windows xp - XP 100% CPU on Login, by random processes

06
2013-08
  • Ro.

    Possible Duplicate:
    XP 100% CPU on Login, by random processes

    I have a serious issue on my Windexs XP machine.

    When I start it up it takes ages to login, then when I bring up task manager I find that its running at 100% CPU However, the process taking the CU are random (and there are usualy about 4 of them). They change a bit, but the CPU never drops below 100% at all.

    I have to hit the reset button and try boot again to resolve the issue, usually it takes two or three times to get a login without the problem, and then I just put the machine in standby mode when I'm not using it.

    I can't remember when this started happening, but its deffo more than a year ago.

    Its not just services though ... Things like NetMeter or TaskbarShuffle take up the CPU ... Then whenever I kill the processes, the CPU doesn't drop below 100% for even a second as some other random process takes the CPU.

    I know its not a virus ... What could it be ? Driver issue ?

    Any suggested paths for resolution would be appreciated.

    Cheers, Ro

    • Answers
  • Peter Mortensen

    The first step is to install Process Explorer (Sysinternals) in order to gather more information.

    For instance it has a hierarchical view of processes (which process started a given process, all the way back to System and explorer.exe)


    • Related Question

    windows xp - Task Manager shows 100% CPU utilization, but nothing in process list does
  • nathan

    I'm using WinXP, and I notice that in the Task Manager, on the Performance tab my CPU usage is 100%. But When I go to the Processes tab, and sort by CPU System Idle Process is taking up 90%. I've double checked that things like AVG anti-virus isn't actively scanning, and that jkdefrag is not defragging. But I know something is taking CPU cycles, because the machine is very slow. How do I determine which process is hammering the CPU if it doesn't show in the Process List?


    • Related Answers
  • Greg Hewgill

    Process Explorer is a much better tool for inspecting processes than the built-in Task Manager. While it might not answer your question completely, it may give you more insight into the problem.

  • heavyd

    Make sure that the "Show processes from all users" checkbox is checked at the bottom of the process list in Task Manager, so that all processes are show.

  • Paul Woodward

    I was having a similar problem a couple of days ago and it turned out the machine was infected with a Rootkit. Since removal things seemed to have calmed down.