Windows XP svchost.exe using almost 100% CPU

V4nger · 29 Aug 2010 at 13:46

I turn on my laptop today to find it really slow. Task manager showed me that svchost.exe is taking up almost 100% CPU and now my CPU usage has been at a constant 100% for a couple of hours. I've looked on the internet and tried the MS patch, disabling MS Update but nothing works :confused:

It's still at 100%

I really hope you can help because I won't be getting a new laptop until Christmas.

Thanks,

Jake

vsmora · 30 Aug 2010 at 05:21

Svchost is a generic name and could be bound to any number of legitimate or malware services. Run Process Explorer from Sysinternals and check the properties for the offending instance of svchost. Google all the unfamiliar exe and dll entries on the "threads" tab. If you have dozens of busy entries on the TCP/IP tab, without intentionally running any internet apps, then you probably have a malware infection.

smogsy · 30 Aug 2010 at 10:00

had this at work for about 30 minutes then it dropped to 0% i recon it was doing maintenance to be honest.

BunnyKillBot · 30 Aug 2010 at 10:07

I dont know if its the same in XP, but if you right click the offendin svchost in task manager you can click 'Go to service' which should give you more info in the services tab

linktoinsanity · 30 Aug 2010 at 11:11

Are there any services you don't use? You could try disabling them to help with your speed issues. As far as svchost is concerned however it may sort itself out once you do this.

This article may help: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/what-is-svchostexe-and-why-is-it-running/

Ignore the fact it says Vista in the title, svchost in XP works in a very similar way.