Weird CPU usage in XP

[DeepGoat]

My CPU usage periodically (say every 5 seconds) jumps up to around 35% then
back to 0 when the pc is idle. This seems to be causing jumpiness in games
and other heavy use applications.

Task manager lists the process doing this as "system" which, as far as i
know, can cover a host of different things. Process explorer ruled out
several services but did not name what was causing these spikes in CPU usage
(just "system" even within the "system" tree).

I have tried scanning the system for spyware, viruses and rootkits and even
reinstalling windows (i.e. running the repair option to reinstall all the
system files without changing settings/files etc), but to no avail.

Heres the weirdest bit - if I go into task manager and kill the "system"
process, obviously it doesn't actually get 'killed' - it stays there (and
still uses the exact same amount of memory), but the cpu usage spikes stop.
Also if I boot in safe mode it doesn't happen, but if I disable everything
(startup items and non-essential services) in msconfig manually it still does!

If anyone has any ideas about how to fix this I'd love to hear them!

DG

XP Pro SP2
Athlon 3200+ @2.2GHz
Asus A8V-SE
2Gb DDR 400MHz

 

[Bob I]

Perhaps your system is polling the CD/DVD player or other removable
drive to see if there is anything different for it to play.

 

[JS]

An alternate method using Process Explorer is to double click on the Graph
just below the Menu bar.
This will open the 'System Information' window, which has a larger display
of all three graphs.
Move your mouse over any spike in the CPU Usage graph to see what
process/application or service was the cause of the spike.

Another tool available is: What's Running
http://www.whatsrunning.net/whatsrunning/main.aspx

JS

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

My CPU usage periodically (say every 5 seconds) jumps up to around 35% then

back to 0 when the pc is idle. This seems to be causing jumpiness in games
and other heavy use applications.

Task manager lists the process doing this as "system" which, as far as i
know, can cover a host of different things. Process explorer ruled out
several services but did not name what was causing these spikes in CPU usage
(just "system" even within the "system" tree).

I have tried scanning the system for spyware, viruses and rootkits and even
reinstalling windows (i.e. running the repair option to reinstall all the
system files without changing settings/files etc), but to no avail.

Heres the weirdest bit - if I go into task manager and kill the "system"
process, obviously it doesn't actually get 'killed' - it stays there (and
still uses the exact same amount of memory), but the cpu usage spikes stop.
Also if I boot in safe mode it doesn't happen, but if I disable everything
(startup items and non-essential services) in msconfig manually it still does!

If anyone has any ideas about how to fix this I'd love to hear them!

DG

XP Pro SP2
Athlon 3200+ @2.2GHz
Asus A8V-SE
2Gb DDR 400MHz

Install XP SP3.

- Thee Chicago Wolf