CPU running at 100% Utilization

[johndog]

Hi,
I recently upgraded my friend's computer from windows 98 to 2000. After a few days, he noticed that the computer was running extremely slow. He has an HP Pavilion PIII, it shouldn't be slow. I checked the CPU utilization and it was at 100%, as well as 23 unnecessary processes running (starting with ~073.exe, ~074.exe, etc). I closed all of the unnecessary processes to see if the CPU utilization would decrease but it didn't. The only way I got the CPU to get to 12% utilization was to boot up in safe mode. I think the problem originated right after the upgrade, and I think it has something to do with processes starting at bootup. Any suggestions on how to get the CPU speed back to normal? Thanks.

 

[pmf71]

Is the machine running any distributed Computing software? For example, Seti@home ?

Also download ad-aware, this will detect and remove any spyware and adware. (

http://www.ad-aware.com)

Also check which process is utilising so much cpu threads.

good luck.

Paul.

 

[MontrealSoft]

I think you got a virus. Check the name of the process, and search in google or at

http://www.symantec.com/

MontrealSoft.com

http://www.montrealsoft.com

 

[MontrealSoft]

Might wanna try

http://www.antivirus.com

Free online scan, quicker than buying an antivirus (for a temp solution)

MontrealSoft.com

http://www.montrealsoft.com

 

[johndog]

Well, as a temporary way of getting around the problem...I logged into windows and held down the shift key so that the bootup processes would not start. It actually worked and the CPU speed was back to normal...like 6% utilization. The only problem is that when I log in and don't hold the shift key, it will open those other proceses that hog the cpu. I think what I'll do is try the ad-aware.com stuff first, then if that doesn't work I'll do a full system virus scan, the computer has NAV. Thanks for the help.

 

[AFTech81]

I agree with MontrealSoft. It sounds like you have a virus. I'd start with doing a virus scan with updated virus definations. If it comes back clean check the startup folder in the start menu to make sure that there aren't any bogus programs set to run at startup.

Brian
USAF
Network +, Win2k Pro
No try not. Do or do not. --Yoda

 

[johndog]

Well, it turns out that there were a few bogus executables running at startup. Before I removed them from the startup though, I ran the program that I downloaded from Ad-aware.com which found about 700 infected files, but did not fix the problem. The problem was because of the files that were in the startup folder under programs. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[MarkRCC]

Hi.
You might also want to try "SpyBot" (

http://security.kolla.de/).

It was recommended to me just recently from a security-guru friend and it not only allows a user to scan for spyware, etc, but also to immunize (block) this spyware from being loaded again and again. It will also allow you to easily modify your start-up programs. I was an avid Ad-aware fan (still don't dislike it) but have been using Spybot for about a week now and like it much better. Not to mention finding some spyware that Ad-aware didn't detect.

Mark