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100% CPU Usage... always

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by nyi803, 2007/12/15.

  1. 2007/12/15
    nyi803

    nyi803 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi,

    First of all I am new here but this appears to be a great place, so I look forward to joining the community.

    Now more importantly, I have an HP Pavilion 4000c notebook that is about 2.5 years old and running Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.

    I have had great luck with it so far with very few problems. However, recently (within the last month or so) I have noticed a significant drop in computer speed. Menus and folders take a while to load and programs often become non-responsive.

    When I do CTRL+ALT+DEL and select performance, my computer ALWAYS shows 100% CPU usage. I have gone through the list and closed all processes under my user name, so that I have the bare minimum running at one time, but it still always shows 100% usage. Also, due to this problem, my computers fan always runs on a medium-high speed to keep the computer cool. (I can tell this by the constant noise it makes). I am afraid it will burn itself out eventually by doing this and never am able to leave my computer on while not at my desk for fear of unnecessarily using the fan.

    Has anyone every experienced this problem? I do not know what to do. I take decent care of my computer ( I run spyware checks every few weeks and defrag the harddrive once in a while as well). Any ideas of what is going on and how to solve it?

    Thanks a lot in advance

    Chris
     
    nyi803,
    #1
  2. 2007/12/15
    mailman Lifetime Subscription

    mailman Geek Member

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    Hi, Chris. Welcome to Windows BBS! :)

    Since your laptop is 2.5 years old and you implied you may have often left the laptop turned on for extended periods of time in the past, I suspect you might have excessive dust in the vents, fans, and CPU heat sink. Excessive dust will diminish the cooling capabilities of your hardware.

    I'm not sure about how to safely clean a laptop so I defer those suggestions to other people. (I have never disassembled a laptop beyond replacing a screen.)

    Under the "Processes" tab in Windows Task Manager, are any individual processes (other than "System Idle Process ") identified as using a large percentage of your CPU? If so, what process(es) is/are identified?
     
    Last edited: 2007/12/15
    mailman,
    #2


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  4. 2007/12/15
    nyi803

    nyi803 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Under the "Processes" tab in Windows Task Manager, are any individual processes (other than "System Idle Process ") identified as using a large percentage of your CPU? If so, what process(es) is/are identified?[/QUOTE]


    Honestly, all of the system processes are fairly low in CPU usage. Most are 2500 or less. The only one that is above 3000 is svchost.exe which is using 13,000 something.
     
    nyi803,
    #3
  5. 2007/12/15
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Chris
    I think you are confusing memory usage with CPU usage in %. If the CPU column is not showing go to View > Select Columns.
     
    PeteC,
    #4
  6. 2007/12/15
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    You may have some infection.
    How is your security status?
     
    broni,
    #5
  7. 2007/12/15
    nyi803

    nyi803 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Oh you are right. Sorry about that. Ok as for CPU... CCAPP.EXE is using about 95% of the CPU. Its a user file but the only one that I cannot delete (other than explorer.exe obviously).

    Is this abnormal?

    Also, as for my security status, its definitely sub par, but I was unaware that an infection could cause these problems. Thanks though for pointing that out.
     
    nyi803,
    #6
  8. 2007/12/15
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    CCAPP.EXE is part of your Norton antivirus.

    I'd recommend...

    1. Run free online scan at: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
    Post HouseCall log.

    2. Download and scan with SUPERAntiSpyware Free for Home Users:
    http://www.superantispyware.com/

    Print this instructions out.

    SUPERAntiSpyware should be run in Safe Mode.(restart computer, and keep tapping F8 key, until menu appears; pick Safe Mode; you'll see "Safe Mode" in all four corners of your screen)

    * Double-click SUPERAntiSpyware.exe and use the default settings for installation.
    * An icon will be created on your desktop. Double-click that icon to launch the program.
    * If asked to update the program definitions, click "Yes ". If not, update the definitions before scanning by selecting "Check for Updates ". (If you encounter any problems while downloading the updates, manually download and unzip them from here: http://www.superantispyware.com/definitions.html.)
    * Under "Configuration and Preferences ", click the Preferences button.
    * Click the Scanning Control tab.
    * Under Scanner Options make sure the following are checked (leave all others unchecked):
    o Close browsers before scanning.
    o Scan for tracking cookies.
    o Terminate memory threats before quarantining.
    * Click the "Close" button to leave the control center screen.
    * Back on the main screen, under "Scan for Harmful Software" click Scan your computer.
    * On the left, make sure you check C:\Fixed Drive.
    * On the right, under "Complete Scan ", choose Perform Complete Scan.
    * Click "Next" to start the scan. Please be patient while it scans your computer.
    * After the scan is complete, a Scan Summary box will appear with potentially harmful items that were detected. Click "OK ".
    * Make sure everything has a checkmark next to it and click "Next ".
    * A notification will appear that "Quarantine and Removal is Complete ". Click "OK" and then click the "Finish" button to return to the main menu.
    * If asked if you want to reboot, click "Yes ".
    * To retrieve the removal information after reboot, launch SUPERAntispyware again.
    o Click Preferences, then click the Statistics/Logs tab.
    o Under Scanner Logs, double-click SUPERAntiSpyware Scan Log.
    o If there are several logs, click the current dated log and press View log. A text file will open in your default text editor.
    o Please copy and paste the Scan Log results in your next reply with a new HijackThis log.
    * Click Close to exit the program.
    Post SUPERAntiSpyware log.

    3. Download HijackThis:
    http://www.snapfiles.com/get/hijackthis.html
    Post HijackThis log.
     
    broni,
    #7

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