So I'm having trouble with my CPU usage being stuck at 100%

[Al Julez]

Hey, this started happening about 1-2 months ago. I'm on XP Professional and a 750 AMD w/GeForce 2 and 512 megs of ram.


When I go to Windows Explorer and click on a folder, everything would refresh and Sysmetrix would read 100% CPU usage and it would stay like that for about a minute. I close Windows Explorer, let it finish and when it's done open it back up again and everything is fine. This happens everytime I reboot.

It also happens when I optimize and analyze. I use Norton's Speed Disk and Executive Software Diskeeper. ESD will start analyzing as usual then my CPU usage will jump up to 100% for about 1-2 minutes, stop and continue analyzing, then jump up to 100% again and then finally finish analyzing. It seems to optimize fine after the analyzing period.


It seems like there is a conflict. Any solutions?

[ohs_kenneth]

Right click on the Start Bar, choose Task Manager, click the Processes Tab. This will show you all of the process that are running on your computer and the percentage of the CPU that they are eating. This information is in real time, so it changes as the processes come and go. Click on the 'CPU' column header to sort by process CPU usage (I believe that one click sorts ascending and a second click will sort descending). Keep this window in the corner or somewhere where you can see it. Watch it at the time that your processor is being pegged at 100% and you can narrow down which processes are eating it's usage. After you get the Image Name of the process that's using the processor, you can track down that application and kill it if you need to.

Hope this helps,

[Al Julez]

Weird how I uninstalled Windowblinds 4 and Windows Explorer seems to be acting fine. When I analyze with either optimizer, the same thing occurs.

The respected optimizers are what is taking up the CPU usage (did what you suggested). One day I went to analyze and it started occuring. Have uninstalled both with the same results after reinstalling.

When I start analyzing, the light will show disk activity for about 10-15 seconds, then it will stop and the CPU usage jumps to 100% for about 1-2 minutes, after following what I said above.

No viruses and no trojans, etc.. Just scanned with NAV and Trojan Remover. No spyware either; searched with Adaware and BPS Spyware Remover (while also running Spystopper).


Would really hate to format again...

[Al Julez]

Windows Explorer still does it.

I've noticed my IEs are takin up the CPU usage (with Windows Explorer and watching the processes on task manager). Like I'll have Outlook Express open with 3 IEs and WMP, then I'll bring up Windows Explorer, click on a folder and it'll do it.

I right clicked all the IEs on the taskbar and closed them real quick and it stopped whereas before I would just close Windows Explorer and wait it out. Hmmmm....

[ohs_kenneth]

Sounds like one of those UME's (unexplainable Microsoft Errors).

Hopefully there isn't something physically wrong w/ your processor, most likely it's WinXP related though.

What version of XP do you have, the original install or do you have SP1 + all of the critical updates from the Windows Update site?

A suggestion that helps me hunt down buggy problems like that is to create a new user on your computer, log in as that user, and see if you get the same problem. If you do, then it's a local machine issue. If the problem goes away, then it must be a 'wrong' setting somewhere in your original user profile. If that's the case, you can delete the *bad* profile and either recreate it or continue using the one that you setup for testing.

Hope this helps,

[bcc]

Hello,

There are two options in XP responsible for this. It is easy to fix.
Go to This Computer, right click goto properties.
choose for tab advanced, klik the settings button for visual effects, processor, memory etc.
In the screen for visual effects, choose for the last option customized.
There you can change different settings in the way XP handles different graphical things.
Deselect the two options that start with menu (nr 7 and 8 from the top) click apply, OK and try to reproduce your complaint again.
It should be gone.

Hope this solves your problem

BCC

[HansKwik]

In the past I have had my cpu max out at 100% and stay there. After doing a bit of research, I discovered that it was a Java Script that was taking over my cpu. That might be your problem as well.

Dave

[andygeeeeezer]

I had this problem also and there is an easy fix for it... check this out
Right-Click causes Decrease in Performance
SYMPTOMS
In Windows Explorer, when you right-click a file or folder, you may experience any of the following behavior:
Any file copy operation that is occurring at that time may appear to stop responding.
Network connection speed may significantly decrease.
All streaming input/output operations such as listening to music on Windows Media Player may become distorted.

CAUSE
When you right-click a file or folder in Windows Explorer, the CPU usage goes to 100 percent while the shortcut menu is displayed. It returns to the correct level when the shortcut menu is closed.

More Information and Fix
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;819101

Hope it helps it worked for me

[Al Julez]

Alright, check it out, I fixed the problem with the cpu usage going to 100% when analyzing with either optimizer. I did a disk cleanup and cleared just about 4 gigs from the system restores. It now analyzes fine (messed up fix).


The Internet Explorer problem, however still exists. Windows Explorer will refresh and if just Windows Explorer is opened, everything will be fine. If I have just one IE open, it will take up all the cpu usage (IE) when Windows Explorer refreshes. Weird.

No luck ohs_kenneth and bcc I've always had it on custom and I do not see any options that start with 'menu'. Andygeeeeezer, no right clicking is involved. I really appreciate everyones help.

I checked my system files and there were no errors. I saw something about damaged history or something but the link linking to TweakXP's site didn't work. I use WinWash on the regular though.


HansKwik, I'll most definitely look into that. Any other suggestions are most definitely welcomed. Thanks to everyone here for their help.