computer interrupted every 10 seconds

[Guest_imported]

Every 10 seconds something is briefly taking my computer's attention. It is most irritating when I'm using WordPerfect. If I scroll down a document, every 10 seconds I get thrown back to whatever page the cursor is on. If I try changing fonts, the drop-down font list closes up. But it's not just WP. If I use the Windows clock to change the date, but don't hit apply, the date jumps back to the current date. In other programs I may just notice a brief computer slow down or freeze burp.
Using task manager to ID running processes, I found that if I end one of the 4 SVCHOST.EXE processes running, the problem seems to go away (until a reboot). But if I close the wrong one the computer crashes. Has anyone heard of this problem, and how might I figure out what specific service is the culprit and get rid of it?

 

[PAndersen]

If you are a Win98-user, run MSCONFIG and try to disable one or more of the startup processes.

 

[Required]

Aren't you working with Windows XP?
If you are, have a look at MS KB entry Q314056.
It describes svchost.exe and explains how you can use

tasklist /SVC

to find the active services in each svchost.exe process. If you find the services in the CPU consuming svchost.exe, you might be able to find the one responsible for the excessive resource consumption.
If you are working with Windows 2000, the same KB entry contains a link to a similar entry for that version.

 

[vop]

It is always a good idea to ensure that any obvious problem candidates are not a possibility by consistent use of an up-to-date virus checker (definitions and search engine) and of spyware checking programs such as Adaware.

It might not be a bad idea to also run an alternate (free) virus checker such as

http://housecall.antivirus.com/.

I will occasionally disable (exit) my current McAfee and run the above just as an added test. I have continued to find the occasional problem with an alternative virus ckecker.

 

[TheOldMan346]

SVCHOST is XP, isn't it?

Use this link to determine which of the services are required/optional.

http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

Good luck.
The Old Man

 

[Guest_imported]

Thanks all. I found the culprit. Yes, I use XP. I discovered I could use Control Panel/Administrative Tools/ Services to stop running services one at a time until the problem went away. It was a program that monitors my printer.