Strange taskmanager readings

[jaybird]

I have 2 computers both running windows XP pentium 4
proc. One has a strange problem and is running very
slow, as I am working on a spyware problem. Done the
usual spybot, adaware,etc and am making progress.
However when observing task manager on the problem
machine in the performance tab I have a PF usage of 431mb
and cpu usage of a few %, but every couple of minutes the
cpu spikes to 100%. This is with just task mgr open and
looking at the screen. On the good machine I have PF of
161mb and cpu of 0 to 2% under the same conditions with
no spiking. How can I tell what is causing all the
memory usage and the spikes? Looking at processes
doesn't help because I can't see what is doing it.

 

[Kelly]

Suggestions:

Run the Task Manager, go to View/Select Columns, and turn on the following
columns: "I/O Read Bytes" and "I/O Write Bytes." This will give you details
as to which process is accessing the disk.

In the meantime, run the Startup Tracker from here to see what is still
running/installed that needs to be removed:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#xp_util

 

[jaybird]

My taskmanager doesn't have this option under the view
tab.