ACPI.sys causing very high CPU usage

[chuck]

I rassled with this problem for a while wondering why 'System' as
viewed in task manager would be using 85-99% CPU. After pokng around
the web, I loaded process explorer, and discovered that it was the
ACPI.sys thread that was sucking resources.

I have used process explorer as a workaround and simply suspended the
ACPI.sys thread - allowing me to utilize the computer w/o problems, I
DO have to remember to resume the thread before shutdown, elsewise
startup can be a problem, although NTkrnlpa.exe will sproadically
(every few days) jump in and do the same trick, even with ACPI
suspended.

I can not correlate the ACPI.sys misbehavior to any particular app,
combination of apps, or installation of any particular app.

I am at wit's end -

System particulars

Windows XP media center edition
HP Pavillion a1410n
AMD athlon 64 processor 3800+2.4 GHz
2 gig ram

Thanks in advance

chuck

 

[Newbie Coder]

Chuck,

I always disable ACPI in the BIOS & suggest you do the same

Restart computer, click DEL & enter the BIOS
Disable the ACPI, press F10 & save the changes
Restart (automatically) & see what its like then

Process Explorer only uses a Service Controller object to suspend processes,
which is extremely easy to code (one line)

 

[chuck]

Newb

That would be great - except the good folks at HP did not see fit to
include any variety of ACPI switch in BIOS. I've scrubbed it top to
bottom and the only thing that comes close is ability to wake on LAN
in SP4 (sleep mode).

One line? what would it be and where would I put it?

TKs for the comeback

chuck

 

[Newbie Coder]

Chuck,

Go into Device Manager & disable it there

Right-click MY COMPUTER | PROPERTIES
Hardware tab
DEVICE MANAGER button
Locate ACPI & set it to USE THE DEVICE - DISABLED, if you are able to change
it

Another way is to disable the service in the service manager

START | RUN
Type 'services.mas' (without quotes) & click OK
Locate the ACPI service & double-click it.
STOP the service & then change from AUTOMATIC to DISABLED

Lastly, in some OS' there is the ACPI in the POWER OPTIONS/POWER MANAGERMENT
in CONTROL PANEL

I have mine disabled in the BIOS so I don't need the above steps

According to the HP site you have the F10 setup options & one is to
enable/disable ACPI/USB Buffers:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00530675/c00530675.pdf

START COMPUTER
F10
ADVANCED | ACPI...
Save the changes to restart

Will await your reply,

 

[chuck]

Newb

Sorry for not getting back earlier.

services.MSC brings up the same console that comes up in Control
panel/admion dasks, and I'd looked there previously. Needless to say
ACPI is not there. F10 on my machine (Pavillion a1410n) is restore,
not setup - you know one of those things that wants to wipe the hard
drive and bring you back to factory load.

I spent a good amount of time with HP tech support last night, and we
came to the conclusion that it's time to ship it back to HP for
look/repair. I hoe they have an IT Dr. House, because this situation
defies all attempts to nail down. Short of wiping the HD, there's no
way of knowing whether it's HW or SW. The fact that it will kick off
after boot (no use intervention) seems to point to a bum winders file,
or HW. I'm going to scrape off a backup and let the mfr decide. I'm
done beating my head against the wall, and running with a work around
is something that one shouldn't have to do on a 1 yr old machine.

Tks for the coaching and suggestions. I wonder if anyone from
Microsoft will pick up the thread tomorrow (Mon)

Cheers

Chuck