Windows XP unknown background program using CPU heavily

[Guest]

I run Win XP and it has no viruses or adware/spyware.Ocasionally,the CPU is
being taxed heavily by an unknown background program. It doesn`t show up in
the event viewer.The only way to stop it is to reboot the computer.Any ideas
on what this is? It has happened on an AMD based system and now on an INTEL
based system.

 

[Ron Martell]

I run Win XP and it has no viruses or adware/spyware.Ocasionally,the CPU is
being taxed heavily by an unknown background program. It doesn`t show up in
the event viewer.The only way to stop it is to reboot the computer.Any ideas
on what this is? It has happened on an AMD based system and now on an INTEL
based system.

Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to bring up the Windows Task Manager.
Go to the Processes tab.
Click twice on the CPU column header to sort the list into descending
order based on CPU usage.

Make note of the 5 or so processes with the highest CPU usage and post
that information back here. Note that on most systems the "System
Idle Process" which is a filler entry to account for the time when the
computer is doing nothing, will be at the top of the list with a value
of at least 90%.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."