CPU Spike - System Idle Process

[Casey Maines]

My CPU keeps spiking to 100% for no apparent reason.
Anyone know anything about this? Right now, it is the
System Idle Process causing this. But if I open my
Sonique media player, it causes it. Any suggestions?

 

[Guest]

you've got some conflicts that windows is having a hard
time managing.

Go into device manager..look at computer...is "MPS" in the
description? If so, I suggest doing a repair install of
XP and using an ACPI HAL (press F5 when it asks you to
press F6 to add a raid card).

 

[Casey Maines]

I don't see "MPS" anywhere. I just rebuilt my machine
last week. Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Casey;
System Idle Process is exactly what it sounds like.
It is the % of processing power you have waiting for something to do,
doing nothing.

If you are having problems, this is not the cause.
Try these:
Run an updated virus scan.
Or Scan for Viruses online:
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp?j=1&langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=IRLFIZTYMWPAZTJWUFJ
Run Disk Cleanup checking all boxes except "Compress old files"
Run Defrag.
If you have file sharing software such as Kazaa, disable it.
Check this link:
http://www.aumha.org/a/noads.php
Run Ad-Aware (free version) or Spybot to check for spyware:
http://www.lavasoft.de/ (Update if you already have it)
Or
http://spybot.eon.net.au/ (Update if you already have it)

This may apply if you recently installed Windows XP Service Pack 1:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=815411