What to do About High CPU Usage

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by nydev, Jan 2, 2007.

  1. nydev

    nydev Private E-2

    This question is actually going to be for a friend of mine mostly and secondly for me. We have the same issue.

    Note:
    • We both have Norton Antivirus 2007 and the latest updates
    • We both Have Zone Alarm Pro and the latest updates
    • We both have all the latest drivers for all our hardware and use third party driver toolkits just to be sure about it
    • We both Recently formated and reinstalled windows and made sure we have all the latest windows updates
    • We both scan for viruses and other types of malware religiously
    • We are NOT overclocking
    System specs :
    My system specs
    Code:
    [B]Operating System[/B]
    Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (build 2600)
    
    [B]System Model[/B]
    Compaq Presario 061 DT078A-ABA S6030NX NA410 0n41411RE101KAME210
    Enclosure Type: Desktop
    
    [B]Processor[/B]
    2.07 gigahertz AMD Athlon XP
    128 kilobyte primary memory cache
    512 kilobyte secondary memory cache
    
    [B]Memory Modules[/B]
    960 Megabytes Installed Memory
    
    Slot 'A0' has 512 MB
    Slot 'A1' has 512 MB
    
    [B]Local Drive Volumes[/B]
    c: (NTFS on drive 0) 81.95 GB 65.65 GB free 
    d: (NTFS on drive 1) 20.41 GB 17.04 GB free
    
    [B]Drives[/B]
    102.37 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    82.69 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
    
    ASUS CRW-4824AH [CD-ROM drive]
    IDE-DVD ROM 16x [CD-ROM drive]
    3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]
    
    Maxtor 4R080L0 [Hard drive] (81.96 GB) -- drive 0
    QUANTUM FIREBALLlct20 20 [Hard drive] (20.42 GB) -- drive 1, s/n 352106361639, rev APL.0900, SMART Status: Healthy
    
    [B]Display[/B]
    VIA/S3G UniChrome IGP [Display adapter]
    HP MX75 [Monitor] (15.7"vis, s/n THLEH17839, February 2002)
    
    [B]Communications[/B]
    SoftV92 Data Fax Modem
    1394 Net Adapter
    NETGEAR WG311v3 802.11g Wireless PCI Adapter
    VIA Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter

    The problem -
    For some strange reason my computer will be completely idle and out of nowhere the CPU will start running high (fast).

    I mean, it's literally out of nowhere because there are no changes in whatever i am doing. I will leave the computer completely untouched, without being connected to the internet and the CPU will just go off on its own running at high speeds out of nowhere. I don't even have a screensaver.


    Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
    Scan saved at 9:40:43 PM, on 1/2/2007
    Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
    MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

    Code:
    Running processes:
    C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\csrss.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
    C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
    C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AppCore\AppSvc32.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
    C:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\ALUSchedulerSvc.exe
    C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
    C:\Program Files\StillSecure\Safe Access Agent\SAService.exe
    C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\sdhelp.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\VTTimer.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
    C:\WINDOWS\ALCXMNTR.EXE
    C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliPoint\ipoint.exe
    C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\System32\alg.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
    C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\navw32.exe
    C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
    C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
    C:\Documents and Settings\Danny Michel\My Documents\Downloads\HijackThis.exe
    
    R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = [url]http://www.ny-dev.com/[/url]
    R3 - URLSearchHook: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - (no file)
    O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
    O2 - BHO: (no name) - {465E08E7-F005-4389-980F-1D8764B3486C} - (no file)
    O2 - BHO: PCTools Site Guard - {5C8B2A36-3DB1-42A4-A3CB-D426709BBFEB} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~1\tools\iesdsg.dll
    O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
    O2 - BHO: PCTools Browser Monitor - {B56A7D7D-6927-48C8-A975-17DF180C71AC} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~1\tools\iesdpb.dll
    O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {0BF43445-2F28-4351-9252-17FE6E806AA0} - (no file)
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VTTimer] VTTimer.exe
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AlcxMonitor] ALCXMNTR.EXE
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelliPoint] "c:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliPoint\ipoint.exe"
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [osCheck] "C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\osCheck.exe"
    O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
    O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
    O8 - Extra context menu item: Lookup on Merriam Webster - file://C:\Program Files\ieSpell\Merriam Webster.HTM
    O8 - Extra context menu item: Lookup on Wikipedia - file://C:\Program Files\ieSpell\wikipedia.HTM
    O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
    O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
    O9 - Extra button: Spyware Doctor - {2D663D1A-8670-49D9-A1A5-4C56B4E14E84} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~1\tools\iesdpb.dll
    O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
    O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
    O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
    O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
    O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
    O11 - Options group: [INTERNATIONAL] International*
    O16 - DPF: {32305793-C19A-48E7-AD2F-D87FF7B264A4} (TenebrilSpywareScanner Control) - [url]http://www.tenebril.com/assets/activeX/SpywareScanner.ocx[/url]
    O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - [url]http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1164829910078[/url]
    O16 - DPF: {B1826A9F-4AA0-4510-BA77-9013E74E4B9B} - [url]http://www.trendmicro.com/spyware-scan/as4web.cab[/url]
    O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
    O20 - Winlogon Notify: NavLogon - C:\WINDOWS\
    O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
    O20 - Winlogon Notify: WRNotifier - WRLogonNTF.dll (file missing)
    O23 - Service: Adobe LM Service - Adobe Systems - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe
    O23 - Service: Automatic LiveUpdate Scheduler - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\ALUSchedulerSvc.exe
    O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe" /h ccCommon (file missing)
    O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe" /h ccCommon (file missing)
    O23 - Service: Symantec Lic NetConnect service (CLTNetCnService) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe" /h ccCommon (file missing)
    O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
    O23 - Service: Symantec IS Password Validation (ISPwdSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\isPwdSvc.exe
    O23 - Service: LiveUpdate - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\LUCOMS~1.EXE
    O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
    O23 - Service: Cyberlink RichVideo Service(CRVS) (RichVideo) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\CyberLink\Shared files\RichVideo.exe
    O23 - Service: Safe Access Agent (SafeAccessAgent) - StillSecure - C:\Program Files\StillSecure\Safe Access Agent\SAService.exe
    O23 - Service: PC Tools Spyware Doctor (SDhelper) - PC Tools Research Pty Ltd - C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\sdhelp.exe
    O23 - Service: Symantec Core LC - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
    O23 - Service: Symantec AppCore Service (SymAppCore) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AppCore\AppSvc32.exe
    O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
     
  2. eyeblazin

    eyeblazin Private First Class

    My first suspect would be Norton? Do you have it scheduled to scan automatically? It may scan if comp sits idle for a specific period. My personal preference is AVG anti-virus as it is free and simple and usually gets better reviews than Norton or McAfee. Have you ever tried Black Vipers settings which shut off many uneeded processes and works very well for me. I normally use the gaming settings with no problems.

    You can check it out here:
    http://www.majorgeeks.com/page.php?id=12
     
  3. Clark_Kent

    Clark_Kent MajorGeek

    My god you have to many process going around 50 WOW thats pretty HI...

    Do what eyeblazin told you about having less process running.....

    This will help you alots. I have 25 process running...
     
  4. Adrynalyne

    Adrynalyne Guest


    I have 50 running at any given time...and my machine is fast.

    I'd think it would be more prudent to use task manager to find out which processes are taking the most cpu usage.
     
  5. shanemail

    shanemail Fold On

    50 is a bit much
    Nortons has always been a bit heavy handed !!

    Next time it happens go into task manager and see what is using the highest percentage of your cpu

    If you are not actually doing anything most things should be 0% or 1%
    or thereabouts

    It does sound a lot like something is scheduled to run when your computers been idle for a while
    so you could always check out scheduled tasks in your control panel

    I had nortons years ago, strangely enough i had a lot of viruses back then as well.
    Even had a 'retrovirus' that was specifically targetted at nortons. nasty little bugger it was too.
    Only had about 3 attempts last year and avast antivirus stopped em all
     
  6. Clark_Kent

    Clark_Kent MajorGeek

    Adrynalyne

    I think your machine will be alots fasters if you have less running process.....

    For me having more then 30 is high it is the first thing i check on the computer when i go to fix one.....

    Just my two cents....
     
  7. bigbazza

    bigbazza R.I.P. 14/12/2011 - Good Onya Geek

    The number of processes is different for every user. There is no magic number.
    When I am logged into MG and with Firewall, AntiVirus, etc., loaded I have 69 processes running.

    17 are Microsoft processes, 8 are Symantec, (not AV), 8 are Toshiba (laptops always load more processes than desktops), 5 are Avast, and so on

    When I log off the Net, I run a closing program and with a bit of manual editing, the number of processes falls to 24-26.

    Try
    Process Explorer.

    http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4566

     
  8. Adrynalyne

    Adrynalyne Guest

    Its not the amount of processes that determine "teh snappiness" of the OS, its what they are, and how resource hungry they are.

    My machine is no slower than an optmized clean install with no AV.
    :)
     
  9. Adrynalyne

    Adrynalyne Guest

    Its not the amount of processes that determine "teh snappiness" of the OS, its what they are, and how resource hungry they are.

    My machine is no slower than an optmized clean install with no AV.
    :)

    Edit: Of course, Sabayon which has a ton more eyecandy than XP or Vista will(with Beryl), is what I use these days anyway. When i boot into Windows, however, its snappy as can be, with the install being over a year old.
     

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