proc goes to 55% usage, help
 

ok, my computer has been up and running smoothly for quite some time now..
quick question, though. Generally, it runs at less than 10% processor usage if surfing, chatting, watching movies, etc. Halo brings it up to about 55-60%. Sometimes, during a game of halo, everythign will be choppy and i'll look at the proc usage is up to 95-100%, not good. So i shut the game down adn close all programs and the processor useage is still at 55-60% with the system idle process showing 60-90 CPU on hte processes tab and everything else showing 00


winxp pro, 2.8ghz HT P4, 512MB 3200 ram, 80GB hd, abit is7 mobo.

Any ideas of what is going on. I can even log off and log back on and still have 55-60% useage. I have to totally restart the computer to bring it back down.

which of your running processes are using?

you aren't participating in any distributive computing or p2p programs are you?

it could also be some malware running....

Yeah, what process is it that is sucking down the CPU cycles?

no malware or spyware, i am behind a firewall and check religiously.

no p2p programs running

the last timeit happened, my only open programs were Trillian with no open chats, and the normal taskbar programs, mouse control, sound manager, vid card manager, and that's about it.

the only running process using any CPU was the system idle process at 60 and 20k of memory...

also, i can't close the system idle process....all the others are at 00, though.

system idle process just means your cpu is idle and not doing anything. i really don't think you can end that process.

on my computer, if i've got nothing going on, system idle process goes up to 99. if i run a program, say Word, for instance, the system idle process drops but Word makes up the difference.

the higher the system idle process, the better.

.... but maybe i'm not understanding the problem? post a screenshot of your task manager.

Sort your processes by the CPU column. That will tell you what is using all your cycles.

I bet you a million dollars it's some sort of malware. If that's the case, then shut it down (end process) and delete the offending exe (just make sure it really is malware and not something important).

nope, no malware, seriously...

and it's just random and only sometimes when playing halo.

no p2p progs on this computer and no detectable malware/adware.

also, i did sort by cpu usage and system idle is only thing wtih any number other than trillian at 01

Like they said before, when it DOES happen, sort the list by CPU usage and see what process is using the 30 or so %, then tell us what the name of it is.

Or, take the name of the process and put it into google and it'll tell you what that process does.

If the only process that is using time is trillian, and it's at 1%, something else has to be using the processor on that list; If what you're saying about the 'system idle process' is correct.

-SF

you have to click CPU twice to sort with the highest # on top.

system idle process is the spare clock cycles your processor has. if you have nothing going on, you'll always see at least that, and usually taskmgr.exe using a couple cycles too. Just wanna make sure you're sorting right..

http://www.pchelpsource.com/forum/pics/taskmgr.jpg

yeah, it's sorting right, and it hasnt' happened recently so i can't tell you what else is taking up cycles. just that system idle was at 99

and that's good. it means your system is sitting quietly waiting for work.

right....but my problem is that sometimes, it shows the proc usage as 55-60% and temps up to 48-50 C, but i can't find the process using any cycles

So let's see if we have this straight, when you look at the "perfomance tab" in Task Manager you see CPU Usage at 50-60%. But when you go the "Processes Tab" and sort by CPU, the only thing consuming cycles is "System Idle Process" and taskmgr.exe .

That doesn't even seem posossible to me, what if you sort by "Mem Usage?"

okay, that's very strange.

are you running a network?
is your computer attached to a shared printer?
do you have any scheduled background tasks?
do you have any other strange (possibly related) things going on with your computer?
is your computer acting as a server?
do you have a firewall?

is show processes from all users checked, and do you have admin rights to that machine?

Im having the same problem paq. Mine will go almost up to 100% and make it almost impossible just to shutdown and reboot. cant even check the processes because its running so choppy and slow. If i figure it out, ill let you know.

Check for a file called "avserve.exe" AKA the Sasser virus.

It just hit the web this weekend (I found it on my PC on Friday), and behaved very much like you are describing. Google it or just go to symantec for the fix exe.

That is what is happening exactly. When sorting by mem useage, it goes a bit differently but the things taking memory aren't taking proc cycles if i understand correctly.

To answer,
1. it is on a network with just 1 other computer. Sharing is off for this one and on for the other so i can snag older programs as i need.
2. It is attached to the other computer that is attached to the shared printer. I.e. this computer has no printer attached.
3. no scheduled tasks at all
4. Nothing really strange, just that every now and then, this problem happens.
5. not a fileserver
6. is attached to a router with a built in firewall.
no file named avserve.exe
and spived2, i'd love to help out. That's the other thing, when my computer starts acting like this, either it won't shut down, or it takes a bit longer than normal. Sometimes, though, it will reboot w/out a hitch...

Oh, and I'm the only user on this machine wtih only 1 account

when this stuff happens, check out your router/firewall logs... just to be sure that the activity isn't caused by an outsider/invader.

you've got me stumped especially if you're absolutely sure your machine is clean of any malware....

Trillian had and may still have some pretty nasty memory/process holes in its stuff. I've had these problems in the past and updating trillian solved it. I've also had similar problems with McAffee VirusScan, so if you've got that running too, I suggest killing that one.

Good luck man.

Might want to see if there is a file calle "netlink32.exe" running under proccesses as well.. its a virus. Had problems with it a few weeks ago, if you have norton antivirus, see if you can run live update. If you can, then its definately not netlink32 as it prohibits you from connecting.

gl