svchost.exe using up to 90% CPU

XP Home SP2. I know that it is not unusual for a Windows PC to have numerous svchost.exe entries listed as running in the Task Manager, but there is one out of the 7 or 8 that jumps up to 50% CPU, sometimes as high as 94%, then it drops back down to 0% or 3% or 4%. It spends about a third of its time over 50%, and it just jumps around way too much. I have tried several process explorers (incl. "Process Explorer" from Sysinternals/Microsoft) and I can't seem to track down what program(s) is calling that particular svchost.exe file. Is there a way to find out what app(s) that particular svchost file is working with? Once I know what app is responsible, I can shut it down, or uninstall it, or repair it. This is on an older Gateway desktop PC (a Pentium 3 - 866mhz) so it needs all the power it can get, and having something running in the background using 50-90% of the CPU off and on is unacceptable, and makes for a very frustrating computing experience.

Thanks!

 

dlb,

Not sure if this will do exactly what you wish, but the screen shots looked promising. http://www.wiredprairie.us/journal/2006/10/how_to_identify_whats_really_r.html. Hope this helps!

 

Haven't used it in a while but I'm pretty sure Anvir Task Manager Free 5.5.1 does what you need.

There is also a Portable version.