Windows Vista: 100 percent CPU usage caused by SVCHOST process, need help
- 4/24/09 5:12 PM
100 percent CPU usage caused by SVCHOST process, need help
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 4/24/09 5:12 PM
Question:
Hi, I am most frustrated by a process that takes the CPU to 100 percent use and then lets it drop back to about 50 percent every couple of seconds, which seems to run while my Vista 32BIT computer is idle with no programs actually running other than Windows. The usage report shows the offending "thing" to be "svchost," whatever that is-–but it can hog up to 78 percent of the CPU, making everything else run like it was an old 286! Can you please tell me what this process is? Is it something I can disable? How I can fix this very frustrating problem! Thank you.
Submitted by: James T.
Here are some featured member answers and link to articles to get you started, but
please read all the advice and suggestions that our
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Possible Solution on 100 Percent CPU Utilization --Submitted by gwiljr
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12546_102-0.html?messageID=3028420#3028420
100 percent CPU usage caused by SVCHOST process --Submitted by callmebond
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12546_102-0.html?messageID=3027123#3027123
Check your system thoroughly for viruses and adware --Submitted by darrenforster99
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12546_102-0.html?messageID=3027183#3027183
Here's the solution --Submitted by chazzsubscribe
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12546_102-0.html?messageID=3027032#3027032
What is svchost.exe and why is it running?
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/what-is-svchostexe-and-why-is-it-running/
Stop svchost.exe from stealing CPU cycles
http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-9865052-12.html
Read all member contributions to this topic
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If you have any additional advice for James, please click on the reply link and post it. Please be as detailed as possible in your answer. Thanks!
Turn off some unnecessary windows services
by chadwicksean - 4/17/09 5:48 PM In reply to: 100 percent CPU usage caused by SVCHOST process, need help by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
In the control panel, you can select 'Administrative Tools > Services' and turn off some of those unnecessary services that run constantly. Just right click the ones that are not vital and select properties. Change the type to 'manual' from 'automatic' to prevent these services from starting up at boot time. Be careful not to turn off vital services like Windows and virus software components. Below is an old CNET article about turning off Windows XP services.
http://reviews.cnet.com/ipod/9602-12576_7-0.html?messageID=2505922
-SC
Try identifying the related process
by Serenity3000 - 4/17/09 6:03 PM In reply to: 100 percent CPU usage caused by SVCHOST process, need help by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hello, James - svchost is a wrapper application used by system services. It sounds like your machine may be doing its normal indexing, but to find out which process is actually running inside the instance of svchost, right-click on the toolbar and select "Task Manager."
Click on the Processes tab and then click on the CPU column to sort by CPU activity. Find the svchost with the high CPU usuage, right-click its name, and then click "Go to services." It will switch to the Services tab, and the process involved with that copy of svchost will be highlighted. You may need to scroll down to it, but the left-hand column will show the name of the process.
If it's not apparent from the name and the description of the service, enter the process name in Google and do a search for it. Once you know the name of the service, you'll have a better chance of dealing with it.
Try identifying the related process
by 7sinewave32 - 4/24/09 8:25 PM In reply to: Try identifying the related process by Serenity3000> . . . right-click its name, and then click "Go to services."
When I right click on a service it only gives me:
"End process"
"End process tree"
"Debug" (greyed out)
"Set priority>"
Do I have to do some configuration to get "Go to services" ?
Trojan or Virus problem
by GR-TEK - 4/17/09 6:04 PM In reply to: 100 percent CPU usage caused by SVCHOST process, need help by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
This problem is almost always caused by a Virus or trojan.
Even though you probably have an Anti-Virus program running, nothing is 100%.
The only way to deal with this problem is to do a full reinstall of Vista.
Below is a link to a site where they have step by step instructions on how to fully reinstall Vista
www.vistahelp.com.au
Not always virus or trojan
by straussbyte - 4/21/09 9:09 AM In reply to: Trojan or Virus problem by GR-TEKWhile this can indicate a virus or trojan, which is most likely using network services, it can be plenty of legitimate tasks as well. I wouldn't go straight to reinstall of the OS without at least looking around a little. I've actually seen this issue with svchost more often be legitimate tasks than malware. See my other post about using sysinternal tools to figure out what specific task is causing svchost to have high utilization. Even Windows auto updates can cause this problem, while it is downloading the patches.
do a full reinstall of Vista
by boblasher - 4/25/09 7:53 PM In reply to: Trojan or Virus problem by GR-TEKlike cutting off your arm because you cut your finger badly.
How about attempting to scan and fix with all the tools that are available.
I had to reinstall xp 3 months ago and I'm still getting programs reinstalled that I lost. I work on my computer about 5 hours every day.
No, You can't disable it!
by rumager - 4/17/09 6:08 PM In reply to: 100 percent CPU usage caused by SVCHOST process, need help by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol provides a framework for passing configuration information to hosts on a TCPIP network.
Go to Windows Website to fix it. I have a laptop here to fix that has 5 running but not, It's stopped and can't Manually start it. Admin. Password and the accounts don't match. The lady kept changing internet serve.It fouled it up. It's take it back to factory out of the box state. Goes to Windows Support and read the Bullitins and the registry hacks should help and if its a HP get rid of the HP Center?
SVCHOST
by OldPhotoBuff - 4/17/09 6:16 PM In reply to: 100 percent CPU usage caused by SVCHOST process, need help by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
That is a generic Host Process for Win32 Services. I don't use Windows 7 or even Vista - I still use XP. So, I have no idea why it should sop up so much CPU time. I used "What's Running" and in XP it occasionlly uses a very small bit of CPU time. I have, in fact 5 instances of it running, presumably for 5 different windows service running. I'd almost bet that some different program is used in Win7 and that this might just be left over from whatever (XP or Vista) you had before. Look in the Win 32 directory for it and maybe for something like it.
100 percent CPU usage caused by SVCHOST process, need help
by jdp06 - 4/17/09 6:18 PM In reply to: 100 percent CPU usage caused by SVCHOST process, need help by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
You said you are using Vista?
That's the problem, get rid of it and use XP and your usage issues will be over!
svchost problem happens with XP also
by TinaBelle - 4/20/09 3:21 PM In reply to: 100 percent CPU usage caused by SVCHOST process, need help by jdp06I'm running Windows XP and have the same exact problem. Although I know I'm not supposed to, I have several times just highlighted the offending svchost process and "stopped" it (sorry, I can't remember exact term). I get a warning not to do it, but I do and can get a few hours or more of better operating speed before it'll start interfering again. An earlier search faulted Norton 360 (which I do use) for the problem. But I haven't yet tried to uninstall it and won't until I'm sure Norton's to blame and/or I find a good cheap anti-virus substitute.
svchost and Norton anti virus
by chrisglewis - 4/24/09 7:16 PM In reply to: svchost problem happens with XP also by TinaBelleI have had nothing but trouble with Norton anti virus so I have changed to AVG anti virus and Interner Security and I love it !!
It is available at http://www.avg.com/ I am using windows XP.
Norton
by Tech Boy Stevo - 4/24/09 7:58 PM In reply to: svchost and Norton anti virus by chrisglewisAgreed. Norton is a resource hog that eats up memoory and computer usage. It bogs down Internet speed, and is the first thing I delete on a new computer.
Like you my wise friend - I use AVG Free. It has a small footprint, and has stopped every virus/trojan butt cold.
If it is a virus...
by ChrisK1 - 4/25/09 10:58 AM In reply to: svchost problem happens with XP also by TinaBelleI had an actual rootkit that drove me nuts. AVG wouldn't touch it. I found one of the best programs on the planet as a result. It couldn't get rid off all the files, but, amazingly, it, at least, found them all! You can download it from CNet. Search Google for "malwarebytes free" and get it. If the SVCHOST thing isn't a virus, at least you got a really excellent malware program to supplement your virus scanner. It's really fast, too.
Definately Norton
by nrogers69 - 4/27/09 9:23 PM In reply to: svchost problem happens with XP also by TinaBelleI actually had this exact same issue. It began when I installed what at the time was the latest Norton (2007) and went away when I uninstalled Norton and switched to Macafe. If you have Comcast internet service, they provide Macafe for free. I have had no viruses or svchost issues since.
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