Strange high CPU problem

Thanks everyone,

I tried the online virus scan... it came back clean.
Now going to try installing the dell drivers.

Charles: I dont really know a thing about page file, let alone how to recreate it

 

Hi scutter,

A long shot, but can't hurt.

Right click My computer > Properties > Advanced tab > in the Performance panel > settings > Advanced tab > bottom panel Virtual Memory: that number in MB's is the current size of the page file otherwise known as virtual memory. It should be for most users 1.5 times the size of your RAM - if physical memory = 256 MB, the page file should be 384 MB.

On the theory that its currupted, press the "change" bar > in the next panel labled virtual memory tick the "no paging file" button and then the "set" bar, then reboot. This erases the current page file.

When the system comes back up > go back into that last panel and tick the "system managed size" button and then the "set" bar and reboot again.

Regards - Charles

 

Tried the page file theory... no luck

Modemjunki: You recommend using the dell drivers from the website, did this fix a similar problem to what i have?
Which drivers do you recommend using because i can only find one that seems to be of any use; the latest video one. There doesn't appear to be a chipset driver for XP

 

I replied to a PM on this, yes installing "latest" drivers has cured it.

Other possibilities: file indexing service, and a known bug in Outlook (2000).

 

Bah, my chipset theory didn't pan out.



I suggested Process Explorer from SysInternals

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

 

Thanks anyway modemjunki...

Fed up now, going to reformat again a different way to see if the problem goes. Still have no idea what is wrong!

 

Don't forget to fdisk and delete and remake the partition first. Let us know if reinstall solves the problem, please.

 

I could be wrong, but I don't think FDISK works in XP.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];Q255867

Johanna

 

Well, you are sorta right but ..... also sorta wrong. Sort of.

Fdisk has no clue about NTFS. However, it does see it as a 'foreign' partition and as such, can be told to remove the partition without knowing anything about it except where it is. It can do the same thing with a Linux partition.

Fdisk does see FAT partitions independent of the OS involved.

The key here is to boot from a floppy containing fdisk and you then have full and free access to the hard drive(s).

However, if I were doing all this from XP I think I'd boot from the XP CD to the recovery console and use DISKPART or possibly let the XP CD run to the format section and remove from there.

 

I just like the simple easy familiar fdisk; I wasn't sure you can make and delete partitions in RC; you have to write the partition table twice and I suspect RC won't do that.

 

Right...

I tried reformatting and installing XP again but the problem was the same...
I then formatted again and installed Windows 2000, which worked perfectly!!
I then tried installing XP again but it went back to the same problem.

This leads me to believe that it is indeed some sort of driver needed for XP but i dont know what it is!
I am still confused as to why it used to work with XP but not now

 

Have you installed all the updates/patches and service packs again since you reinstalled XP?

 

Yeah all the ones i know of, there doesnt appear to be a chipset driver for my system for XP though and that might be the problem... will try to contact Dell.

I still can't figure out why this has happened this format though when it has been fine before!