Community Newsletter: Q&A: CPU keeps going to 100%--any suggestions to remedy?
- 2/28/08 2:46 PM
registry cleaners
by nedcain - 2/24/08 12:12 PM In reply to: CPU keeps going to 100%--any suggestions to remedy? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My computer Windows XP Home SP2 computer for 5 years has been getting slower and slower. I know my computer is not infected with spyware or viruses as I run a pretty tight ship when it comes to security. So what's next? I've always heard good things that can result from registry cleaners, but anytime some one mentions registry I cringe at the thought as I've heard that tweaking the Windows registry can easily go wrong and possibly kill my computer. Is this true? How about registry cleaners? Ultimately what can a registry cleaner do for me? Will I benefit from it? Is it safe?
CCleaner
by thephiladelphiakid - 2/24/08 12:27 PM In reply to: registry cleaners by nedcainProbably the most stable and useful one is CCleaner which is freeware. Other then that, they tend to be almost fictional. Beware spyware that claims to be registry repair software, which is rampant. I have used one other program called registryfix. But honestly, I can't say it has ever done much of anything [I think one time it may have solved a JavaScript problem with I.E., but that's about it]. The bottom-line is most problems that people attribute to the Windows registry are usually caused by other things [security software conflicts, memory hogging programs - especially security software -, etc.]. CCleaner is a nice way to do some spring cleaning, but other then that don't waste your time trying to find some magical registry repair software. Instead, focus on the individual issues you're expecting it to resolve.
CCleaner -Thanks easy to use and backup option :-)
by citroen_ds - 2/24/08 11:47 PM In reply to: CCleaner by thephiladelphiakidThanks for recommending this. I have always been afraid to touch the registry, but this is really safe, user friendly too and my computer is running smoothly.
then defrag the registry with Auslogics free tool
by gregrocker - 2/28/08 3:38 PM In reply to: CCleaner -Thanks easy to use and backup option :-) by citroen_dsAgree CCleaner is best as attested to 100% rave reviews on download.com. Hard to believe there isn't at least one user who has gotten bit with a registry cleaner, but it far surpasses the lame reg cleanup done by the builders of the registry in Windows live Safety scan. Next progression is the outstanding Auslogics Registry Defrag, as good as their disc defragger and way better than MS defrags. When you see how the turbo charge your machine, download their SpeedBooster for a looksee (15 day free trial, after which tweaks remain whether you buy it or not). I am suddenly a tweaker, and on to Tweaks VI free advanced tools.
Courses
by DADSGETNDOWN - 2/24/08 4:30 PM In reply to: registry cleaners by nedcainHere's where you should be going.
Right here on CNET they havae courses.
(Courses Home)
http://classes.cnet.com
(PC Trouble Shooting) Scroll to "Online Courses"
http://help.cnet.com/pc-troubleshooting-learning/
(Speed up Windows)
http://speed-up-windows-pc.classes.cnet.com/
You're safe with CCLEANER, Which you should have anyway, as it cleans out Temp files and loads of other things better than Internet Explorers Delete Cache and Delete Temp etc etc. and Windows Live one care, which scans reg.
Yep Registry changes are defintely something to be aware/leary of.
ALOT of reg cleaners/fixers regfix,regcleaner, regcleaner5 etc either do alot of harm/bad by using/installing adware, or virii.
Something along the same lines...
by kingconscious - 2/24/08 1:09 PM In reply to: CPU keeps going to 100%--any suggestions to remedy? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I installed Xp pro. Consistantly my processosr (AMD Athalon 64 x2 6000+) is being used between 40-50% of its capacity. I do not understand what is causing this since it is a clean install. It seems to run fine until I install the drivers for my graphics card(Nvidia Geforce 8800 GTS) then the processor spikes up to 40-50% and never comes down. I have installed all the updates from windows and nvidia, so my system should be up to date. Please help me, I am so frustrated. Oh, it was doing the same thing with vista ultimate x64 edition.
One more thing...
by kingconscious - 2/24/08 1:40 PM In reply to: Something along the same lines... by kingconsciousI forgot to mention in my post that the system idle process is hovering at 99. I don't get it.
CPU at 100%
by telephonics - 2/24/08 3:26 PM In reply to: One more thing... by kingconsciousRegistry cleaning will not, in most cases, solve the problem of the CPU being totally used up by some process. You have to determine what process is running that is at the root of this evil. You can use the Task Master Program in WinXP. When it opens click on the tab "process" and you'll be surprised as to how many processees are running. By looking at the colum under CPU you'll discern which is the culprit-simply highlight and delete it. For the more sohisticvated download a free program "System Explorer 1.3.0.762". Ity gives a much better view of what your CPU is doing.-Its free.
System Explorer 1.3.0.762 Excellent
by citroen_ds - 2/24/08 11:40 PM In reply to: CPU at 100% by telephonicsJust downloaded this from cnet. Thanks-much better than
process explorer or task manager.
Check your firewall....
by kgloffice - 2/24/08 1:31 PM In reply to: CPU keeps going to 100%--any suggestions to remedy? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Just an FYI, ZoneAlarm caused this problem on my computer due to a boot order issue. If you are using it or another firewall, check out which programs are using the CPU as per instructions from NoxTheOx and see if uninstalling, then reinstalling the firewall/bad program solves the problem. Good luck.
Go straight to the problematic item.
by cusoman - 2/24/08 6:20 PM In reply to: CPU keeps going to 100%--any suggestions to remedy? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Google "Process Explorer", download and install. Then run it and you will be able to see exactly what is taking your cpu cycles. Processes are shown with the percent CPU usage next to it. then go and kill the process. Then check for updates for the problematic program or search on forums for additional info on it. You may want to make a google search on the process...
Cheers
svchost likely to be the problem
by dkreview - 2/24/08 8:04 PM In reply to: Go straight to the problematic item. by cusomanI had the same problem some months ago, cleanned the registry, checked again for viruses & spyware with no success. The process chewing all the CPU was one of the svchost apps (Task manager-processes, you will be amazed to see the number that are running in the background!). I eventually figured out that it was something to do with IE explorer & Windows update. I found a DOS "cmd" command on a website, ran it & have not had a single problem since. Dont bother with the svchost cleanners, they do not fix the problem
Dkreview Where did you find it?
by artoshea - 2/25/08 2:17 AM In reply to: svchost likely to be the problem by dkreviewGreat start but where did you find command Dos to clean out the svchost extras?
svchost
by DADSGETNDOWN - 2/25/08 3:35 AM In reply to: Dkreview Where did you find it? by artosheaMAN O MAN,
IF you search here at the CNET forums for SVCHOST or anything simliar you will find ALOT on this subject.
From fixes and why 100% cpu occured, (mostly with the release of WSUS 3.0 in April, 07 I think it was.) and both Windows Update and Microsoft Update had the fixes( it took atleast 2 different items to fix).
beware of "svchost", it is a critical Windows program, that there
will be multiple instances of it, because of different programs that need it. Process Explorer and a little googling should help.
You will find out where the real ones are suppose to be and
others hide, and still others that use SCVHOST (which are malware) instead of SVCHOST.
You will end up taking a look at wiki and many other places.
http://forums.cnet.com/
1315 POSTS
http://forums.cnet.com/5238-7813-0.html?kw=svchost&messageType=1&tag=srchbr
if you search "just" here on cnet forums for 100% cpu you will find
44795 POSTS
http://forums.cnet.com/5238-7813-0.html?kw=100%25+cpu&select=All+CNET+Forums&forumID=&threadID=&messageType=1&tag=srchbr
I'll stop here you should get a few (thousand) hints from these 
Find it here on Cnet
by DADSGETNDOWN - 2/24/08 8:54 PM In reply to: Go straight to the problematic item. by cusomanYou can find it here on CNET DOWNLOADS.COM
http://www.download.com/Process-Explorer/3000-2094_4-10223605.html?tag=lst-1
Does a GREAT deal more than task manager.
DLL's and all linked files etc etc that are hanging.
Good product, and I believe that it will run from any folder you try it from and does NOT install like a regular program.
more like a portable device.
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