High CPU and Disk activity

[R]

My Computer, (Dell inspiron 8500, 512 Ram, Windows XP pro) has suddenly
started to exhibit a lot of disk activity and high CPU usage, even when I
don't have any programs running.This is a change from normal behavior and I
did not add or remove anything to cause this.
Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Am reluctant to run
Digidesign ProTools when the computer is in this state because I don't want
to lose or corrupt work in progress.
Thanks,
Richard

 

[Quaoar]

My Computer, (Dell inspiron 8500, 512 Ram, Windows XP pro) has
suddenly started to exhibit a lot of disk activity and high CPU
usage, even when I don't have any programs running.This is a change
from normal behavior and I did not add or remove anything to cause
this.
Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Am reluctant to run
Digidesign ProTools when the computer is in this state because I
don't want to lose or corrupt work in progress.
Thanks,
Richard

Control panel, Administrative Tools, Services. Check the Indexing
Service, make sure it is startup: Disabled.

From the run command type: msconfig[enter], select Startup tab. Review
all of the startup apps and determine which, if any, should start. Use
this site as a guide to what the startups are doing:
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php Uncheck the box on any
that should not run. Make a note of each application, then open the
application and find a preferences or tools menu that disables the
autostartup. Reboot.

Get spybot, www.spybot.de and run it to check for malware. Update virus
defs and get a good firewall www.kerio.com has personal firewall free
for personal use.

Q

 

[Guest]

spybot is at safer-networking.org and update and scan on easy

-----Original Message-----

My Computer, (Dell inspiron 8500, 512 Ram, Windows XP pro) has
suddenly started to exhibit a lot of disk activity and high CPU
usage, even when I don't have any programs running.This is a change
from normal behavior and I did not add or remove anything to cause
this.
Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Am reluctant to run
Digidesign ProTools when the computer is in this state because I
don't want to lose or corrupt work in progress.
Thanks,
Richard

Control panel, Administrative Tools, Services. Check the Indexing
Service, make sure it is startup: Disabled.

From the run command type: msconfig[enter], select Startup tab. Review
all of the startup apps and determine which, if any, should start. Use
this site as a guide to what the startups are doing:
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php Uncheck the box on any
that should not run. Make a note of each application, then open the
application and find a preferences or tools menu that disables the
autostartup. Reboot.

Get spybot, www.spybot.de and run it to check for malware. Update virus
defs and get a good firewall www.kerio.com has personal firewall free
for personal use.

Q


.

 

[R]

Dear Q,
Thanks for the helpful information. I applied many of your suggestions and
the computer quieted down a bit but still seems overly active. Or maybe I've
just become aware of what is normal activity. When connected to Internet
Explorer,Outlook Express, and Task Manager I see fluctuations between 6-15%
cpu use without doing anything.If I start to move the mouse around it goes
as high as 20%. When I open Task MAnager there is a brief display of 100%
usage. Is this normal?
R.

My Computer, (Dell inspiron 8500, 512 Ram, Windows XP pro) has
suddenly started to exhibit a lot of disk activity and high CPU
usage, even when I don't have any programs running.This is a change
from normal behavior and I did not add or remove anything to cause
this.
Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Am reluctant to run
Digidesign ProTools when the computer is in this state because I
don't want to lose or corrupt work in progress.
Thanks,
Richard

Control panel, Administrative Tools, Services. Check the Indexing
Service, make sure it is startup: Disabled.

From the run command type: msconfig[enter], select Startup tab. Review
all of the startup apps and determine which, if any, should start. Use
this site as a guide to what the startups are doing:
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php Uncheck the box on any
that should not run. Make a note of each application, then open the
application and find a preferences or tools menu that disables the
autostartup. Reboot.

Get spybot, www.spybot.de and run it to check for malware. Update virus
defs and get a good firewall www.kerio.com has personal firewall free
for personal use.

Q