Why is System Idle Process hogging CPU? How can I stop this?

[Guest]

In task manager, System Idle Process's CPU usage is always around the 90's.
When I run a full scandisk, it usually fixes the problem. However, it's not
long before it starts doing it again. I run a few very memory hogging
programs like Photoshop (I work with very high resolution images), and I am
usually running three instances of AOL Instant Messenger and Outlook. It
usually doesn't start happening until I really start doing a lot of things
within those programs. It won't happen if I just turn on my program and surf
the net. When this happens, my computer obviously starts running
rrreeeaaallllllyyy ssslllooowww. I have changed my preferences for maximum
performance (no drop shadows, no smooth scrolling, etc.) I run defrags and
clean up unwanted files all the time. And it drives me nuts!! Please help!

P.S. This happens on two notebooks of mine running XP Home, but not any
other OS's that I know of.

 

[Ted Zieglar]

http://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+system+idle+process

 

[Jason Haynes]

Idle: In Windows, the condition or state in which both Windows and the
application have processed all pending messages in the queue from user- or
hardware-initiated events and is waiting for the next event to occur. In
Windows NT multiprocessing, one idle thread exists for each processor.

Idle means the same in Windows as it does everywhere else.

 

[Guest]

I know what the System Idle Process is. The problem I am having is that it's
up in it's 90's when I am running very RAM heavy programs and tasks. It
should NOT be hitting 98 when I'm rendering a 20 MB file in Photoshop (a
program that takes up over 100 MB of RAM when I'm using it to do a heavy
task). I even upped Photoshop's RAM buffer, but that doesn't seem to effect
anything.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Justin;
System Idle Process is exactly what it sounds like.
It is the % of processing power you have waiting for something to do,doing
nothing.

If you are having problems, this is not the cause.
Follow this link:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm

 

[Gerry Cornell]

How much RAM memory?Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task
Manager and click the Performance Tab. Under Commit
Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

How large is your hard drive and how much free space?

What is your CPU processor speed? Right click on your My
Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties to get
this information and the amount of RAM memory.

Another avenue of enquiry is the Event Viewer System log.

Please check Event Viewer for Warning / Error Reports in the System
and Application logs for the last boot and post copies.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Administrative Tools, and
Event Viewer. When researching the meaning of the error, information
regarding Event ID, Source and Description are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308427&sd=tech

Part of the Description of the error will include a link, which you should
double click for further information. You can copy using copy and paste.
Often the link will, however, say there is no further information.
http://go.microsoft.com/fw.link/events.asp
(Please note the hyperlink above is for illustration purposes only)

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double click
on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a button
resembling two pages. Double click the button and close Event Viewer. Now
start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of the message. This
will paste the info from the Event Viewer Error Report complete with links
into the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from Event
Viewer.


--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

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

 

[Guest]

Jone's is right justin. that is not the problem, i had the exact same problem
you are having now. Answer: FreeRAM XP Pro 1.51 Its free and it works. I
beleive you should be able to find it either at Cnet downloads Or Microsoft
downloads. Its free dude. and it works.