Services.exe hogs 99% of CPU time

[Robert Sheaffer]

I have this repeated problem where, for no apparent reason, Windows
slows to an absolute crawl. The Task Manager reveals that "services.exe"
is using 99% of CPU time, and this when the system is (or ought to be)
mostly or completely idle.

Sometimes this happens if I momentarily disconnect or restart my
ethernet router. Other times it happens for no apparent reason at all.
Usually it last about 5 or 10 minutes. Lately I've taken to bringing up
the Task Manager (takes at least a minute), and just watching until
"Services.exe" drops back to zero.

I have already installed Service Pack 2 for Win2K (this was rumored to
help, it didn't). I've also installed most or all "critical updates".

Given that this problem is discussed on several web pages, it's been
known for quite a long time. Has anybody ever figured out exactly what
the problem is? And what can be done about it?

Robert

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Robert Sheaffer" <CallMe"Roberto"@debunker-dot-.com>

|
| I have this repeated problem where, for no apparent reason, Windows
| slows to an absolute crawl. The Task Manager reveals that "services.exe"
| is using 99% of CPU time, and this when the system is (or ought to be)
| mostly or completely idle.
|
| Sometimes this happens if I momentarily disconnect or restart my
| ethernet router. Other times it happens for no apparent reason at all.
| Usually it last about 5 or 10 minutes. Lately I've taken to bringing up
| the Task Manager (takes at least a minute), and just watching until
| "Services.exe" drops back to zero.
|
| I have already installed Service Pack 2 for Win2K (this was rumored to
| help, it didn't). I've also installed most or all "critical updates".
|
| Given that this problem is discussed on several web pages, it's been
| known for quite a long time. Has anybody ever figured out exactly what
| the problem is? And what can be done about it?
|
| Robert

SP 2? You should be using SP4 by now !

First let's determine that it isn't malware. After it is dertermined malware isn't the
cause, i suggest installing Win2K SP4 then the post Sp4 RollOut.

Download MULTI_AV.EXE from the URL --
http://www.ik-cs.com/programs/virtools/Multi_AV.exe

To use this utility, perform the following...
Execute; Multi_AV.exe { Note: You must use the default folder C:\AV-CLS }
Choose; Unzip
Choose; Close

Execute; C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT
{ or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS }

NOTE: You may have to disable your software FireWall or allow WGET.EXE to go through your
FireWall to allow it to download the needed AV vendor related files.

C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT -- { or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS}
This will bring up the initial menu of choices and should be executed in Normal Mode.
This way all the components can be downloaded from each AV vendor's web site.
The choices are; Sophos, Trend, McAfee, Kaspersky, Exit this menu and Reboot the PC.

You can choose to go to each menu item and just download the needed files or you can
download the files and perform a scan in Normal Mode. Once you have downloaded the files
needed for each scanner you want to use, you should reboot the PC into Safe Mode [F8 key
during boot] and re-run the menu again and choose which scanner you want to run in Safe
Mode. It is suggested to run the scanners in both Safe Mode and Normal Mode.

When the menu is displayed hitting 'H' or 'h' will bring up a more comprehensive PDF help
file.


* * * Please report back your results * * *

 

[John]

DNS client service with a very large hosts file.

 

[Dave Patrick]

Check Event Viewer for errors. Also from a command prompt;
netstat -aon
then;
tlist -s
now match up the PID > Image name

You can extract the tlist.exe utility from the Support.cab file from the
Windows 2000 installation CD's Support\Tools folder

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
|
| I have this repeated problem where, for no apparent reason, Windows
| slows to an absolute crawl. The Task Manager reveals that "services.exe"
| is using 99% of CPU time, and this when the system is (or ought to be)
| mostly or completely idle.
|
| Sometimes this happens if I momentarily disconnect or restart my
| ethernet router. Other times it happens for no apparent reason at all.
| Usually it last about 5 or 10 minutes. Lately I've taken to bringing up
| the Task Manager (takes at least a minute), and just watching until
| "Services.exe" drops back to zero.
|
| I have already installed Service Pack 2 for Win2K (this was rumored to
| help, it didn't). I've also installed most or all "critical updates".
|
| Given that this problem is discussed on several web pages, it's been
| known for quite a long time. Has anybody ever figured out exactly what
| the problem is? And what can be done about it?
|
| Robert

 

[Robert Sheaffer]

Thanks to everyone who made suggestions. I've updated to SP4. The
problem occurred once today (seems to be less often now).

As for Malware or a virus, I've been using Ad-Aware SE from Lavasoft,
and AVG Free Edition from Grisoft. Both report that I'm clean. I didn't
try MULTI_AV yet.

Now I'll try some of the other suggestions.

Robert



David H. Lipman wrote: