abnormally high cpu & page file usage

after startup the page file usage and cpu usage goes up incredibly high. cpu usage spikes to 100% periodically. page file usage goes up and eventually reaches maximum (2.1gb). the pc slows down and weird stuff starts to happen. applications stop opening (even task manager). menus & stuff are incomplete. explorer windows are incomplete-no icons, tiny fonts etc. how do i fix this :confused

 

What are the top processes by usage? Can you post that info?

Windows version? Any new software installed lately?

 

this happens even when there are no applications running. windows : xp sp2

 

What security software are you using?

 

OK, can you look at the task manager and see what the top CPU usage processes are? There should be 20+ processes running on startup...

 

Please answer satrow's and cipher's, questions.

Why are you not on SP3? It was released in 2008.
How much free space on your boot drive?
You've got 512 megs of RAM. Not sure what you got running in processes or AV as mentioned by cipher and satrow. Need this info.

Cheers..

 

wait..it was just a virus. sorry:-D

 

That means your system is not well protected; you should really make sure that you have a good AV installed, and keep it up to date.

You also should really install SP3, and all subsequent updates on your system.