Windows XP Home SP2 keeps pausing ever 3 seconds

[Ryan]

I have a Sony Vaio Notebook (PCG-FXA47) that I've had for a while.
Very stable. I don't use it much at all anymore, but every once in a
while, I turn it on. Norton Antivirus is installed and always up to
date. Use Ad-Aware. I scanned with both and nothing turned up.

I haven't installed anything on it because I don't use it. The only
thing that gets installed are the Windows Critical Updates. The two
latest Windows updates that were installed were installed on 5/31/06.
They were the "Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications (KB905474)" and
the "Security Update for Windows XP (KB913580)". I uninstalled the
second, but wasn't allowed to uninstall the first. I still have the
pause every three seconds.

Anyone notice a pause on their system start after installing either of
these? Thanks.

 

[JS]

Goto this site and download and install Process Explorer:
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html
It should show you any processes that are running and CPU utilization.

JS

 

[Pennywise]

|>I have a Sony Vaio Notebook (PCG-FXA47) that I've had for a while.
|>Very stable. I don't use it much at all anymore, but every once in a
|>while, I turn it on. Norton Antivirus is installed and always up to
|>date. Use Ad-Aware. I scanned with both and nothing turned up.
|>
|>I haven't installed anything on it because I don't use it. The only
|>thing that gets installed are the Windows Critical Updates. The two
|>latest Windows updates that were installed were installed on 5/31/06.
|>They were the "Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications (KB905474)" and
|>the "Security Update for Windows XP (KB913580)". I uninstalled the
|>second, but wasn't allowed to uninstall the first. I still have the
|>pause every three seconds.
|>
|>Anyone notice a pause on their system start after installing either of
|>these? Thanks.

download and run Process Explorer
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

Let it run for a bit (a couple of "pauses")

Then double click on the CPU display (upper right).

Drag your mouse above the CPU graph (your "pause" should be a spike)

PE will show you what process is being run at that time.