System Idle Process

[Bert]

The process "System Idle Process" consistantly eats 70-
90% of my CPU usage, slowing everything down
dramatically. Is this normal, and can it be resolved?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

System Idle Process is exactly what it sounds like.
It is the % of processing power you have waiting for something to do,
doing nothing.
In this case about 20 % of your power is being used, can be quite
normal.

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/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q815411