CPU Usage spiking to 100%

[HCBlankscreen]

Lately a problem that I had before has started to happen again. My computer has been spiking to 100% with the task manager saying it's System Idle Process. Before I had to disable something that had to do with plug and play detection but I can't remember what exactly. I'm running XP so if someone could help me out it'd be greatly appreciated.

[ScottyGB2K]

Do you have any USB devices attached to the computer?

I had the same problem and found out that it was my USB Modem/Router. Once unplugged the CPU usage went down. I have had the same problem with USB printers.

If it is a problem with one of your USB devices then i found simply removing the hardware and re-adding it fixed the problem.

[dunedin]

That is normal

System Idle Process displays how much of CPU Resources, as a percentage are 'idle' and available for use. Cannot be killed

http://www.devhood.com/messages/mess...hread_id=30874

Elaine

[SuperSparks]

Yep, a high value for the System Idle Process is a good thing, not a bad one. Right at the bottom of this page is an explanation of it (it's the same in Win2000 and XP):

http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/boo...chap/4354c.asp

[HCBlankscreen]

It has only started to affect my gaming now though. Any game I play will hickup when the processes reach 100% and this hasn't happened until recently.

[SuperSparks]

Well you need to identify what process it actually is. Open Task Manager, go to the Processes tab and in View>Select Columns. Choose CPU and CPU Time. Click the CPU column header twice, and it will put the most heavily used process at the top. Ignore System Idle Process (it will have a low value whenever another process has a high value). CPU Time is a quite useful metric for seeing what is using the CPU over a long period - anything using a lot of cycles will ratchet upm the time value quite quickly.

[HCBlankscreen]

Originally posted by SuperSparks
Well you need to identify what process it actually is. Open Task Manager, go to the Processes tab and in View>Select Columns. Choose CPU and CPU Time. Click the CPU column header twice, and it will put the most heavily used process at the top. Ignore System Idle Process (it will have a low value whenever another process has a high value). CPU Time is a quite useful metric for seeing what is using the CPU over a long period - anything using a lot of cycles will ratchet upm the time value quite quickly.

The process behind System Idle which uses the most CPU over time is WToolsA.exe.

[SuperSparks]

Aha, you have a nasty on your system. Do a full Antivirus scan, here are three good online ones if you need them or want a second opinion:

Housecall

Panda Online scan

eTrust Web Scanner

Then run these two spyware removal programs, after updating the definitions:

Spybot S & D

Adaware

Then unzip this program into its own permanent folder, run it and post the logfile in our Hijack This Logfile forum here:

Hijack This

Virtual Dr Hijack This Forum

Please read these instructions before posting logfiles:

http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...hreadid=167915

[HCBlankscreen]

Okay I got it solved. I had to go into safe mode and delete WinTools whatever all that stuff was but yeah, problem solved. Thanks for the help everyone.

[bamwa1]

Well you need to identify what process it actually is. Open Task Manager, go to the Processes tab and in View>Select Columns. Choose CPU and CPU Time. Click the CPU column header twice, and it will put the most heavily used process at the top. Ignore System Idle Process (it will have a low value whenever another process has a high value). CPU Time is a quite useful metric for seeing what is using the CPU over a long period - anything using a lot of cycles will ratchet upm the time value quite quickly.

I'm having the same problem - when I checked my cpu time the file that stood out is called avgrsx.exe - does that mean I have a nasty also? Adaware scans show nothing, but a 'freebie' registry scan showed 90+ problems and wanted $$ to fix them. Worth it? Please help if you can Thanks

[Steve R Jones]

Do you have an anti virus software called AVG on your system? If so, avgrsx.exe is part of it.

[fink]

re: registry cleaner.

Not worth it.

None of them are, even freebies.

Registry cleaners are not necessary on Windows XP and newer
and they are more likely to do damage than anything else.

[bamwa1]

Thanks for the info re:registry scans. Yes, I do have that antivirus software. Maybe I should start from the beginning: What I am experiencing is a problem where at random times, while online only, and only while using the keyboard, my Dell Inspiron 1100 simply freaks out, and the screen jumps around , switches back & forth between open screens, gets smaller & larger, etc. I can hold down the delete button & this fixes it for a moment, but it always returns. I have also noticed that whenever this is happening, the cpu usage spikes dramatically. When I found this thread, I did what you guys told the other guy to do, ie: checking the cpu time, and it showed that antivirus program as the highest time user. Does that mean it is the problem? Should I get rid of it?

[jdc2000]

I have seen the problem you describe occur, and in my experience, it is due to Internet Exploder sucking up all of the available system resources. The only cure is a reboot. I have had this happen when I had too many browser windows open on VirtualDr. The CPU usage is just a result. Of course, if you are visiting questionable sites, that can cause other issues.