Windows XP using 100% CPU without any applications running

[Ciaran]

Hi, I have a problem with XP professional edition.

Explorer.exe is using virtually all of the CPU and system is too slow
to open any applications.

When in kill explorer.exe i can work...however only by starting
programs or applications with the task manager, as soon as I start
explorer.exe again the CPU usage goes up to 100%....

windows just is not the same without explorer :-( any ideas.

info:

Windows XP profressional SP1
NAV Corporate edition
1GB DDR ram (266)
AMD athlon 1600 (running at 1400)
IBM 40HHD 7200 rpm
2nd HDD Maxtor 120gb 7200RPM (files only)
PCI graphics 32mb SIS

Tried the windows classic view and has no effect. (folders views etc)
disabled virtually everything in the startup
scanned for any spyware, adware or any virus and cleaned up registry.

tried increasing paging file - no difference

only thing that has changed on pc is that I moved house and am waiting
for ADSL connection in the new house...so have been unable to update
windows recently or NAV.

please forward any suggestions.

Thanks in advance
Ciaran

 

[Robert Blackwell]

I'm not sure where to get it, but you should find and download Hi-jack This.
It helps track down spyware and things that are running on your pc. There
may be some hidden things you dont see in standard process list.

Have you tried running adaware or spybot search and destroy also?

Just an idea...

 

[Rock]

Hi, I have a problem with XP professional edition.

Explorer.exe is using virtually all of the CPU and system is too slow
to open any applications.

When in kill explorer.exe i can work...however only by starting
programs or applications with the task manager, as soon as I start
explorer.exe again the CPU usage goes up to 100%....

windows just is not the same without explorer :-( any ideas.

info:

Windows XP profressional SP1
NAV Corporate edition
1GB DDR ram (266)
AMD athlon 1600 (running at 1400)
IBM 40HHD 7200 rpm
2nd HDD Maxtor 120gb 7200RPM (files only)
PCI graphics 32mb SIS

Tried the windows classic view and has no effect. (folders views etc)
disabled virtually everything in the startup
scanned for any spyware, adware or any virus and cleaned up registry.

tried increasing paging file - no difference

only thing that has changed on pc is that I moved house and am waiting
for ADSL connection in the new house...so have been unable to update
windows recently or NAV.

please forward any suggestions.

Thanks in advance
Ciaran

You could have malware on your system. 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

McAfee AVert Stinger Virus Removal Tool
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

[Note: Stinger looks only for a limited number of specific viruses.
It’s not intended for full strength virus scanning and removal, but it
can help eliminate enough threats to allow you to install and scan with
a full featured AV program.]

Make sure you have a firewall active at all times. If nothing else use
the one built into XP, but there are a variety of free third party ones
that do a better job from Sygate, Zone Alarm or Kerio.

 

[Ciaran]

Hi,

thanks for all the links, i have downloaded some that i had not used
before and I will try them.

I had tried Hijackthis, Ad-Aware, registry cleaner, etc etc
nothing seemed to help. I am starting to think that maybe the profiles
are corrupt in windows

so i think I will try the new software i downloaded and then a few
other things like a new profile etc etc
if all fails i will reinstall windows

thanks for the advice I will let you know the outcome.

regards
C

Hi, I have a problem with XP professional edition.

Explorer.exe is using virtually all of the CPU and system is too slow
to open any applications.

When in kill explorer.exe i can work...however only by starting
programs or applications with the task manager, as soon as I start
explorer.exe again the CPU usage goes up to 100%....

windows just is not the same without explorer :-( any ideas.

info:

Windows XP profressional SP1
NAV Corporate edition
1GB DDR ram (266)
AMD athlon 1600 (running at 1400)
IBM 40HHD 7200 rpm
2nd HDD Maxtor 120gb 7200RPM (files only)
PCI graphics 32mb SIS

Tried the windows classic view and has no effect. (folders views etc)
disabled virtually everything in the startup
scanned for any spyware, adware or any virus and cleaned up registry.

tried increasing paging file - no difference

only thing that has changed on pc is that I moved house and am waiting
for ADSL connection in the new house...so have been unable to update
windows recently or NAV.

please forward any suggestions.

Thanks in advance
Ciaran

You could have malware on your system. 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

McAfee AVert Stinger Virus Removal Tool
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

[Note: Stinger looks only for a limited number of specific viruses.
It’s not intended for full strength virus scanning and removal, but it
can help eliminate enough threats to allow you to install and scan with
a full featured AV program.]

Make sure you have a firewall active at all times. If nothing else use
the one built into XP, but there are a variety of free third party ones
that do a better job from Sygate, Zone Alarm or Kerio.

 

[Rock]

Hi,

thanks for all the links, i have downloaded some that i had not used
before and I will try them.

I had tried Hijackthis, Ad-Aware, registry cleaner, etc etc
nothing seemed to help. I am starting to think that maybe the profiles
are corrupt in windows

so i think I will try the new software i downloaded and then a few
other things like a new profile etc etc
if all fails i will reinstall windows

thanks for the advice I will let you know the outcome.

regards
C

Ok, good luck and post back the results.