100% cpu usage

[Computerguy987]

I have a p3 900 with a gig or ram. No matter what I'm
doing, every 5 minutes, my task manager shows 100% cpu
usage and the computer freezes. This happened with Win200
pro, so I switched to Win XP Pro. I have changed hard
drives when changing operating systems. Most of the time,
the task manager shows the system idle process at 97%.
HELP!!!
Thanks

 

[Nelson]

Try this: Hit Ctrl-Alt-Del, go to Processes, click on the
CPU button to sort by CPU usage and watch to see which
process is using all the CPU cycles, that'll get you a
clue. Or, you could go into MSCONFIG and turn off
EVERYTHING under the Startup tab, reboot, then turn things
back on one at a time until you discover which program is
the CPU hog. I assume you have downloaded all of the
Critical Updates and have a good, current anti-virus
program and that you scan regularly . . . anti-spyware is
a good idea too, search for SpyBot or AdAware . . . Good
Luck !

 

[Jason Haynes]

Idle means the same hear as it does in the real world. 97% idle = 3% busy.
Your problem lies elsewhere.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I have a p3 900 with a gig or ram. No matter what I'm
doing, every 5 minutes, my task manager shows 100% cpu
usage and the computer freezes. This happened with Win200
pro, so I switched to Win XP Pro. I have changed hard
drives when changing operating systems. Most of the time,
the task manager shows the system idle process at 97%.

"System Idle Process" is not any problem at all. That's just the
name for what the system is doing when it's not doing anything.
It's there to make the total add up to 100%