Can it be software problem if CPU usage remains always at 100%??

[Guest_imported]

The CPU Usage in my system ( Celeron 900 & Win98 SE , Microstar mobo 6337 v5.0 ) is shown to be 100% all the time , even when I shut off all running program using Ctrl+Alt+Del ( except Systray and Explorer ). So far, the PC is running O.K. I used 2 different monitoring softwares and they both indicated the same 100% CPU usage !!

The CPU temperature hovers at 49 to 51 degrees Celcius and Chassis temps is at 42 degrees C. Even when I shutoff then turn on the following morning, CPU usage is still at 100% right off the bat with every items in "msconfig" start-up unchecked !

It's interesting to note that the system is running O.K. and the CPU usage at start-up is 0% under "Safe mode" !!

What can be a cause of this problem ? How can I fix it ?

 

[crisc]

Hmm. There's definately something odd going on with your PC, but if you aren't having any problems, why worry?
I am suspect of the monitoring programs you are using to track this information. Especially it it measures "0%" in Safe Mode.
Windows NT/2000/XP has a utility built in to measure CPU utilization, and it also tracks "system idle process", which is all the unused processing potential. Adding the unused percentage to the percentage that is being used should yield 100%, perhaps the software you are using is measuring it this way?

 

[cdogg]

Looks like you're riding on the edge of formatting/clean install of Win98SE. It may sound like a last resort, but it might save you time trying to find the culprit.

Simply reinstall each app one reboot at a time to find out which one is causing your problem.
~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein

 

[Guest_imported]

Thanks,crisc, for your discussion. The same monitoring software showed a varying CPU usage before . The problem cropped up a few days ago and I could not pinpoint what precipitate the 100% CPU usage event ! I wonder if there is some diagnostic program to indicate whether this is a software or hardware problem ?

 

[crisc]

I usually agree with you cdogg, but correct me if I'm wrong: The "problem" being described is that some CPU monitoring software is indicating that the CPU is completely maxed out at 100%. If this were true, I would expect jobodine would be encountering all sorts of stability problems, etc.
Since this is not happening, and the PC is running flawlessly, I would conclude that this is a non-problem. Formatting/reinstalling the OS seems like overkill for a PC that is working fine, IMO.

 

[Guest_imported]

Thank you,~cdogg and crisc , for your inputs. The system is running and appears stable but I am concerned there is something going on ( either the CPU or softwares) . When 2 different monitoring softwares shows the same reading ; 100% CPU usage , the result is most likely correct.
I suspect CPU problem as there is no particular program that can hog so much CPU time all the time ( especially when I shutdown almost all processes, except Windows , and CPU usage is still 100%). I did use SpyGuru to check processes and SiSoftSandra 2002 Pro to check the CPU. In both cases, nothing suspicious turned up.
Am I up the creek now ?

 

[cdogg]

Here's my take on the situation as I understand it:

A) The CPU shows no problems in SAFE MODE
-- If we imagine that it's a hardware problem, then it shouldn't matter if we're in SAFE MODE or not, right? If the CPU was bad, then it would exhibit the same outcome in SAFE MODE.

B) 100% usage under Win98SE is not normal
-- If this were WinME, it would be a different story. The "system restore" feature in ME causes this type of problem. Since we're talking about Win98SE, where the problem only occurs in NORMAL mode, then it has to be a process (from an app or the OS) that's causing the problem.


Assuming B) is correct, a format/reinstall is probably going to be the quickest way to solve the problem.

~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein

 

[Guest_imported]

My hat to <~cdogg> who adamantly claimed it was a software issue ! And by golly, he is absolutely correct . I was convinced and ready to reformat and reinstall Win98 SE but decided to check every program installed in the previous 3 days ( about 30 programs) before embarking on the torturous path ! This approach paid off after 35 minutes ! I found the culprit : it was a keylogging program that had keylogging and screenshot options ! After uninstall this proggy, voila`, the monitoring software showed the correct behavior : varying CPU usage around 35 % which was readily expected .

I am greatful to cdogg's compassion and expertise . I also like to thank <crisc> for his kindness and insightful comments.

Best regards,

 

[rbeltz]

Greetings,

We are having a similar problem as Jbodine. We're running a Celeron 600 with WIN 98SE. We just upgraded memory from 64MB to 256MB. Applications load and run faster. We also have DSL with Alltel and Norton Personal Firewall 2003 running. But as soon as you go on the Internet, the CPU usage goes up to 100% and stays there when you're loading pages or downloading a file. It did NOT do this when we had just 64MB of memory installed. Any ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[rockerfellerz]

Change back to 64 meg memory and see if this has any effect. It will at least eliminate the memory as being the problem. not enough free space to delete file...delete one or more files and try again...(real error message)
RocKeRFelLerZ

 

[cdogg]

Yes, if it's the new memory you just purchased, then removing it would be the most efficient test to tell you if it's a hardware or software problem.

To be honest, I doubt memory would cause your CPU usage to skyrocket only while on the internet. Try disabling the firewall as a second test. Let us know what you find...


~cdogg

&quot;The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.&quot;
- A. Einstein

 

[gargouille]

rbeltz,
Suggest you download
spybot

http://security.kolla.de/

or
adaware

http://www.lavasoft.de/downloads.html

and run it.
You likely have some spyware hijacking your system.

 

[rbeltz]

For our similar problem, we tracked down the high CPU problem to the Norton Personal Firewall 2003. We found a part of the firewall program that was causing the high CPU usage problem when connected to the Internet and simply configured it differently. However, it doesn't affect the overall level of security of the firewall.