 

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

Try Ad-aware 6 from Lavasoft. Read the directions and warnings carefully.
Their website provides a good introduction.

www.lavasoftusa.com

Rocky

 

[JB]

hmmm,
I have one of the svchost.exe programs consuming my CPU
immediately after start-up. I watch the processes with
Task Manager and end the culprit as soon as possible then
CPU runs normally. It is a waste of 10 min. I thought it
was a virus so I tried Norton Anti-virus but no change.
This seemed to show up on the computer running XP Pro
after I set up a home network.

 

[Gary P]

Rocky,

I ran spybot search & destroy 1.3 and it found nothing. So
I believe that covers any spyware. Do you agree?

Is this what the sasser worm does?

Also, the knowledge base article 838884 seems to address
this. How do I get the hotfix? Do I have to call MS or
can I download it from somewhere? Thanks again.

Gary

 

[homer]

Run windows update to get any hotfixes. As for spyware if you want the best
and are willing to pay for it PestPatrol www.pestpatrol.com is the best you
can get. Search and destroy and adaware are great free programs but the only
search for a fraction of the things pestpatrol looks for. It depends on the
sort of protection you want or need. As far as I know running a firewall
either XPs built in one or a commercial/free one will stop sasser if your
not protected. However, running Windows update and installing any needed
updates will stop sasser reinfecting you.

H