PC's CPU at 100%!

[DUMBRIT!]

MY friends computer always starts to get jittery when he plays a game. WE found out looking at the task manager that the CPU usage is constantly at 100% BUT we couldnt see any process that was actually using any cpu usage!

So then we thought it might be some virus in the backround not showing up, but we scanned and nothing.

Finally we decided to install windows 2000 (we were running XP before), and as soon as it installed and ran, exactly the same thing happened, 100% usage but no processes using at cpu power


WTF IS GOING ON?! Its like there is some ghost in the machine eating up the cpu

-DB!

[Amok]

It sounds like you already tried this, but did you click on the CPU column in the task manager so that the list is ordered by CPU usage? The program using the most CPU % will then appear at the top (or bottom).

[Mr. Peanuts]

My friend had the same problem.
I dont know for certain what was causing this, but I do know he had a virus named "explored.exe" as a process in the task manager.

If you can't find that, then the other option I would say is reformat, because thats what he did a few days later, I don't know if that was due to the explored.exe or something else.

Also, make sure his computer's guts are clean, there could be dust obstructing the reading thingys in the RAM slot or something

[Ephemeral]

I saw something like this, but the 100% usage would drop when we pulled the ethernet cable. If this happens, then it points to a spyware issue.

Additional troubleshooting information would help. Does it do this on a fresh reboot, or is it after a application or something else is started up? Most importantly, does it do this only after he opens IE?

[Overburn]

I had some problems like this too, similar to the "explored.exe" accept my "explorer.exe" would just randomly go into overdrive and start killing my cpu. I just reinstalled xp (maby just installed, I think I had 2000 b4 but I cant remember) and it went away.

maby its the games that are causing the cpu to goto 100%?

[Delectable]

Get a spyware remover, such as Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner 1.12, its only 1mb, and it will find it all. http://www.download.com/redir?pid=10...zookasetup.exe is the link. Remove it all, keep restarting, and running it until you have nothing else found. But I doubt that is the problem. What are the specs on the computer? It sounds more like something is not working correctly, and needs to be replaced.

[Ewan]

Also sort it by memory usage, see if anything seems to be hogging that.

[DUMBRIT!]

I don't think it is a virus or spyware because the pc has no internet connection and never has.

The task manager is no help because although it shows that the CPU is being used 100%, all the processes aren't using any CPU time (it says), even the System Idle Process is at 0%.

[Ewan]

This also happens to me. What I do is when in windows task manager and in the performance tab, click on View > show kernel times. Then restart. when windows is fully loaded again get back into task manager and check CPU usage again. This has worked for me a few times. I don't think it is virus, malware etc. Because my computer also does this even after formatting and reinstalling (for other reasons)it always shows 100%. I think its just a glitch in task manager.

Hmm

[Weaver]

It sounds like spyware or a virus to me. There is one other thing worth looking at in the task manager. When you right click on a process you'll see an option to "set priority", everything should be set to "normal". If you have a programs running that aren't set to or below normal they'll eat up those GHZ. It's probably not your problem unless your buddy downloaded some sort of rediculous windows tweaking program, but its worth checking out.

[DUMBRIT!]

thanks for the help guys i'll try and do a full format and re-install XP see if it works then

[Mobey]

nice av peanuts

[Dyers eve]

Check for spyware. (Someone prolly said that already, but I am to lzay to read every post )

[Mr. Peanuts]

nice av peanuts

danke.

[DUMBRIT!]

followup - well after re-formatting and re-installing it still done it, but we disbaled the cd drives in bios and it doesnt happen now, so it must be some hardware in the cd drives that is messing it up.