Task Manager CPU Usage 100 % Spikes

[Bik]

Recently when I have a tune playing on mp3 player (I use winamp, windows
media player, etc) there have been interruptions where the music stops for a
second or so & then continues where it left off.

In the past I haven't looked at the WindowsTask Manager very much but now
have been observing the Performance Graphs especially the CPU usage graph.

With many programs running CPU usage is in the 5 - 7 % range & rarely goes
above 10%,
EXCEPT when disk drives are accessed. Then there are spikes that reach 100%.
If there is intensive disk usage such as copying a batch of files then there
are extended 100% flat spots on the graph.

It when these bursts of 100% CPU usage occur that the mp3 players pause.

Anyone know if these 100% spikes in the graph are normal & how to stop the
annoying pause in the mp3 players. ???? Maybe the spikes ARE normal???

I have a Dell 4550 Pentium4 240mhz with 256mb Ram. Never observed this
problem until recently although I have this computer for almost 1 yr now -
suspect that either the CPU or another component is failing or the endless
XP security updates have bogged down the system.

Have checked everything OK with Norton Win & Disk Dr. & no problems in
Device Manager.

Thanks for any help.

Bik

 

[Guest]

No, it's not good for your cpu usage to be up that high,
on your task manager, click on the processes tab, see
which program is running at a high number. End process
on the program that is running that high number. This
excludes "system idle process".