Computer Slows - Busy Processor

[Jock]

Sometimes my computer slows down. In Performance I notice that the processor
is working flat out at 100%. Sometimes takes a couple of reboots to get it
back to normal.

How can I find out which application or process is hogging the
processor?

(XP Home; AMD 3000 MHz; 512M memory),

 

[Guest]

Right click on the task bar at the bottom and then click task manager and then the processes tab. This will tell you what processes is running and how much clock time it's using. Then get a process viewing program like www.prcview.com . Have fun. {:~)

 

[hustedj]

check for a virus and spyware. Spyware could be doing this. Ad-ware or
spybot

Thanks

 

[Jock]

check for a virus and spyware. Spyware could be doing this. Ad-ware or
spybot

I assure you I have no viruses. I updated the AV this morning and
ran it. No viruses.

I also ran ADAware this morning. There were a couple of nasties on
the machine apart from the half dozen or so harmless data miners.

I have a paid-up version of the Outpost firewall running.

I'll go and get a trojan check in a minute.

It's running at 100% at the moment although it doesn't appear to be
particularly slow.

All very strange!

 

[Big Mac]

Right click on the task bar at the bottom and then click task manager and then
the processes tab. This will tell you what processes is running and
how much clock time it's using. Then get a process viewing program
like www.prcview.com . Have fun. {:~)

Thanks from me too. I now see what is taking CPU processing time.
Mainly, nothing. Even though 4 programs loaded & "running". Unless I
act, like in a poker game, then the CPU does a little bit.

I thought that everything that loaded at boot took up used some CPU
memory, but it is just physical computer memory that stuff is taking
up I guess. I too was having a probelm before with slow loading of
some programs, or sometimes slow execution, but not much anymore, and
seeing my CPU working and being mostly idle reflects that. I also run
adaware at least once every two days now. Plus my anti-virus software
sometimes finds stuff too when I do a HD check.

 

[Jock]

Thanks from me too. I now see what is taking CPU processing time.
Mainly, nothing. Even though 4 programs loaded & "running". Unless I
act, like in a poker game, then the CPU does a little bit.

I thought that everything that loaded at boot took up used some CPU
memory, but it is just physical computer memory that stuff is taking
up I guess. I too was having a probelm before with slow loading of
some programs, or sometimes slow execution, but not much anymore, and
seeing my CPU working and being mostly idle reflects that. I also run
adaware at least once every two days now. Plus my anti-virus software
sometimes finds stuff too when I do a HD check.

I see. (I think!).

Since I last posted here, my antivirus has ceased to work. Also it cannot be
uninstalled and a new version cannot be installed. I think I may have
caught something although Trend's Housecall cannot find anything and
www.trojanscan.com finds nothing either. AdAware doesn't throw up
anything unusual either.

At the moment the processor is running a 0.00% which is as ridiculous
as 100%. I wonder how reliable the Performance facility in Computer
Management really is.

I think a re-install of XP will be needed as there are other odd
things happening as well: clock often shows 12-hour AM/PM instead
of the 24-hour I've specified and my folder preferences won't stick.

There's also a problem in that XP 'forgets' the system restore points,
((((

 

[Big Mac]

I assure you I have no viruses. I updated the AV this morning and
ran it. No viruses.
I also ran ADAware this morning. There were a couple of nasties on
the machine apart from the half dozen or so harmless data miners.
I have a paid-up version of the Outpost firewall running.
I'll go and get a trojan check in a minute.
It's running at 100% at the moment although it doesn't appear to be
particularly slow. >All very strange!

Jock, why not try this (just something to try). This won't be
permanent. start\run, then type in "msconfig" & "OK" to run it, then
click on the "startup" tab. Then "disable all" and "apply". Your
computer will want to reboot, and do it. It will then start up and
tell you it is in a test mode or something like that, So the next time
you reboot all of the boxes will be checked & running in startup
again. But, ok, you are now running without all of those loaded
programs at startup. So, see if that makes a difference in what your
CPU is now doing. Then at least you'll know it is one of those
programs/commands that is loading at startup and can act from that
point.

--------------------------------
Separate - a question to anyone:
And anyone - while I am here talking about this - how do I make an
unchecked box in startup a permanent change? There are a couple of
things loading at startup that are completely unknown and weird named
and can't be any good.

One such example is "mxyjxxn.exe is running from my Windows folder - a
Google search brings me back nothing. And then there is a blank
space, and a blank path too, but there is a line with a check in front
of it. And a few tray icons & a couple of other things I want to stop
from loading at start-up too.