Problem with 100% CPU usage on vista 64 bit

I have a computer I built a little over a year ago, and I finally decided to do a clean install upgrade from XP to Vista Ultimate 64 bit. I never had any problems with it before the upgrade.

The computer's specs are:
Intel Q6600 processor
4GB PC6400 RAM
MSI P6N mobo
Nvidia 8800 GTS video card

It should be able to run any version of vista with no problem, but for some reason, it always has at least 50% CPU usage, even when I have no programs running, and only the minimal processes. As soon as I open up any program, the CPU usage goes to 100%

I have no idea whats going on with it. I tried searching the forums, but I couldn't find anything that helped.

Resource Monitor shows that perfmon.exe and sidebar.exe are the two heaviest CPU usages. Even with other programs running, the CPU usage shown in RM still don't add up to 100%.

Any idea how I can fix this?

thisisforever said:

Resource Monitor shows that perfmon.exe and sidebar.exe are the two heaviest CPU usages. Even with other programs running, the CPU usage shown in RM still don't add up to 100%.

Any idea how I can fix this?

Click to expand...

Have you installed additional gadgets for sidebar?
Try update drivers for chipset,sound,graphics card and network card.

I've had the same problem with 64 bit vista i'm running almost the same system as well

Intel 2.4 gig core2quad
MSI P35 chipset
6 gig ram
1066 FSB
GeForce 9800 gt graphics card 1 gig dedicated
650 watt power supply

I have done EVERYTHING I can think of to fix this problem. I updated drivers I tried to update the bios but the online update MSI has said I don't need to, I've checked processes, I just get 100% CPU usage on the simplest of programs that either should work fine in 64 (IE) or worked fine in 32 bit (WMP, word, or sadly WoW). I've asked every tech guy i know and nobody can give me a decent answer. My comp with its specs should be screaming fast with 64 bit vista but bogs down on its built in programs, it even takes forever just to boot. HELP!!

@ msmtms
Since you mention slow boot that may give you a starting point. Have you tried enabling boot logging? Go into msconfig.exe and check Boot Logging in the Boot Tab. After you reboot search the Windows folder for a file named "ntbootlog.txt".

You'll probably see a bunch of lines with
"failed to load xxxdriver.sys"

where it couldn't load some driver. The names of the drivers it is trying to load may give a clue what's going on.