Hard Disk Thrashing - related to CPU 100%

[Stroppy]

I have a new lap top...T60, Core 2 heaps of RAM. I thought it would be great, fast etc. Not so. CPU usuge is often really high. It's much slower than I expected and I've got a pretty good idea of what to expect having used PCs and Laptops for a long time

It's running Vista but I stayed with Office XP...not that it would make the slightest difference to this particular problem.

One thing I've wondered about it is Lenovo...the manufacturer I expect. Every time I change my home page it switches back to Lenovo after a cold boot. This seems to indicate something needs changing...don't know how to change it. It's like adware of some sort.

Not sure if it's related to the web, ... thinking that Lenovo is doing something on the web.

No viruses or trojans etc.

I'm thinking of getting rid of Vista and installing XP. There is also a process called CRSS or something similar that I've been told is using a lot of CPU.

I might even go back to my old laptop!

Help.

M

 

[linney]

In Task Manager under the Performance Tab there is a button to launch Resource Monitor. If you launch it, and click on Disk drop down menu, it will show you what is writing to the Drive.

Have a look at Indexing, that is pretty active in new machines for a few days. Control Panel/ Indexing Options.

What does it run like from Safe Mode?

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310560&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Many security programs have settings that prevent the changing of home pages, but why it should change, then return after a reboot is unusual.


The PC Decrapifier (originally titled, Introducing the Dell De-Crapifier…)

http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/

 

[Rick998]

The problem with CSRSS.EXE using 100% CPU usage was a well-known one with Windows XP and usually occurred when you right-clicked an item in Windows Explorer or on the desktop.

The cause was usually a corrupted user profile and the advice was to log in as another user with administrative privileges then to delete the profile of the user experiencing problems.

If you create another user then log in as the new user and the problem disappears it shows that the cause (corrupt profile) is also a problem in Vista.

CSRSS.EXE (Client/Server Runtime Subsystem) is a critical process so terminating it will result in a BSOD.

As for Lenovo (the manufacturer of your ThinkPad T60) changing your homepage, this is the result of the ThinkVantage software. It's supposed to help (!) by preventing malware from re-setting your homepage.

Have a look for something like 'IBM Access Connections' in Start > Programs or look in 'C:\Program files\thinkpad\ConnectionUtilities'.

You'll find a setting (a checkbox) labelled "to override home page" and a text box where you can enter the homepage you want. Alternatively, you'll may be able to stop the 'Access Connections' program from running automatically.

Hope this helps...

 

[Stroppy]

Thank you to both of you for your answers. I've heard the one about the user ID and have created another one. problem is I have so many files to copy across...

Interesting that Lenovo is helping to make sure malware doesn't reset the homepage...by doing exactly that themselves! hven't found where to fi it yet, but I haven't looked hard yet.

Funnily enough, AVG seems to do heaps of writing and reading to the hard drive, and not only when it's scanning. hmm. I really am disappointed with this laptop...I thought it would be the best thing ever! I guess I have to spend some time making sure all the right things are ticked and crossed and it will work better, starting with the advice received so far.

Thanks

M

 

[chiph]

Don't blame the hardware -- they're actually quite fast machines. It's the large amount of software layered on top that is causing the slowdowns.

Chip H.


____________________________________________________________________
www.chipholland.com

 

[Stroppy]

OK...so now you're saying I should run on DOS? Hmmm?

 

[BadBigBen]

Since it is a new laptop (?) how about reformatting and reloading the OS, minus all the crapware...

first I would get all the drivers that may be needed, keep them separate, e.g. on CD or USB FlashDrive...

reload the OS, either through the Restore DVD/CD, or as a fresh install via MS (OEM) DVD... Restore DVD/CD will reload the crapware, usually, in that case use the PC-Decrapifier (as mentioned by Linney). then apply SP1 (if not with the Restore) and all Updates, install the drivers etc...

Things to do to speed up Vista:

1.) Turn off Aero...
2.) set it to Classic Mode...
3.) 2gB of memory or more (especially true for 64bit versions)


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[firewolfrl]

if you turn off the Windows Aero you will find the HD thrash will be reduced and your system will speed up some
Winbubble works well for some of the tweaks in vista

http://unlockforus.blogspot.com/2007/11/winbubbles-features-gap.html

 

[Stroppy]

First, an apology. I thought i had heaps of RAM...not so, 1G is not a heap. I purchased an extra 2G. you would think with 3 that my laptop would be excellent. Not so.....

My excellent best friend of all time has been chipping away at it, some of his conclusions were the same as others have written in reply to me. He turned off the "Search" indexing which was using a stack of memory and to his surprise, found that the computer was still using heaps of RAM. It turns out Access Centre (now I can't remember which particular component) was the culprit. He did some research and found that it could simply be uninstalled...and amazingly, the instant the component was uninstalled, 2GB of memory was freed up. Disk is now not thrashing.

M

 

[PRPhx]

It would also really help to find, download, install and run a free defrag program. The one built into vista, IMNSHO, SUCKS. I like auslogics defrag program. It's free, and fairly fast.

Just because it's a new laptop, doesn't mean the hd isn't fragmented. I'd also run CHKDSK C: to see if there were any problems. And unload all/any crapware that may have come with this laptop.