Can't find why CPU always high, even when idle.

mikeinstlouis

New Member
Dear friends,

Last night I was chatting with my brother on webcam and noticed very very poor performance that I never had experienced. The audio was garbled and kept freezing. I noted that my CPU consumption was 100%. That is the basis of my problem. Even at rest when nothing is going on, the meter swings up to 100% and down to 40% etc. My friends laptop hangs out at 0%.

I thought it may be malware so I ran my Norton AV and Malwarebytes. Didn't find anything. I (probably erroneously) tried to use a registry cleaner and a program called optimize. Neither worked...same problem.

I go to look and see what seems to have the highest percentage of use, and it seems to be taskmgr.exe, dwm.exe, sidebar.exe and explorer.exe...not to mention all the other programs, but those seem to be the big ones.

What am I doing wrong? What can I do to see exactly what the problem is? I know that some spyware runs in the backround that taskmgr.exe wont' pick up but scans have been negative.

I ran an Hijack this file as well, but an automated reader didn't find any issues.

My CPU monitor just seems too high. How do I know if there is a problem with software, registry, or actual hardware? I am watching my meter now and it jumps from 8 to 60%.

If anyone can help me out on the right foot, I would be very grateful Thanks!

Mike in St. Louis
 

My Computer

Is windows defender doing a scan? Or it could be defragmenting in the background. If the problem doesnt stop then it probably isnt these.

Just a thought


Jeremy
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    AMD Phenom 9850 Quad-Core (2.5GHz)
    Motherboard
    Asus AM2, nFORCE 560 M2N-SLI
    Memory
    3838MB RAM DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 9800GT
    Sound Card
    Built in C-Media CM6501
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2208WFP
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 7200RPM HDD
    PSU
    600w
    Case
    Raidmax Sagitta II
I go to look and see what seems to have the highest percentage of use, and it seems to be taskmgr.exe, dwm.exe, sidebar.exe and explorer.exe...not to mention all the other programs, but those seem to be the big ones.
1.Update drivers for graphics card
2.May you have to many and wrong gadgets in sidebar?Disable non-default gadgets and check results
3.Have you installed Windows Dream Scene and turned on? -If yes disable it
4.Disable all programs in Startup http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/79612-startup-programs-enable-disable.html
and check results
5.Disable unnessary ad-ones in IE http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/114310-internet-explorer-reset.html
 

My Computer

Download and run process explorer, that will help track down which process is the culprit.
Process Explorer
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Wolfdale E8400 3 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus P5E
    Memory
    4 x 2GB Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    BFGTech GTX260 OC
    Sound Card
    Onboard 5.1 w/ Logitech 5.1 speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Hard Drives
    2 x Seagate 250GB SATA RAID 0 (OS), 1 x Seagate 500GB (storage), Kingwin SATA removeable rack (Seagate 400GB for Windows 7)
    PSU
    BFG Tech 550W
    Case
    Antec Nine Hundred
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech trackball
    Internet Speed
    6Mbps

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    amd 64x2 4200+ 2.2ghz per core
    Motherboard
    ECS NETTLE
    Memory
    3 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvdia 6150se nforce 430(old rig, upgrading)
    Sound Card
    reltrek hd audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    hp w1907
    Screen Resolution
    1440x968/1024x768
    Hard Drives
    320gb
    PSU
    upgrading, Coolmax CA-450 450watts
    Case
    hp casing
    Cooling
    defult..
    Keyboard
    hp
    Mouse
    hp
    Internet Speed
    768kbps down and 128 up...very slow..
    Other Info
    not great compared to other people..
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