Unusual cpu usage

[Guest]

My cpu usage continuously jumps between 4-10% and 40-60%. Even when system is
idle. Taskmgr shows no odd processes using resources. System idle process is
always high (85 to 95%). I've scanned for viruses, spyware, trojans, etc.
with many different programs with no success. What am I missing?

 

[Ed Covney]

It might be automatic updates doing their thing.

My first instinct would be to disconnect from the
internet and see if the cpu usage backs off to a
nice 0 - 2% usage.

Ed

 

[Guest]

No, first of all it happens constantly, and second I've tried disconnecting
from the internet and it still continues.

thanks though

 

[Guest]

I'm a little confused: If System Idle process is ALWAYS 85% to 95%, how can
CPU Usage go to 60% ? When a process starts using the CPU will it show in the
Task Manager CPU column as a higher value. At the same time, the System Idle
Process witll show a lower CPU value.

Check the "sp2 svchost and wuauclt.exe 100% cpu" post a couple down from
this.

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Ryan

What is the name of the image path of the process?

Task Manager is useful but you could look at another freeware utility
Process Explorer, which provides similar information but adds that
little bit extra towards seeing what the running processes represent.

For further information about Process Explorer see here:

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

To ascertain which service is causing the problem select the
image name producing the high CPU usage, right click,
select Properties, Services. Note there are the full names and some
explanation of what each service does.

You will find further information on Services here:
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

To trace the particular Service involved you need to turn off each
service in turn and then restore it noting what effect it has on CPU
usage. However, you need to take care and watch what other Services are
dependent on that service. When you click on the Dependencies tab allow
it a little time to display the information.


--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Kerry Brown]

I'm a little confused: If System Idle process is ALWAYS 85% to 95%,
how can CPU Usage go to 60% ? When a process starts using the CPU
will it show in the Task Manager CPU column as a higher value. At the
same time, the System Idle Process witll show a lower CPU value.

Check the "sp2 svchost and wuauclt.exe 100% cpu" post a couple down
from this.

Many things can cause high CPU usage that don't show up in the task manager
or show up as System. Bad drivers, bad hardware generating constant
interrupts, malware, root kits, etc.

Kerry

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Kerry

Can you point me to some documentation on this as I am
looking at another conversation where programmes do not
load in good time and there is no visible CPU activity.

--

Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Guest]

Sysinternals is a good source of info for whats happening inside your
computuer. Here is a link to a program you can run to find out if there are
any "hidden" processes running that don't show on Task Manager, Windows
Explorer, Services, etc.

http://www.sysinternals.com/utilities/rootkitrevealer.html

 

[Kerry Brown]

Kerry

Can you point me to some documentation on this as I am
looking at another conversation where programmes do not
load in good time and there is no visible CPU activity.

Mango's link to sysinternals.com is a very good resource. They have many
excellent programs for discovering what is happening under the hood. In the
items I suggested the CPU on the performance tab of task manager is usually
very high with no obvious task other than System showing anything unusual.
That doesn't sound like the problem you describe. At sysinternals.com you
will find file monitoring programs as well as process monitoring. Some
combination may find what you are looking for.

Kerry

 

[Martin C]

When you say that the disc is active, is this just for a short while soon
after the PC boots up?
I noticed this on my system as well, but I believe that this is something to
do with one of the more recent Windows Updates. It had only started after I
had installed one. I have noticed the change on my work PC as well. If this
is the only occassion at which this occurs, I would not worry too much about
it.

Another thing you might want to check is if you have Find Fast running (part
of the MS Office software) which basically does a document scan of your
drives for fast finding of office documents.

Martin

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Martin

This freeware programme may be of interest.

Process Explorer, which provides similar information to Task
Manager, but adds that little bit extra towards seeing what the
running processes represent.

For further information about Process Explorer see here:
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

To ascertain which service is causing the problem select the
image name producing the high CPU usage, right click,
select Properties, Services. Note there are the full names and some
explanation of what each service does.

You will find further information on Services here:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm

To trace the particular Service involved you need to turn off each
service in turn and then restore it noting what effect it has on CPU
usage. However, you need to take care and watch what other Services are
dependent on that service. When you click on the Dependencies tab allow
it a little time to display the information.

Find Fast is a name from the past. It rarely get a mention nowadays.
Most likely because more recent versions of Microsoft Office no longer
have Find Fast to run as a default setting.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~