CPU rnnimg at 100%

Discussion in 'Software' started by Mr.Cheeks, Jun 11, 2008.

  1. Mr.Cheeks

    Mr.Cheeks 1st ever Gold Member! Gold Member

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    P4 > 2.8Ghz (not clocked)
    512 RAM
    XP Pro SP2

    For some strange reason, this machine cpu has been running full at 100% (under task manager)

    Safe mode has the same problem, removed all applications from the computer, same problem, tried another profile, and

    svchost.exe is the culprit.

    Virus checking the computer at the moment, but it shouldnt be a problem (now running nod32)

    edit: no problems spyware/adware viral scans are fine

    opened the bugger and no sign of dust clogging the arteries, air-sprayed everything aswell.

    the real strange thing is, that say if i opened Word, then Word in task manager would jump to say 95% and svchost.exe would go down to 5%.

    Crap Cleaner, Scandisk (its nice and quiet when its scanning, which to me elimates that hardware clogged up with dust issue), Defrag has been done.

    No files are encrypted and there is not a drive space issue.

    Disconnected all external devices, checked Device Manager.

    You can even hear the fans increase and decrease, when running applications.

    I just dont wanna format the drive and reinstall.

    Any ideas,
     
  2. Sparky
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    Sparky Zettabyte Poster Moderator

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    When did this start happening mate? Today?

    Might be a Windows patch? Perhaps try a system restore in safe mode...
     
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  3. Mr.Cheeks

    Mr.Cheeks 1st ever Gold Member! Gold Member

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    im not sure when this started to be honest, i use this machine to access and store my media and thats it. everything is patched up, and only realised this problem a few days ago and have been monitoring this since Sunday i think. restore pointd are everyday from 29/5/8 to today.
    event logs are fins also, 2x red , which are fine, as i forced a shutdown (10sec finger job)
     
  4. Mathematix

    Mathematix Megabyte Poster

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    What is your BIOS settings saying? I'd go into them and set them to 'failsafe defaults', reboot and see if anything changes.
     
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  5. greenbrucelee
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    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    Is the heatsink ok?
     
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  6. Mr.Cheeks

    Mr.Cheeks 1st ever Gold Member! Gold Member

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    checked the BIOS, just to see if anything was unusual there, i never have changed the BIOS settings, i reset to back to defaults already - same issue
    It did look ok, but never checked it thoroughly though....
     
  7. greenbrucelee
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    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    I have seen some cpus give off false readings (speed and processing rate)when they get too hot and are about to die. Maybe have a look to see if its ok and the thermal paste doesn't need reapplying.
     
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  8. Mathematix

    Mathematix Megabyte Poster

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    Okay, maybe a bit premature to suggest that a rootkit could be causing the problem, but I suggest that you dowload Rootkit Revealer and investigate each entry if your hardware investigations prove fruitless.
     
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  9. rax

    rax Megabyte Poster

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    Have you tried using the Performance monitor instead of task manager? It might give you a more detailed explanation for the readings?

    Bit of a tricky one.. don't know if the cpu would start acting odd if it was on it's way out rather than just stopping dead
     
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  10. Mr.Cheeks

    Mr.Cheeks 1st ever Gold Member! Gold Member

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    how would Performance monitor help?
     
  11. greenbrucelee
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    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    I saw it couple of weeks back at work, the cpu was getting too hot and reading 100% in task manager, even with start up application and othe apps deleted from the PC. After messin about running various scans and stuff the heatsink was taken of and replaced with new paste and it ran fine after that.
     
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  12. rax

    rax Megabyte Poster

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    Hmm, good question.. I don't think it will actually :(

    Shouldn't you be getting event logs with warnings from windows when you reach 100% cpu usage?
     
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  13. rax

    rax Megabyte Poster

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    Yea, I didn't question that as it's the right thing to check but you already mentioned it.

    What I said was: I'm not sure if a CPU which was about to die would start acting odd or if it would simply just be ok one day and stop the next.
     
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  14. Mr.Cheeks

    Mr.Cheeks 1st ever Gold Member! Gold Member

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    Cheers for that, i'll try it tomorrow mate, the only thing that is fruitless, is when i look in the mirror!, and also will check the toothpaste for the CPU tomorrow aswell.

    Cheers for the help so far people :thumbleft
     
  15. Mathematix

    Mathematix Megabyte Poster

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    No probs, mate. Good luck! :biggrin
     
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  16. Mr.Cheeks

    Mr.Cheeks 1st ever Gold Member! Gold Member

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    the rootkit has some references to system restore points (C:\System Volume Information\_restore)
    C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch\MSCONFIG.EXE-0E21B899.pf
    C:\WINDOWS\pss\boot.ini.backup

    seem legitimate to me, had a look at the toothpaste of the cpu and it seems fine, need to get a 2nd opionon, as im not sure how to know whether there is a lack of paste on there, unless anyone has any suggestions?
     
  17. rax

    rax Megabyte Poster

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    I'd try replacing it, even if it looks fine. There will be instructions with the stuff when you buy it for your CPU model but usually it's around a grain of rice amount then spread about when seating the heatsink
     
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  18. Mr.Cheeks

    Mr.Cheeks 1st ever Gold Member! Gold Member

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    The computer has seemed to run at normal speed today (well, each time i've looked at the cpu process)
    Will continue to monitor over the next 48 hours
     
  19. Mitzs
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    Mitzs Ducktape Goddess

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    MC you don't have any error in your logs? To me it sounds like you have some software hanging. All your fans in your pc are running good though including the powersupply? Have you checked your memory sticks? Are they dirty? Take an eraser to them very gently. Maybe one of your sticks have died? Have you tried them one at a time to test them all? I just throwing some stuff out here. I really don't have no ideas. I hope you get it fig out soon.
     
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  20. Mr.Cheeks

    Mr.Cheeks 1st ever Gold Member! Gold Member

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    Strange - still running fine > not sure what happened. perhaps scandisk resolved issue?

    Thanks for the suggestions people
     

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