Random (runaway) processes successively seize 100% CPU

[Olumide]

Hello -

My Windows XP machine is really getting on my nerves. Several times a
day, a random process say a messenger application, Visual studio, or
my browser (firefox) etc, will take near complete control of the CPU,
without responding or doing anything useful, and the system grinds to
a near complete halt. In the past, I've tried terminating the runaway
process, but as soon as I do this, another process will seize the CPU.
The only way out, is to reboot the system. On Friday, I had to reboot
3 times, and once today so far (I've only been at work for 1½ hours) :
( .

What to do? (my system periodically downloads patches which I promply
apply, I therefore have reason to believe that my installation is
quite up to date.)

Thanks,

- Olumide

 

[tim1.stevens]

Hello -

My Windows XP machine is really getting on my nerves. Several times a
day, a random process say a messenger application, Visual studio, or
my browser (firefox) etc, will take near complete control of the CPU,
without responding or doing anything useful, and the system grinds to
a near complete halt. In the past, I've tried terminating the runaway
process, but as soon as I do this, another process will seize the CPU.
The only way out, is to reboot the system. On Friday, I had to reboot
3 times, and once today so far (I've only been at work for 1½ hours) :
( .

What to do? (my system periodically downloads patches which I promply
apply, I therefore have reason to believe that my installation is
quite up to date.)

Thanks,

- Olumide

I have the same problem. I can't seem to get any useful response from
Microsoft. I originally thought that the problem was the result of my
older hardware but I recently discovered this may not be the case....

 

[DL]

Does it still occur if run in Safe Mode?
Because the sys is updated doesnt mean your free of malaware, niether does
scanning with a single malaware app

Hello -

My Windows XP machine is really getting on my nerves. Several times a
day, a random process say a messenger application, Visual studio, or
my browser (firefox) etc, will take near complete control of the CPU,
without responding or doing anything useful, and the system grinds to
a near complete halt. In the past, I've tried terminating the runaway
process, but as soon as I do this, another process will seize the CPU.
The only way out, is to reboot the system. On Friday, I had to reboot
3 times, and once today so far (I've only been at work for 1½ hours) :
( .

What to do? (my system periodically downloads patches which I promply
apply, I therefore have reason to believe that my installation is
quite up to date.)

Thanks,

- Olumide

 

[Olumide]

I have the same problem. I can't seem to get any useful response from
Microsoft. I originally thought that the problem was the result of my
older hardware but I recently discovered this may not be the case....

Hi -

In the past, the exprorer process (not iexplore) used to the only
process that did that, and quickly realized that if I killed this
explorer, and was prepared to do without the desktop for a while,
things would be fine. Bear in mind that if I killed the explorer
process, and immideately started another instance [via task manager:
File -> New Task (run)], the new instance would also act like the old
explorer and take up the CPU 100%. ... However, after a few minutes,
the explorer process can be restarted *without* the same result.

Unfortunately, the OS has become less predicatble of late (i.e. ALL
processes are now "greedy"). I suspect that this started after one of
the many upgrades . Next time this happens, I'll try terminating
explorer AND the offending process. Obviously, something has gone
wrong with the scheduler. No one else at my office has the problem.
Now you can understand why I'm content to stick with Windows 2000 on
my home PC. Gone is the stability of NT - or so it seems.

- Olumide

 

[Olumide]

Does it still occur if run in Safe Mode?
Because the sys is updated doesnt mean your free of malaware, niether does
scanning with a single malaware app

No I haven't run my machine in safemode. The problem might take hours
to reoccur, and I can't wait till then, because I'm often very busy.

Do you really think malware can freeze another application? ... Oh
well, I'll try a proper overnight scan with with Windows defender.

 

[Ron Martell]

No I haven't run my machine in safemode. The problem might take hours
to reoccur, and I can't wait till then, because I'm often very busy.

Do you really think malware can freeze another application? ... Oh
well, I'll try a proper overnight scan with with Windows defender.

And then get a "second opinion" by doing a free online scan at one of
the following sites:
Bit Defender http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
Trend Micro http://housecall.trendmicro.com
Kaspersky Online Scanner http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
Panda ActiveScan http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan
WindowSecurity.com TrojanScan http://windowssecurity.com/trojanscan
Webroot http://www.webroot.com/

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

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

 

[jeff.maildump]

And then get a "second opinion" by doing a free online scan at one of
the following sites:
Bit Defender http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
Trend Microhttp://housecall.trendmicro.com
Kaspersky Online Scannerhttp://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
Panda ActiveScanhttp://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan
WindowSecurity.com TrojanScanhttp://windowssecurity.com/trojanscan
Webroothttp://www.webroot.com/

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Servicehttp://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

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

This same thing has been happening to me maybe the last few months. It
seems to only happen with Microsoft programs. Usually, my IE will act
up, taking about 50% of the CPU. Then I'll kill that and explorer.exe
will run at 50% and not respond. Then when I kill that msnmsgr.exe
will act up, then I'll kill that. I think I've noticed this with
visual C++ 2005 express, also. Come to think of it though, I think
firefox may have gotten in on the act a couple times, but not nearly
as often as the iexplore and explorer. If I start up iexplore.exe or
explorer within a few minutes, it starts again, but if I wait a while,
things seem to go back to normal. I have a core duo, so maybe that's
why only about 50% gets used up, but I'm not sure. This is annoying.
Anyone find any solutions?