CPU at full capacity during idle

Greenlizard0 · 5 Nov 2009 at 15:39

This is weird and has started to become a problem in the last few days while using Vista SP2.

Basically, while only a few programs are running (e.g. Opera, Winamp etc.) the CPU indicator in Windows Sidebar will show that the CPU is at full throttle. The computer as expected starts to slow down.

However upon opening Windows Task Manager and sorting out the processes by CPU, I can see my normal programs running fine, and with no more than a combined 30% usage.

This is fairly random, and there doesn't appear to be any correlating factor if that makes any sense.

Does anybody have any ideas as to what could be the problem. I am using Kaspersky Internet Security which is updated.

I have run Hijackthis which starts running and immediately returns "For some reason your system denied access to the hosts file..."

I can't save the log file for some reason; here are the logs :

Bottom part (from tick downwards isn't included in the first picture) :

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

cokecan · 5 Nov 2009 at 16:25

Greenlizard0 said:
I have run Hijackthis which starts running and immediately returns "For some reason your system denied access to the hosts file..."

I think that could be caused in Win 7 (probably vista too) if your not the actual system admin. If your using an account that has full admin rights you usually have to confirm whether you want access to areas like where the hosts file is. If a program just tries to modify it without being an admin i think it usually fails?

Someone correct me if im wrong

I guess either login as the actual system admin, or try run as admin on hijackthis?

Broken Hope · 5 Nov 2009 at 16:32

Greenlizard0 said:
I have run Hijackthis which starts running and immediately returns "For some reason your system denied access to the hosts file..."

Right click and use run as admin for the scan to complete properly.

Your best bet is to open the Resource monitor, or use something like process explorer to see what's using the CPU time. Though it could be a faulty driver so perhaps try updating your drivers if you haven't recently?

chaparral · 5 Nov 2009 at 16:34

Greenlizard0 said:
This is weird and has started to become a problem in the last few days while using Vista SP2.

I found having SP2 installed in vista 64bit hammered my system and slowed it right down....

I even did a complete system format and restalled it a second time to check it was SP2 that was slowing my system down.and it was

Greenlizard0 · 5 Nov 2009 at 17:40

Right - just ran Kaspersky and that detected nothing.

Broken Hope said:
Right click and use run as admin for the scan to complete properly.

Your best bet is to open the Resource monitor, or use something like process explorer to see what's using the CPU time. Though it could be a faulty driver so perhaps try updating your drivers if you haven't recently?

Which drivers in particular? This is a relatively new build (about two months I think).

chaparral said:
I found having SP2 installed in vista 64bit hammered my system and slowed it right down....

I even did a complete system format and restalled it a second time to check it was SP2 that was slowing my system down.and it was

Hmm, the thing is on previous installations I didn't have this problem. And up until recently neither one this one.

Destination · 5 Nov 2009 at 20:50

I am using Kaspersky Internet Security which is updated

Rootkit scanner in new version of Kasperky is b0rked, after 30 minutes it kicks in and can kill cpu cycles on some machines. Not all, but many. Uninstall Kaspersky and see if you problem goes away, switching off won't work, and the under the cover automatic rootkit scanner can't be disabled, so wait for hotfix a to launch.

Greenlizard0 · 6 Nov 2009 at 15:27

Really?

This is getting annoying. I have nothing but three browser windows open, IE, some folders and one core is hovering around the 60% mark.

Edit - I think I've cracked it. It's leaving IE open. :/

Broken Hope · 6 Nov 2009 at 16:46

I'd try process explorer to see what's hooking IE and using the CPU time.

gillywibble · 7 Nov 2009 at 11:18

I had this a while ago. It turned out to be an svchost attempting to load Microsoft update.

Try turning that off.

Broken Hope · 7 Nov 2009 at 12:54

Just out of interest what process is credited with the CPU usage in resource monitor? You can find it by going to the performance tab in task manager then go to the CPU tab in resource monitor.

Greenlizard0 · 8 Nov 2009 at 18:13

Broken Hope said:
I'd try process explorer to see what's hooking IE and using the CPU time.

Is that something seperate?

gillywibble said:
I had this a while ago. It turned out to be an svchost attempting to load Microsoft update.

Try turning that off.

Automatic updates have been turned off.

Broken Hope said:
Just out of interest what process is credited with the CPU usage in resource monitor? You can find it by going to the performance tab in task manager then go to the CPU tab in resource monitor.

I'm looking in there but can't find any extra information? :confused:

I have IE open (as said), and the page left permanently open is Sky Players. Could this be Silverlight throwing a wobbly after a while?

Destination · 8 Nov 2009 at 18:22

When you are checking for which process is tying up the cpu, I assume you've checked the usually unchecked box in task manager which states 'show all processes from all users' its possible with your reinstall this hasn't been checked yet.

MikeHunt79 · 8 Nov 2009 at 18:23

Try giving firefox portable a whirl, see if that maxes out the CPU.

Broken Hope · 8 Nov 2009 at 19:07

Greenlizard0 said:
I'm looking in there but can't find any extra information?

So under the CPU column in the performance monitor no process is using lots of cpu time?