CPU running @ 100%

[Guest]

Help! My mother-in-law is having a problem with her computer. Her CPU is
running at 100%. I noticed it when she sends things to her printer. It will
send only tiny bits of info at a time to her printer. She is running 256MB of
RAM. She is also running and it is up-to-date McAfee Virus protection. Where
do I start as far as trying to help her? I did run AdAware with current
protection files and that didn't seem to change anything as well as make sure
that she had the current Windows XP security patches.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Michele

What process is generating 100% CPU usage?

Task Manager is useful but you could look at another freeware utility
Process Explorer, which provides similar information but adds that
little bit extra towards seeing what the running processes represent.

For further information about Process Explorer see here:
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

To ascertain which service is causing the problem select the
process producing the high CPU usage, right click,
select Properties, Services. Note there are the full names and some
explanation of what each service does.

You will find further information on Services here:
http://majorgeeks.com/page.php?id=12

To trace the particular Service involved you need to turn off each
service in turn and then restore it noting what effect it has on CPU
usage. However, you need to take care and watch what other Services are
dependent on that service. When you click on the Dependencies tab allow
it a little time to display the information.


--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Ron Martell]

Help! My mother-in-law is having a problem with her computer. Her CPU is
running at 100%. I noticed it when she sends things to her printer. It will
send only tiny bits of info at a time to her printer. She is running 256MB of
RAM. She is also running and it is up-to-date McAfee Virus protection. Where
do I start as far as trying to help her? I did run AdAware with current
protection files and that didn't seem to change anything as well as make sure
that she had the current Windows XP security patches.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Open Task Manager and go to the Processes tab.
Click twice on the CPU column header to sort the list of processes
into descending order based on CPU usage.

The first 3 or 4 entries at the top of the list should show you what
is using the CPU the most.

This could just be another instance of McAfee having the "who dropped
the anchor?" effect on computer performance.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Guest]

The top files running are in this order:

spool.exe
portctrl.exe
taskmgr.exe
explorer.exe
mcshield.exe
svhost.com

 

[Ron Martell]

The top files running are in this order:

spool.exe

Rapid Blaster spyware

portctrl.exe

Samsung printer file. Probably OK.

taskmgr.exe
OK


explorer.exe

Legit but high CPU usage indicates possible spyware infestation
(SmitFraud)

mcshield.exe

McAfee file = legit

svhost.com

If that is the actual name then it is probably a spyware item. Cannot
find a single reference to this name on Google.



Your mother's computer is infested with at least one spyware item and
possibly several others.

Download the free 14 day trial version of Webroot's SpySweeper program
from http://www.webroot.com/download (the free downloads are listed on
the right side of the "error" page).

If the results from SpySweeper mention SmitFraud, SpyAxe, or
SpySheriff then you will need to do some additional cleaning. Post a
reply back here if this is the case.

You will also need to install some sort of permanent spyware
protection, as antivirus products do not detect many spyware items.
SpySweeper is one of the best products and well worth the purchase
price. For a free product I would suggest the free Beta version of
Microsoft Antispyware from http://download.microsoft.com

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."