System idle process at 99%, while CPU utilization graph shows 100%

[Guest]

I have ran into my share of problems, but this one takes the cake.

My Windows XP Pro SP2 system intermittently stalls to 100% CPU utilization
while the system process list shows that the "System Idle Process" is at 99%

This lags the computer terribly, most times is locks the GUI into
non-responsiveness.

Restarting the computer after this problem occurs yields an even more
perplexing problem. the CPU Utilization will gradually climb from 10%-100%
over 90-110 seconds until the GUI hangs.

Problem occurs in safemode as well.

My first thought was a rouge spyware or ad-aware application, none of which
i have been able to identify.

I run Panda Platinum Internet Security 8.05.02 with the latest definitions.

I have had a few problems with the Panda Firewall in the past so I have
reinstalled the software without the firewall. As a procaution, i rebuilt
Winsock2 and TCP/IP then tested the system. Problem still occurs.

System tempurature seems to remain normal 34-36C.

Any suggestions?

 

[S.Sengupta]

If the system idle process is using 99% of the CPU, then your CPU is
busy only 1% of the time.If you do nothing, you're still using time: you
are using time to do nothing.
You should only be worrying if you have an unknown process eating up all
the resources.
You must look at the Event viewer to find any clue from there.
I shall also suggest you to scan your system with latest versions of
Spybot/CWShredder as well as with Adaware.Run all of them in safe mode.
Check all your hardwares-update all the drivers.
regards,
ssg MS-MVP

 

[Richard Urban]

I think what the OP is saying is that the System Idle Process shows 99% but
his CPU usage graph shows 100% CPU used. Something is not right here!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Guest]

I Understand what your saying about the System Idle process and Its function.
Its function however doesn't include actually Using CPU Cycles however. In a
normal system Windows will report that the "System Idle Process" is 99%, This
doesn't mean the CPU is busy though, if you look at the CPU usage history
graph it will hover around 0-1%. My problem is that the CPU history is
hovering around 90-100%, when it should be around 0-1%. Even as Im typing
this the Charactors are lagging themselves to the screen making it almost
impossible to type. Occasionally the system will seem to become more
responsive but the CPU usage is still around 65-90%.

I guess what bothers me most is that the Process list doesn't seem to be
accurately reporting which processes are actually using CPU time. This makes
it very difficult to diagnose.

ftp://64.146.189.205/histogram.jpg
ftp://64.146.189.205/process%20list1.jpg

 

[Rock]

I Understand what your saying about the System Idle process and Its function.
Its function however doesn't include actually Using CPU Cycles however. In a
normal system Windows will report that the "System Idle Process" is 99%, This
doesn't mean the CPU is busy though, if you look at the CPU usage history
graph it will hover around 0-1%. My problem is that the CPU history is
hovering around 90-100%, when it should be around 0-1%. Even as Im typing
this the Charactors are lagging themselves to the screen making it almost
impossible to type. Occasionally the system will seem to become more
responsive but the CPU usage is still around 65-90%.

I guess what bothers me most is that the Process list doesn't seem to be
accurately reporting which processes are actually using CPU time. This makes
it very difficult to diagnose.

ftp://64.146.189.205/histogram.jpg
ftp://64.146.189.205/process%20list1.jpg

Try running Process Explorer from
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml to see if that
gives you any better idea what is happening.

 

[S.Sengupta]

Try 'Process Explorer'
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

regards,
ssg MS-MVP