Cpu 100%

Hi all. I'm running XP Pro SP2, 640 MB RAM, and AMD Athlon 1.00 GHz processor.

I'm having a CPU issue with webcams. My CPU (without cam) is averaging 50% which seems pretty high. My CPU used to average at 5%. If I turn my cam on my CPU hits 100% and freezes whatever program I am using to run it.

I was using a Logitech QuickCam Express. I thought the cam was the problem with it being so old so I bought a HP Digital Webcam yesterday, and the problem remains.

I have tried the following:
1. Uninstall/reinstall the software and drivers multiple times.
2. Checked to make sure that all of the fans are indeed on and working.
3. I ran a MemTest diagnostic diskette, and no errors were found.
4. I shut down all processes, except for the bare essentials, yet the CPU still averages 91%.
5. I spoke with tech support, and they have no idea. They said the cam shouldn't use more than 32MB of RAM.

I'm out of ideas. Can anyone help? I did a forum search for CPU, and there weren't any results.

Thank you in advance for any ideas.

 

What program is clocking the CPU at 100%?

 

I'm not sure. It clocks out anytime I initiate the cam whether it's MSN Messenger, AIM, Yahoo, Windows Movie Maker, etc.

Should I post a screenshot of my running processes when it happens (if I can of course)? It also happens when I End all of the Processes except for the necessities.

Oh, and I did a clean install of Windows about a month ago.

 

I just saw this after posting. I'll try it out. Thanks.

 

My System Idle Process is anywhere from 77 - 94.

When I turn the webcam on WLM is between 50-82.

 

Have you tried viewing your running processes using Process Explorer by Sysinternals, it might just show something different to what you are already seeing, plus it has the added bonus of being able to save results as a text file, which could be posted on here for others to look at, although the text file can be a bit of a mess.

http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

 

I haven't used Process Explorer in quite awhile. I downloaded it again, but I'm not seeing anything differnt, and the text file is jumbled like crazy. LOL I think that a screen shot would work better.

But ultimately the CPU is maxed by whatever program is trying to run the webcam. Does this mean that for some reason webcam's aren't compatible with my pc?

 

Could it be your RAM, I notice you have a strange amount, Is the largest of the sticks in the first slot? If not then maybe that is causing a bit of a slowdown as the harddrive might be coming into play more often than it should to compensate. I am guessing now tho'.

 

Why is it a strange amount? I have two 256MB cards, and one 128MB card. That totals 640MB.

I already tested my RAM as I stated above and it's fine.

I'm totally out of ideas!!!! LOL Any and all ideas are welcome.


Thank you Yugku for your ideas.

 

You obviously have good security, is Enwido using much mem when you open the task mang? (process explorer is much better)

Have you defragged lately? This may improve things slightly. Here is an app made by the same developers as the Windows onboard but a later ver and "MUCH" faster and more efficient:

http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=1207

I have no idea what WLM is but you imply it is associated with your "Cam" and thus important. I don't know much about this area as I don't use a cam for now but I wonder if you can find an app to run your cam that has a lot smaller footprint (uses less processing power). If all else fails this would be my next area of research.

 

A couple of other ques. I will assume this is a desktop by having 3 Dimm slots, is that right? Are you using onboard Vid or do you have a "dedicated" standalone Vid Card? Either way have you tried to update the Vid drivers. Not sure if this will have any merit but post back. Possibly the best option maybe to get a Vid Card so the GPU (and onbaord RAM) can take some of the load. Once again I'm not sure about this but just a thought.

 

Ewido was using some RAM and so was TeaTimer so I shut those down, still no luck. Then I Ended all Processes except for 25, which were needed. My CPU was still at 100%, then down to 85%, then back up again.

I did defrag yesterday morning using Perfect Disk 7.0. Thanks a lot for the link because my Perfect Disk was about to expire and I didn't know what I was going to use next!

Sorry, I get carried away with acronyms sometimes. Windows Live Messenger. My family lives far away so it would be nice to be able to chat with them on cam.

I was thinking the same thing, so I tried AIM, and Yahoo as well...but it was the same thing.

Thank you!

 

Yes it is a desktop. It's a standalone Vid Card, and I haven't checked the drivers on that lately, so I will definitely do that next.

How do I know what Vid Card to get so that the "GPU (and onboard RAM) can take some of the load"? I have 3 other machines, I could see about switching some stuff around. But I don't know what I would need.

Thanks for the ideas. I'll check for vid card drivers now.

P.S. I also just installed K-Lite Codecs Full Version as well just in case. I'm not sure if it would be related or not.

P.S.S. Will you share your peanut dispenser? That sounds good right now. lmao

 

http://img418.imageshack.us/img418/6317/vm3wr.th.jpg

 

Well after beating my head against a wall, and much investigation I found the culprit to my problem.

The problem was on of my RAM sticks. Even after running two diagnostic MemTests, which gave clean results...my memory was the problem.

For some reason, there is no freezing if I only use my 128MB card, but if I add either of my 256MB cards the freezing starts. What is odd is that the freezing only happens if I use a webcam.

I'm a hardware n00b so I'm not sure of the explanation behind this, but I believe in posting solutions found on forums. So! The solution has been found...I just don't understand it. LOL

Thank you everyone for your time, and ideas. It is much appreciated.

 

On a side note, is the 256 meg modules the same speed as the 128 meg module? PC100, correct?

 

Well I just double checked, just in case I remembered incorrectly.

All 3 cards are 133MHz, CL3.

Would it be worth starting a new thread about my RAM in hardware, or is it a lost cause sort of deal?

 

Oh, boy. I wouldn't know the first thing about that.

I'll start a new thread in hardware. Thanks.

 

Ahhh! I LOVE FOOTBALL!!! I'm a RAMs fan because I have to be, but MY TEAM is Greenbay all the way! w00t w00t


(I'm in hardware now)

 

Hmm, So I was not too far from the truth then when I suggested RAM problems, nice to see it was finally proved though.

 

Nope! You were right, which yes...had to be proven since the proof was leaning the other way. I have had 2 techs tell me that if the RAM diagnostic MemTest comes out fine then they are fine.

So either the diagnostic tests are not accurate, or something else is going on.

I thank you Yugku again for your ideas.

 

This would be improbable, since most ram for laptops are so-dimms. Which obviously, will not fit in a dimm slot.

 

I had a failing RAM module not long a go and would suffer intemittent data corruption.

What is the memtest app you are using? How long were the test ran for?
I was generating errors at home runni8ng memtest86 but the techs in the shop (still under warranty) could not generate errors within 1-2 passes (I had digi pics and thus they couldn't deny it was occuring) and thus let it run overnight for 25-30 passes and then started to generate errors.

When you say you removed the 2*256 RAM modules whcih slots were they in? Coarsley if you look at your mobo where they in the first slot on the right, middle slot or left slot?!?

 

I don't remember where the first memtest was from. It was given to me by a tech, and now I don't remember. I will see if he remembers. Regardless, I let that test run for about 9 hours while I slept. The second memtest came from MS. I had a BSOD which gave me an online crash analysis that suggested I run their memtest for about 30 minutes. I think that I ran that test for 1 hour. Neither test generated an error.

They were in the 2 slots closest to the processor. The 128 card being in the 3rd slot closest to the HD.