backround programs? freezing computer

I have several malware removal/anti-spyware programs but when I go into my task manager, my CPU is running at 40-70% with only this web site open. Went to system tools-process/services here and checked out a bunch of freeware, but unsure which one you guys reccommend. Also, is that what's causing the freezing up? Thx

 

geds4001...

Could be a number of things, so it's a process of elimination. Might help if you could provide some info.

1. Which version of Windows do you have? (also 32 or 64 bit?)
2. System make/model
3. System specs (processor, HD size/free space, amt of RAM)
4. Open Task Manager and take a look in the Processes tab there. Click on the CPU header for the column, so you can see what's using the processor and please include it in your next post
5. Which security programs do you have and which ones are set to run in the background?

FYI, run only 1 a-v and 1 malware scanner at a time. You can still run an aftermarket firewall in place of Windows firewall and run 1 a-v and 1 malware scanner...

 

If you open task manager and click on Processes, then click on CPU, twice, to have it selected and highest use on top in descending order, you see what is eating up your CPU. If you can't make sense of it, do what I said, take a screenshot and post it here.

 

thx for input thuis far---here's what I did---got rid of ALL anti-virus/malware stuff and installed new---only one---Avira. AltBo: have info you requested but wanted to start here first. Blujay---when I go into task mngr; I don't know how to detect what's running in backround. With nothing open, cpu spikes to over 50% and fan comes on(laptop)---this happens about every 20-30 seconds. Shows anywhere from 66-70 processess. I also get an occasional pop-up, when I'm online, stating a shockwave error. What other info do you need from me? Still post screenshot? Info AltBo asked about? thx

 

If you say CPU spikes every 20-30 seconds, monitor the CPU column for about 5 mins, and note the processes that occupy the CPU during the spikes.

 

You still have not told us about hardware specs, make & model, etc., that AltBo mentioned in his first reply. In addition, how old is your laptop? Is it still under warranty? Did this problem just recently arise or has it been going on for awhile? Did you make any change (software or hardware) just before this problem started?

If you open Device Manager, do you see any yellow triangles there? Have you blown dust out of the air circulation vents?

 

OK, version is Windows 7/64 bit....HP Pavilion g6 notebook(2009--didnt get extended warranty).......AMD A4-3305M APU with Radeon HD graphics 1.9 Ghz processor.....4.0 GB of RAM--3.48 usable. I don't know which hard drive gives an accurate answer of amount of free space---local disk, recovery or HP tools? No, never cleaned out fan---problem seemed to have started all the sudden. Also; 2 other things---Shockwave flash player stalls and gives a pop-up before all videos stating stop/continue script. deleted and re-installed---no fix. Explorer.exe states still running, do you wish to force shutdown when I restart/shut down