windows xp - Diagnosing Hardware Interrupt Process Usage Problem on Dell Dimension

06
2014-04
  • JDB

    I've got a 5 year old Dell Dimension running WinXP SP3 that's really chugging along - Process Hacker (and Windows Task Manager) both report abnormally high Interrupt CPU usage. This ranges from 10-70%. I've read some about DMA vs PIO problems - are there other issues that can cause this kind of hardware interrupt spike in CPU usage? Where would one start?

    Thanks, JDB

    • Answers
  • Moab

    See this thread for instructions

    http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/140263-how-to-get-the-cause-of-high-cpu-usage-by-dpc-interrupt/

  • Joe

    The performance toolkit, xperf tool usage is limited on XP, because the function stackwalk wasn't implemented yet on XP. So no , it would not work on xp.


    • Related Question

    windows xp - Suggestions for troubleshooting intermittent power failures <DELL Dimension Desktop>
  • JDB

    I have an aging Dell Dimension 4700 (Windows XP SP3) that reports a Dell 0M3918 motherboard with a Prescot Pentium 4 (2.8GHz) CPU. After several power outages, the machine is not stable. It will run for 2 - 12 hours at a stretch after which, it will reboot (not clear whether CPU usage correlates to reboots). The reboots occur without warning (no blue screen or similar) and are not logged in System Events.

    I've looked elsewhere for ideas on isolating this problem to the power supply, CPU, GPU or any other single component, but am without an answer. OCCT won't test my power supply (since my GPU is an integrated Intel). Any ideas on isolating this problem to a particular component or has anyone had similar failures?

    Thanks, JDB


    • Related Answers
  • user14497

    this is a hardware issue. something on the mobo is fried. i have my 2 laps exactly like yours and i have dumped them... in the storage room.

  • CAD bloke

    Firstly, turn off automatic reboots on crashes ... right-click my computer -> properties -> advanced -> startup and recovery -> untick "automatically restart". Now you will see the BSOD message which may point to the problem.

    I had this problem with my wife's PC recently and traced it to the fridge starting. Dodgy rental-house wiring! I bought a $100 UPS. Problem solved. The UPS clicks away every now and then to prove I did actually need it afterall. MY PC was always ok - had a UPS on it for years. A power filter may or may not give you the same results but hey, the UPS wasn't that expensive.

  • hanleyp

    If wiggling the VGA plug causes your system to shut down, then you probably have a short on the plug or on the motherboard connector. Inspect both to make sure there are no bent pins and the shield has the correct shape.

    Have you tried reinstalling the OS? Most hardware can handle power outages (but have problems with power surges), but the hard drive data can get corrupted during unexpected power failures.

  • Wang Dingwei

    CPU or MB overheat may cause such problems. Try monitoring the system and see if the temperature goes too high.

    You can try Everest for monitoring system temperature. It's not free, but there is a 30 day trial version for you to download.