CPU 50% with nothing visible running

Discussion in 'Software' started by smberger, May 13, 2008.

  1. smberger

    smberger Private E-2

    PC is about 2 years old using Vista with 2 gig memory 250 gig disk space. I use it mostly with Citrix to connect to work or browsing internet.
    A couple weeks ago it started slowing down. Task manager showes around 50% CPU in the Performance tab but usage in the Processes tab shows 98 percent idle. It got to where it could take 5 minutes for a response. I tried a few things I found by googling for this problem but nothing helped.
    So I took the recover cd that came with the PC (from cyberpower) which connected to MS and it took 11 hours to complete. Based on what the Tech Support at Cyberpower told me I thought I would lose whatever files I had but most things were still there. Response was better but the cpu is still at around 50%. Resonse is slow enough that when I move a panel I see it recreated all along till where it stops.
    I had the free version of AVG all this time but I did remove it before I recovered Vista. At this point I do not know what to try.
     
    smberger, May 13, 2008
    #1
  2. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi

    When you hit CRTL-ALT-DEL and pull up the Task Manager, what process is listing as using around the 50% of your CPU time, you can also use this app to find this info out too, Process Monitor please post what files seem to be eatting up the most CPU


    Is this a laptop? if so check vents for dust, acually do it even if PC is desktop, after 2yrs the CPU fan cane get clogged with dust, even more if PC is based on floor.

    Did you on re-install of Vista, also update your main drivers as in Graphics as that could account for the slow re-draw of windows when moved.

    Also have you installed SP1 for Vista yet at all?
     
    DavidGP, May 13, 2008
    #2
  3. smberger

    smberger Private E-2

    Thanks for the reply.
    The problem is that no process shows any cpu usage. It usualy shows 98% idle and 1 or 2 on some process. The performance graph is split, I assume because it is a dual processor AMD 3800. The right side graph shows usage up to the top of the graph and the left side shows 1 or 2 percent more. But there are no processes showing any cpu usage even when I sort it by the cpu column. System idle is always on top at over 90%.

    I did not update my drivers and I do not recall if I loaded SP1 but I would think it would have loaded as part of the recovery. I can try loading it.
    The pc is pretty clean. The motherboard was replaced in September by the company I bought the PC from.
    Sam
     
    smberger, May 13, 2008
    #3
  4. smberger

    smberger Private E-2

    I ran defrag last night and it took a couple hours so I did not get to do much else. I have defrag schedule weekly so I am not sure why it ran so long. Maybe just because everything is slow.
     
    smberger, May 14, 2008
    #4
  5. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi Sam

    SP1 was not available at time your recovery disks would have been supplied with your PC, as it was only reciently this year it was released but may have been installed with a Windows Update, so to check click Start and in the Start Search box type winver and it will tell you what version you have.

    If you didnt update drivers then that would in light of no noticable service or process hogging CPU, update at least Motherboard/Chipset drivers and graphic drivers.

    If you dont know which ones to get then please download Everest Free and attach a basic log from it. To do this install and run Everest and then click Report > Report Wizard > System Summary Only > Next > Plain Text > Finish > then save to file and attach as gudie below mentions to your next post.

    A guide on how to attach the logs HOW TO: Attach Items To Your Post

    Malware is an outside chance, so have you run any malware scans if so did they find anything?

    How many startups do you have? for this CCleaner can help, download and install and then click Tools > Startup and type a list of them or post a screenshot. If you have too many startups they can bog down your PC a fair bit.
     
    DavidGP, May 14, 2008
    #5
  6. smberger

    smberger Private E-2

    Good news. My cpu is down to zero% but I do not know why. Clues.
    I shut down the electricity because I wanted to remove the side panel. When I turned it back on cpu was at zero. Response is great.

    Does this mean I have a hardware problem that will return??
     
    Last edited: May 14, 2008
    smberger, May 14, 2008
    #6

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