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Resolved Puzzlingly high CPU usage

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by kosketus, 2010/01/08.

  1. 2010/01/08
    kosketus

    kosketus Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hello

    I'm wondering if someone might be able to pinpoint for me a possible source for what I take to be excessively-high cpu usage. In Task Manager I have no applications shown as running, yet my cpu usage is at or above 50% constantly. I have a dual-core processor rated at 2.2 GHz; the two cores' traces are mirror-images of each other, with one trace at the bottom of its chart and the other at the top of its.

    Does anyone recognise this behaviour-pattern as a classic symptom of some particular kind of malfunction?

    ASRock 4CoreDual-SATA2 motherboard
    VIA PT880 Pro/VT8237S chipset
    Intel Core2 Duo E4500 2.2 GHz
    Graphics Asus EN210 PCI-E x 4
    GPU: GeForce 210
    LG Flatron L194WT digital monitor
    2048 MB DDR2 dual channel memory
    Samsung SATA 160GB HDD
    Samsung SATA 230GB HDD
    Samsung Superwritemaster IDE multi-drive
    Creative Audigy2 soundcard
    TechnoTrend TV stick USB DVB-T card
    O/s: XP Home SP3
     
    Last edited: 2010/01/08
    kosketus,
    #1
  2. 2010/01/08
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    What about Processes?

    How many are running? Hit the CPU key to toggle CPU usage sort order - what is hogging the CPU?
    It may be a symptom of malware at work.
     
    PeteC,
    #2


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  4. 2010/01/08
    kosketus

    kosketus Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi PeteC

    Heading the list is my anti-virus app (AVG free). I think I'm going to uninstall and reinstall it before I try anything else. Will report results
    I just ran Spybot and got only tracer and other cookies (which I removed).
     
    kosketus,
    #3
  5. 2010/01/08
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Spybot is past it's sell by date and not recommended by our Malware Analysts - current recommendations are Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware. As always update before running.

    You did not answer this question ....
    Processes that is.
     
    PeteC,
    #4
  6. 2010/01/08
    kosketus

    kosketus Inactive Thread Starter

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    Well, that seems to have fixed it. I suspect that there was some malfunctioning in one of the AVG componenets ( "Resident Shield ") which although shown as ' inactive' was nevertheless running. Whether or not this was the source of the problem I don't know for sure but Resident shield is now 'active' and all seems to be well
     
    Last edited: 2010/01/08
    kosketus,
    #5
  7. 2010/01/08
    kosketus

    kosketus Inactive Thread Starter

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    Sorry - 47.

    Is this significant?
     
    kosketus,
    #6
  8. 2010/01/08
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    47 is not significant - par for the course :) A much higher value would have triggered further advice re. unnecessary startup programs.

    Hope your problem is resolved!

    If so please mark the thread as Resolved .....
     
    PeteC,
    #7
  9. 2010/01/08
    kosketus

    kosketus Inactive Thread Starter

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    Unfortunately I spoke too soon :(

    After a brief interlude exactly the same pattern as before has been resumed. The culprit again seems to be AVG anti-virus, which tops the CPU league at 50. CPU usage registers > 53% with the same completely uneven distribution between the two cores as before. My theory about Resident Shield seems to have been unfounded because now ir's enabled and that hasn't made any difference.

    Is this something I just have to tolerate as the price of (free) anti-virus protection? But, if so, I never noticed it before and I've been running AVG for years.

    One thing that has recently changed is that I've installed a new PCI-E graphics card, replacing my former AGP card. My mobo only has PCI-E x 4 (maximum). Could this have any bearing on CPU performance?
     
    kosketus,
    #8
  10. 2010/01/08
    Jilly

    Jilly Inactive

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    i just recalled I had similar issue when I was still running AVG. Software conflict via one of its builds, as I came to over much delving.

    May I recommend you not go back to it but rather try Avira? That is what I did and it put everything right.
     
    Jilly,
    #9
  11. 2010/01/08
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    AVG is known for those and other kind of issues.
    Use AVG Remover to get rid of it: http://www.avg.com/us-en/download-tools

    Your other options:

    - Avira free antivirus: http://www.free-av.com/en/download/1/avira_antivir_personal__free_antivirus.html
    - Avast! free antivirus: http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

    - free Comodo Internet Security (firewall + AV): http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
    NOTE. During installation, Comodo will also allow you to install AV only, or firewall only, if you prefer to combine one Comodo product with some other product.

    If you decide to install Avast, or Avira, make sure, Windows firewall is turned on, or use Comodo firewall..
    If you decide to install Comodo Internet Security, or just Comodo firewall, make sure, Windows firewall is turned off.

    IMPORTANT! Make sure, you use only ONE antivirus, and ONE firewall.
     
    broni,
    #10
  12. 2010/01/08
    Jilly

    Jilly Inactive

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    Where was Broni when I needed him like 2 years ago??? lol It's OK....learning to figure stuff out has an upside.
     
    Jilly,
    #11
  13. 2010/01/09
    kosketus

    kosketus Inactive Thread Starter

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    Many thanks to all concerned for the prompt and effective help given!
     
    kosketus,
    #12
  14. 2010/01/09
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    :)...
     
    broni,
    #13

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