"3 pipe problem"

[paul johnson]

Hi,

I have a problem with the cpu intermittently running 98% on
"System"(according to task manager in processes)

I am running:
windows XP (service pack 2,) Athalon 2100, with 768 ram.

A few weeks ago my well behaved system started to freeze, sometimes
hanging on close down. I have now tried the User Profile Hive Cleaner
but to no avail. The only symptoms I could find is that just before a
hang the "task manager" showed CPU usage on "System" at 98%, (This is
just above system idle in processes.) The other strange thing is that
some times the computer would restart itself after shutting down.

I took the PC to a shop, but they could find nothing wrong, and did
component tests on all the hardware which it passed. They suggested a
windows repair, which I did my self - however the problem is still there!

I have started to disconnect most of the items connected to the PC but
still the problem persists. I have also scanned for virus, and adware
programs.

Thanks for reading this, and if you can offer a suggestion, thanks
again. Paul

 

[Wayne Morgan]

If you have another hard drive you could use temporarily, I would swap out
the hard drive in the computer and try a clean install of Windows. If the
problem goes away, you either have a bad hard drive or a software problem,
but at least you'll know it is fixable. If the replacement hard drive is
large enough, install all the Windows patches then try installing your other
programs one at a time.

If you don't have a hardware firewall, download Widows XP's SP2 before doing
this so that you can install it before going on line.

 

[paul johnson]

If you have another hard drive you could use temporarily, I would swap out
the hard drive in the computer and try a clean install of Windows. If the
problem goes away, you either have a bad hard drive or a software problem,
but at least you'll know it is fixable. If the replacement hard drive is
large enough, install all the Windows patches then try installing your other
programs one at a time.

If you don't have a hardware firewall, download Widows XP's SP2 before doing
this so that you can install it before going on line.

Thanks for the help Wayne, I don't have a second hard drive, but I could
try and get hold of one.---At the moment I am one step away from
trashing the thing!!!
Thanks again Paul