CPU Usage Non-Stop!

Ok here's the problem: My computer has been running crappy lately. When I brought up with Task Manager, my CPU Usage is running around 70-80%....all the time, even with nothing going on. Even when I start up the computer in Safe Mode, it's the same thing. I can't figure it out, but it's bogging down everything. I'm running Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 and I've scanned for everything using that, Ad-aware, Spy-Bot, Malwarebytes and HijackThis, and I get nothing. Here's a scan from HijackThis:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 9:57:35 PM, on 2/8/2009
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18372)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.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\explorer.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\inetsrv\inetinfo.exe
C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2009\avp.exe
C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2009\avp.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: IEVkbdBHO - {59273AB4-E7D3-40F9-A1A8-6FA9CCA1862C} - C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2009\ievkbd.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StartCCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVP] "C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2009\avp.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Advanced SystemCare 3] "C:\Program Files\IObit\Advanced SystemCare 3\AWC.exe" /startup
O8 - Extra context menu item: Add to Banner Ad Blocker - C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2009\ie_banner_deny.htm
O9 - Extra button: Web traffic protection statistics - {1F460357-8A94-4D71-9CA3-AA4ACF32ED8E} - C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2009\SCIEPlgn.dll
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\PROGRA~1\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2009\mzvkbd.dll,C:\PROGRA~1\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2009\mzvkbd3.dll,C:\PROGRA~1\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2009\adialhk.dll,C:\PROGRA~1\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2009\kloehk.dll
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: ATK Keyboard Service (ATKKeyboardService) - ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. - C:\WINDOWS\ATKKBService.exe
O23 - Service: Kaspersky Internet Security (AVP) - Kaspersky Lab - C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2009\avp.exe
O23 - Service: Lavasoft Ad-Aware Service - Lavasoft - C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWService.exe

--
End of file - 2449 bytes

I've seen countless other posts about CPU usage, but never any about it also being high in Safe Mode.

Any help would be great!

Thanks all!

 

Kaspersky seems to be mentioned frequently, you are running Windows XP on a computer you recently purchased? Amount of RAM and GHz of processor info? Imagine you are not using the tea-timer on Spy-Bot. Newer Internet Security Suites can be real resource hogs. I used Trend Micro for years, but stopped last year after purchasing and installing on three PC's in February, probably the last time I "pay for protection".:guns Believe you also have processes running at start up that don't need to be. Check msconfig and Google what is running there. If unsure uncheck item in startup and restart the PC to see. In the end I remove unneeded startup entries from the registry, listing located next to the process in msconfig. Your graphics card settings can be accessed through the control panel. Excuse my rambling, wish I could be of more assistance.:major

 

I built this computer. It has an Athlon 64 4000 San Diego 2.41 GHz with 2 GB Ram. I understand the Kaspersky can use alot, but I can close it down and the CPU is still going at 75% or so. and as I said, in Safe Mode, which has nothing extra going and video at a minimum, it's still chugging away at 75%! It's so weird.

And I have tried getting rid of as much start-up programs as I can, and that changes nothing.

One thing I'm curious about, when I pull up the Task Manager, the System Idle Process is using the 75% of the CPU (even in safe mode), when I try to end the process, I get the normal Task Manager Warning, but when I click "yes" to end it. I get an "Unable to Terminate Process" box, which says "The operation is not valid for this process" Is that normal?? And whatever process I highlight with the mouse, actually blinks with the changes in CPU usage %, it's a steady pulsing.

 

system idle is exactly what it says, if it's 75%, then 75% is idle and 25% is actually being used. you might want to use something else, like microsoft process explorer to get a better idea of what is running.

 

no, on the bottom, it says "CPU Usage: " and that is also at 80%, so I highly doubt that means that. And that still doesn't explain the processor running at 80% in safe mode. if I open anything else at the same time, it jumps to 100% and it takes at least 10 seconds for that program to open, or start. No trying to sound like a jerk, but I know my way around a computer, I just can't figure this out and I'm tired of my computer bogging down.

 

Hi MrMug,

I'm running XP Home and am on the internet. Don't have a lot loaded right now. My System Idle Process is showing '00' so, I will have to agree with you.

Good Luck, Jim

 

Still no clue! Anyone?

 

System idle is what you are not using, sure you are not looking at memory? it is right beside cpu usage. If you will look it will show how much each process is using. ed

 

ok, did I already mention that I'm not a newbie when it comes to computers. I know the difference between CPU Usage and Mem Usage. And forget those for a minute, at the bottom of the task manager, the CPU Usage is non-stop around 70 to 80%. Let me re-state: Even in Safe Mode it is running non-stop, with ZERO extras running, and with minimal drivers loaded.

Oh wait, I found a way to get the CPU to zero, if I cut the electricity off from the computer, the processor stops! I'm so bloody smart!

 

you have a reason for this process to be running?

did a search on that file, and seems to be related to slow downs ...




also, System Idle Process is what i said earlier, shows what % is idle. Attached is a shot of my task manager, its in vista, but is the same for xp, and the description says " Percentage of time processor is idle"

 

When you're looking at Task Manager, go into the processes tab and sort by CPU Usage. You'll get a real-time look at what is eating your CPU. If there is nothing being used more than 1-2% other than System Idle Process, then you have to look at other options.

Have you ruled out a bottleneck somewhere else in your system? Defrag? Chkdsk? Memtest? Spring cleaning software like CCleaner etc?

 

Hi again Mr. Mugs,

I did further checking: After booting System Idle Process runs around 90 with cpu usage about 2% for about 2-3 minutes then becomes 00.