NT Kernel & System running at 75%-99%

[townsbg]

Don't worry about registry scans because attempting to fix them frequently causes more problems than it fixes. Serious registry errors would more than likely keep the computer from booting.

Have you tried running under another profile? Try creating another account and testing usage on that one with the other account logged out.

 

[Grafeit]

That's a terrific suggestion, as for the past 3 hours or so I've been updating. Before I do that I wanted to add something. In maconfig>services tab, is there anything in here that I should or need to leave on? I had assumed that I needed to leave MS related things and driver related things on. However, won't those things startup as the OS or some other SW calls for them? I have roughly 70 items in here including driver SW, Microsoft IP support and lots of similar items. What do you guys think? It can't hurt to disable them all and restart can it? I mean if it won't startup regularly I can always go into safe mode and re-enable them...

Gonna give a new user a shot after this batch of updates. Let me know what you think though...

 

[Yard Dog]

Once you had gotten all updates, that is a way to test what process is eating up your resources . Read this tutorial/guide : http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/59910-services.html

 

[Grafeit]

Wow thanks! You saved my skin there, I noticed how one of the first things said was "Do not use msconfig".

I did check in a new user and there were no changes, I've disabled all third party startup items previously, so nothing new started up and no new errors were found. I suppose I've still got a handful of updates to deal with, I'll be checking in after those. (I have no clue how someone can ignore so many updates for so long...)

 

[Yard Dog]

Well, there are times to use Msconfig, but, in Task Manager , in processes Tab, the one that shows as using all the resources, i wonder if you need that right now, you may want to disable or set it to manual for now, so you can get that machine updated quicker, just a thought .

 

[townsbg]

You cannot stop NT Kernel and system.

 

[Grafeit]

townsbg is completely correct. I cannot stop that one. However, I think you'll be glad to hear that I am all done with updates, I followed the article on disabling services and guess what?! Yep, if you were thinking its fixed you're right. I disable some services, and set some to manual and all that jazz, and viola! It's running like a dream. I actually have had it running for about 4 hours non-stop without a single problem. I told my brother I am gonna hold on to it for a few days until I am sure it's all good, but it would seem that it was a services thing....

I'll post back in a day if nothing happens.

 

[Yard Dog]

Excellent. glad this got sorted.. While you are at it. make sure his flash player and java are up to date. Post back if you ever need to. Peruse the excellent Tutorial Section also. http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/139940-tutorial-index.html?filter[11]=General%20Tips

 

[townsbg]

If you remember there is a thread about flash 11 not being compatible with Vista 64 bit otherwise that would be a good suggestion.

I'm glad that you where able to figure it out. If you want you can try to enable services one by one until you figure out the problematic one. Is SP2 now installed?