"Shell hardware detection" service using up 80% CPU

rudeboymcc · 24 Feb 2008 at 11:33

HI. I've got Vista Ultimate on a Sony C1S laptop. Only noticed this problem recently, but when i open task manager, the CPU usage fluctuates between 40% and 100% very quickly. I've narrowed it down to a "shell hardware detection" service".

all it says for it is:"provides notification for autoplay hardware events".

But there's no extra hardware connected to it. All the drivers for it are from sony's website and this didn't happen a few weeks ago.

when I stop this service all is well but it sounds like an important one.

rudeboymcc · 25 Feb 2008 at 20:46

Does no one have any idea? I've tried a virus scan, i tried avgs scan for malware, bazooka scan for trojans. nothing found.

Fr0dders · 26 Feb 2008 at 13:44

sorry no, i looked at this the first time and didnt have anything to suggest

its not something ive come across. It does sound important. id disable the service and see what happens. Its unlilkely to render the system unusable, it sounds like it's responsible for new hardware detection

run a system restore beforehand just to be sure. Im guessing you've got a device it doesnt understand its constantly looking for drivers for or something

so id try removing stuff and see what makes it go away.

rudeboymcc · 26 Feb 2008 at 15:12

The problem is it's a laptop and it does it with no external devices connected, and i can't start removing things to check what's causing the problem.

I am disabling the service every time i start the laptop, but it needs to run for the laptop to connect to the docking station properly.

all devices in device manager seem to have no problems. how else can i check what doesn't have good drivers?

Fr0dders · 26 Feb 2008 at 15:44

id back everything up and re-format personally. the lack of responses on here indicates its not a common issue. And im guessing windows sees the docking station as new hardware when connected. So when you turn the service off, it doesnt discover your dock.

rudeboymcc · 26 Feb 2008 at 16:03

Would service pack 1 reinstall all the services? I may wait for it if it does surely that's gonna be out soon?

thing is i don't have an image of my hard disk with all my programs instaleld, adn I use it for programming in loads of languages so it will take ages to reconfigure them all!

Fr0dders · 26 Feb 2008 at 20:04

it can only be worth a try and see if that avoids having to reformat.

rudeboymcc;11181201 thing is i don't have an image of my hard disk with all my programs instaleld said:
dont sony provide a recovery CD ? most prebuilt laptops these days have a disc that put its back to how it was out of the shop. I know you're going to have to re-install all your programmes again, but its a lot quicker than installing windows and installing all your drivers etc.. again manually.