Task Manager uses 30% of CPU

This is probably an old issue and I've been researching it for the past week and am now putting in a cry for help.

I've got a Dell Inspiron 8500 laptop (768mb memory) with a permanantly active CPU (even with no apps running and just the desktop open)! Task manager shows taskmgr.exe using 30%-40% CPU everything else very small (0%-2%)! As soon as I run ANY app CPU usage shoots to 100%.

I've tried/done the following:
* De-activaed System Restore and cleared all restore points
* Run Chkdsk, Defrag & DiskCleanUp
* Minimised the number of services according to Black Vipers checklist
* Run Kaspersky AVP, Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy - All clean
* Checked my memory with MemTest86
* Deleted all items under Scheduled Tasks
* Run HJT and submitted results to www.hijackthis.de for analysis - all ok

All I've done in the last week or so is to add Everest Ultimate Edition 2006 and SiSoftware Sandra Engineer XI. Both seem to be working fine.

Any help appreciated. Thanks

 

Try
Process Explorer. http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4566

 

I forgot to mention I use process explorer too. With desktop, task manager and process explore only running, PE shows taskmanager using 30%-35%, process explorer using 10-15% and explorer, services and svchost all using less than 5%.

Thanks

 

What do you mean by "Task Manager"?
Do you mean Windows Task Manager?

If so, why run both, PE does the job better, IMHO.

What is the actual name of the Process, as it appears under "Process" in PE?
What is the Description as it appears under "Description" in PE?
What is the Company Name (if any)?

PE in my system only uses less than 1%. I have over 60 processes loaded when I am connected to MG, but total CPU usage is less than 10% total.

Please provide system specs, age of PC, total RAM installed, free space on hard drive, OS (XP, W98, ME.etc), it might help.

Due to time differences I might not be back for another 24 hours.
Anyone else, please step in. Bazza

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