CPU System Idle Process 90-100%

[CJ Crew]

In the task manager on Windows XP, the System Idle
Process is constantly at 90-100% when I run Yahoo!
Instant Messenger! I can't get rid of it because I use it
at work. It lags and comes almost to a complete stop when
I open it. Help would be greatly appreciated please...

Thanks,
~C.J.~

 

[Tom Swift]

The System Idle Process is what your PC is doing when it's not doing much of
anything else. You would expect it to occupy that much of your processor's
time. As I type this post, my System Idle Process is at 99%.

Tom Swift

 

[Bastet]

In the task manager on Windows XP, the System Idle
Process is constantly at 90-100% when I run Yahoo!
Instant Messenger! I can't get rid of it because I use it
at work. It lags and comes almost to a complete stop when
I open it. Help would be greatly appreciated please...

Thanks,
~C.J.~

Go and look the word 'idle' up in a dictionary, and then post back and tell
us why system IDLE is causing you a problem. I wish my system idle
registered 100% all the time...

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

CJ;
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