[jones082]

I am running Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1. AMD Sempron 150 Processor 2.90 GHz with 2 GB RAM and 64 bit operating system.

Lately, CPU usage has been jumping up to 100% when I merely have a window open. Computer slows to a crawl. I scanned for malware and cleaned temp files and defragged and found no issues.

I remembered this happened in the past with XP. It was a windows update problem. I turned off windows update, no help.

I have a screen shot of task manager in a word doc, but it seems I am not able to upload it.

Anyone able to help?

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Download and install CCleaner from the following link: CCleaner - Standard

During installation, uncheck the option to install the Yahoo toolbar.

Start CCleaner. Click on Tools (ICON) and Select the following BUTTONS to create two (2) text files:

* Uninstall > Save to text file (install) – bottom right corner of app window
* Startup > Save to text file (startup)

Locate and open each saved file in the ‘Documents’ FOLDER:

* Copy and paste the contents of each file into your next post (2 files).

[Ztruker]

Download and install CCleaner from the following link: CCleaner - Standard

During installation, uncheck the option to install the Yahoo toolbar.

Start CCleaner. Click on Tools (ICON) and Select the following BUTTONS to create two (2) text files:

* Uninstall > Save to text file (install) – bottom right corner of app window
* Startup > Save to text file (startup)

Locate and open each saved file in the ‘Documents’ FOLDER:

* Copy and paste the contents of each file into your next post (2 files).

[jones082]

In the meantime, in order to get the computer to operate, I had to use system restore. This should help for a few days, before the problem starts up again.

Here are the files:

Install:

3ivx D4 4.5.1 Decoder (remove only) 3ivx Technologies, Pty. Ltd. Thursday July 12, 2012 4.5.1
Acrobat.com Adobe Systems Incorporated Monday August 30, 2010 1.60 MB 1.6.65
Adobe AIR Adobe Systems Incorporated Tuesday November 06, 2012 3.4.0.2710
Adobe Flash Player 11 ActiveX Adobe Systems Incorporated Saturday November 10, 2012 6.00 MB 11.5.502.110
Adobe Flash Player 11 Plugin Adobe Systems Incorporated Thursday October 18, 2012 6.00 MB 11.4.402.287
Adobe Reader 9.5.2 Adobe Systems Incorporated Wednesday August 29, 2012 103 MB 9.5.2
Amazon MP3 Uploader Amazon Services LLC Tuesday March 13, 2012 1.0.8
APC PowerChute Personal Edition American Power Conversion Corp Saturday July 02, 2011
Apple Application Support Apple Inc. Sunday July 15, 2012 61.0 MB 2.1.7
Apple Software Update Apple Inc. Sunday July 15, 2012 2.38 MB 2.1.3.127
Audacity 1.3.13 (Unicode) Audacity Team Thursday June 23, 2011 40.1 MB
calibre Kovid Goyal Monday July 16, 2012 130 MB 0.8.60
CCleaner Piriform Sunday November 25, 2012 3.25
Dear Esther Monday February 20, 2012
DOOM 3 id Software Friday December 23, 2011
eMachines Recovery Management Acer Incorporated Monday August 30, 2010 4.05.3013
eMachines Registration Acer Incorporated Monday June 13, 2011 1.03.3003
eMachines ScreenSaver Acer Incorporated Monday June 13, 2011 1.1.0825.2010
eMachines Updater Acer Incorporated Monday August 30, 2010 1.02.3001
Emsisoft Anti-Malware Emsisoft GmbH Friday May 11, 2012 167 MB 6.5
FrostWire 5.4.0 FrostWire Team Friday September 21, 2012 5.4.0.0
Google Chrome Google Inc. Thursday September 27, 2012 23.0.1271.64
Hotkey Utility Acer Incorporated Monday June 13, 2011 2.05.3009
Identity Card Acer Incorporated Monday June 13, 2011 1.00.3003
Java 7 Update 9 Oracle Friday September 28, 2012 128 MB 7.0.90
Java™ 6 Update 37 Oracle Tuesday November 06, 2012 97.9 MB 6.0.370
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware version 1.62.0.1300 Malwarebytes Corporation Monday July 23, 2012 18.7 MB 1.62.0.1300
Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile Microsoft Corporation Saturday June 18, 2011 38.8 MB 4.0.30319
Microsoft Office 2010 Microsoft Corporation Monday June 13, 2011 6.31 MB 14.0.4763.1000
Microsoft Office Click-to-Run 2010 Microsoft Corporation Tuesday June 14, 2011 14.0.4763.1000
Microsoft Office Starter 2010 - English Microsoft Corporation Tuesday June 14, 2011 14.0.4763.1000
Microsoft Security Essentials Microsoft Corporation Wednesday September 26, 2012 4.1.522.0
Microsoft Silverlight Microsoft Corporation Wednesday May 09, 2012 50.6 MB 5.1.10411.0
Microsoft SkyDrive Microsoft Corporation Friday November 16, 2012 26.4 MB 17.0.2003.1112
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition [ENU] Microsoft Corporation Wednesday November 23, 2011 1.69 MB 3.1.0000
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 ATL Update kb973923 - x86 8.0.50727.4053 Microsoft Corporation Tuesday January 24, 2012 250 KB 8.0.50727.4053
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Microsoft Corporation Monday November 28, 2011 300 KB 8.0.61001
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x64 9.0.30729.17 Microsoft Corporation Friday July 01, 2011 252 KB 9.0.30729
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x64 9.0.30729.4148 Microsoft Corporation Monday August 30, 2010 788 KB 9.0.30729.4148
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x64 9.0.30729.6161 Microsoft Corporation Tuesday June 14, 2011 788 KB 9.0.30729.6161
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.17 Microsoft Corporation Monday August 30, 2010 596 KB 9.0.30729
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.4148 Microsoft Corporation Monday August 30, 2010 596 KB 9.0.30729.4148
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.6161 Microsoft Corporation Tuesday June 14, 2011 600 KB 9.0.30729.6161
MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB954430) Microsoft Corporation Tuesday June 14, 2011 1.27 MB 4.20.9870.0
MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB973688) Microsoft Corporation Tuesday June 14, 2011 1.33 MB 4.20.9876.0
MSXML 4.0 SP3 Parser Microsoft Corporation Wednesday August 29, 2012 1.47 MB 4.30.2100.0
MSXML 4.0 SP3 Parser (KB2721691) Microsoft Corporation Thursday August 30, 2012 1.53 MB 4.30.2114.0
Nero 9 Essentials Nero AG Monday August 30, 2010
NVIDIA Display Control Panel NVIDIA Corporation Tuesday June 14, 2011 6.14.12.5896
NVIDIA Drivers NVIDIA Corporation Tuesday June 14, 2011 66.2 MB 1.10.62.40
NVIDIA ForceWare Network Access Manager NVIDIA Corporation Monday June 13, 2011 33.1 MB 1.00.7316
NVIDIA Graphics Driver 285.62 NVIDIA Corporation Sunday November 13, 2011 285.62
NVIDIA Update 1.5.20 NVIDIA Corporation Sunday November 13, 2011 1.5.20
QuickTime Apple Inc. Sunday July 15, 2012 73.2 MB 7.72.80.56
Rapport Trusteer Thursday August 09, 2012 3.5.1201.94
Realtek High Definition Audio Driver Realtek Semiconductor Corp. Monday June 13, 2011 6.0.1.6045
Revo Uninstaller Pro 2.5.3 VS Revo Group, Ltd. Tuesday June 14, 2011 34.9 MB 2.5.3
Secunia PSI (2.0.0.4003) Secunia Monday May 21, 2012 3.47 MB 2.0.0.4003
Steam Valve Corporation Sunday February 12, 2012 1.59 MB 1.0.0.0
SUPERAntiSpyware SUPERAntiSpyware.com Friday September 09, 2011 63.6 MB 5.0.1108
System Requirements Lab Wednesday November 09, 2011
The Journey to Wild Divine Thursday July 12, 2012
Welcome Center Acer Incorporated Monday June 13, 2011 1.02.3005
Windows Live Essentials Microsoft Corporation Wednesday November 23, 2011 15.4.3538.0513
Windows Live Mesh ActiveX Control for Remote Connections Microsoft Corporation Wednesday November 23, 2011 5.57 MB 15.4.5722.2



Startup:


Yes HKCU:Run SkyDrive Microsoft Corporation "C:\Users\jones\AppData\Local\Microsoft\SkyDrive\SkyDrive.exe" /background
Yes HKCU:RunOnce Uninstall C:\Users\jones\AppData\Local\Microsoft\SkyDrive\16.4.6010.0727_1\amd64 Microsoft Corporation C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe /q /c rmdir /s /q "C:\Users\jones\AppData\Local\Microsoft\SkyDrive\16.4.6010.0727_1\amd64"
Yes HKLM:Run Adobe ARM Adobe Systems Incorporated "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe"
Yes HKLM:Run Adobe Reader Speed Launcher Adobe Systems Incorporated "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
Yes HKLM:Run APSDaemon Apple Inc. "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple\Apple Application Support\APSDaemon.exe"
No HKLM:Run Hotkey Utility Acer Incorporated C:\Program Files (x86)\eMachines\Hotkey Utility\HotkeyUtility.exe
Yes HKLM:Run MSC Microsoft Corporation "c:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\msseces.exe" -hide -runkey
Yes HKLM:Run QuickTime Task Apple Inc. "C:\Program Files (x86)\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
Yes HKLM:Run RtHDVCpl Realtek Semiconductor C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\HDA\RAVCpl64.exe -s
Yes Startup Common APC UPS Status.lnk American Power Conversion Corporation C:\Program Files (x86)\APC\APC PowerChute Personal Edition\Display.exe
Yes Startup Common Secunia PSI Tray.lnk Secunia C:\Program Files (x86)\Secunia\PSI\psi_tray.exe
Yes Startup User Stoic Joker's T-Clock 2010 x64.lnk Stoic Joker's Network C:\Program Files\T-Clock\x64\Clock.exe

[Ztruker]

I don't see a lot there that looks like it would cause the problem.

Do you still use these?
calibre Kovid Goyal Monday July 16, 2012 130 MB 0.8.60
Dear Esther Monday February 20, 2012
Emsisoft Anti-Malware Emsisoft GmbH Friday May 11, 2012 167 MB 6.5
FrostWire 5.4.0 FrostWire Team Friday September 21, 2012 5.4.0.0
Rapport Trusteer Thursday August 09, 2012 3.5.1201.94
Steam Valve Corporation Sunday February 12, 2012 1.59 MB 1.0.0.0
Note: Steam has been known to cause problems at times. Might want to uninstall then reinstall it if nothing else.

You could disable these in msconfig/Startup tab and see how things go:
Yes HKCU:Run SkyDrive Microsoft Corporation "C:\Users\jones\AppData\Local\Microsoft\SkyDrive\SkyDrive.exe" /background
Yes HKCU:RunOnce Uninstall C:\Users\jones\AppData\Local\Microsoft\SkyDrive\16.4.6010.0727_1\amd64 Microsoft Corporation C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe /q /c rmdir /s /q "C:\Users\jones\AppData\Local\Microsoft\SkyDrive\16.4.6010.0727_1\amd64"
Yes HKLM:Run Adobe ARM Adobe Systems Incorporated "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe"
Yes HKLM:Run Adobe Reader Speed Launcher Adobe Systems Incorporated "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
Yes HKLM:Run QuickTime Task Apple Inc. "C:\Program Files (x86)\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
Yes HKLM:Run RtHDVCpl Realtek Semiconductor C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\HDA\RAVCpl64.exe -s
Yes Startup Common Secunia PSI Tray.lnk Secunia C:\Program Files (x86)\Secunia\PSI\psi_tray.exe
Yes Startup User Stoic Joker's T-Clock 2010 x64.lnk Stoic Joker's Network C:\Program Files\T-Clock\x64\Clock.exe

Additionally, install Process Explorer and use it to see if you can figure out what is pushing the CPU to 100% utilization. It gives a lot more information than Task Manager does.

[jones082]

I do use all of those programs and have had them with no trouble. I will try updating Steam again and installing Process Explorer.

This is what happened with XP, and it is now very similar with Windows 7:

http://www.geekstogo..._1#entry1890930

[Ztruker]

Try this and see if you can id3entify what is causing the problem: How to perform a clean boot to troubleshoot a problem in Windows Vista or Windows 7

[jones082]

When I used system restore, I went back before the last batch of Windows updates and computer was fine. I re installed the updates and everything seems fine as of now. CPU usage is back to normal.
If it occurs again, I will try the clean boot. Thanks for your suggestions and help.

Edited by jones082, 29 November 2012 - 07:03 AM.

[jones082]

About a week passed and it happened again. I followed your instructions to perform a clean boot, and I think I identified the problem. I had a program called PSI Secunia to find updates. When I unchecked the box in the services tab, cpu usage went down. I deleted the program, restarted and so far so good. Thanks again for the help.

[Ztruker]

Good work. Many people seem to like Secunia but I've never seen a need for it.

Thanks for letting me know.