Windows 7 - CPU usage is 100%, computer is crawlingly slow

Asked By Mark

20-Feb-09 11:34 PM

I have a 6 year old Dell desktop running Windows XP.  In the last couple of
weeks the computer has slowed to a crawl.  I note that CPU usage is
consistently at or near 100% when the computer is idle.  I installed a 1gb
memory module (the unit came with 512 kb, so it is now at 1.5 gb) and it
seems to be working well.  Diagnostic tests on the CPU indicate normal
operation.  I have Norton Internet Security, and it has indicated no
problems.  I dowloaded the February 2009 MS malware removal tool, ran a
complete scan, and it found no malware.  I am about to unload a bunch of old
programs I no longer need and also have another diagnostic scan I will run
overnight to try to find malware.  If none of that works, I will reintall
Windows and start from scratch.  Question:  Is my CPU dieing, the diagnostic
test results to the contrary notwithstanding?  Do CPUs die gradually?

21-Feb-09 06:50 AM

Mark

What process is generating 100% CPU usage?

You can investigate Processes using Process Explorer, which is a better
tool than Task Manager.

Please provide the Command Line of the Process giving any unexplained
CPU usage and list the services that use that process.

Process Explorer is more commonly used than Process Express in these
newsgroups to diagnose these type of problems. If you cannot provide the
information requested please download and install Process Explorer.

For further information about Process Explorer see here:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/SystemInformation/ProcessExplorer.mspx

It would be helpful if you could post the Command Line of the process
generating the excessive CPU usage. In Process Explorer place
cursor on Process and select Properties, Image.

--



Hope  this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

21-Feb-09 09:20 AM

I am running Process Explorer.  How do I tell which process is hogging the
CPU?  the main heading for System shows a consistent 95+% CPU usage, but the
processes listed under System only occasionally display how much CPU is being
used.

21-Feb-09 10:50 AM

O.K.  I figured out how to check each running process and see how much CPU is
it using.  As noted below, the main heading for "System" shows a consistent
90%+ CPU usage.  However, none of the individual running processes show much
(if any) CPU usage.  A couple of the svchost.exe processes show activity in
the Private Bytes and I/O Bytes History graphs.  These has command lines
-"c:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe -k imgsvc' and

Also, I thought I might be having a problem with Norton LiveUpdate so I
removed all of the Norton products from the system, but I am still getting
100% CPU usage.

I think the next step is to back up my documents and settings and do a
Windows reinstall.  Sometimes you must destroy the village to save it!"

21-Feb-09 04:41 PM

What method did you you use to remove the Norton products? Did you
hopefully use their removal tool from this page?:

http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

22-Feb-09 07:14 AM

Mark

Please confirm it is the System and not System Idle process showing a
consistent 90%+ CPU usage. If it is System then you need to consider
whether problem is malware. Running Norton Internet Security is no
guarantee that you do not have a malware infestation. Some malware is
capable of concealing it's CPU usage.

I suggest you download and run Spybot S & D (freeware version).  There
is a freeware version buried in this link:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
1.32 -freeware (if you upgrade you pay).
http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html

Run Malwarebytes' in safe mode and turn off your current anti-virus
before you do to avoid a conflict. Disregard the invitation on the web
site regarding the Registry Optimiser -a Registry Optimiser is not a
helpful utility.

Command line c:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe -k imgsvc

What is your setting for Windows Image Acquisition? Start, Control
Panel, Administrative Tools, Services. Right
click on Windows Image Acquisition and select Properties. The default
setting is Manual.

Command line c:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe - k LocalService

Have a look in the System and Application logs in Event Viewer for
Errors and Warnings and post copies here. Don't post any more than 48
hours ago.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
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/kb/308427/en-us

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. Click the button and close Event
Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

22-Feb-09 04:22 PM

See an earlier post regarding CPU useage at 100% and .spl and .shd files.  I
did and removed them and my CPU dropped from 100% to 5 - 6 % and is much
faster again.

22-Feb-09 05:10 PM

paradocs

All that does is to clear the print queue as I explained to you several
days ago. It does not resolve the problem causing the printer not to
clear the queue. You can achieve the same result by cancelling the
document in the Print Folder.

--



Hope  this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~