Process Explorer shows System Idle Process at about 50-80% usage, with the procexp.exe itself taking up the rest. It even happens in Safe Mode. My laptop is not overheating, and feels barely warm to the touch and I think I can rule out overheating because it happens randomly, I can let it run overnight, then reboot and it'll be fine for 10 minutes. Conversely I can let it rest, only to hear it bog down during the windows splash screen.
Troubleshooting I've done:
-Cleaned fans/vents with air
-Disabled all startup programs and file indexing
-Downloaded 70 some Windows updates including 2 service packs
-Downloaded driver and BIOS updates from DELL
-Ran startup diagnostic, Windows Diagnostic, Dell diagnostic, all show hardware functioning normally
-Ran a virus scan just for kicks, but how could it be a virus with a brand new HD?
Event Viewer shows a warning for Kernel-Processor-Power, saying that "The speed of processor 0 is being limited by system firmware. The processor has been in this reduced performance state for 71 seconds since the last report." Could that have anything to do with it?
Also, Dell only had the BIOS update version A09 from 2007 for my product code, is there a newer version and where can I download it? Maybe they don't show it because my warranty is expired?
I've been at this for several days and am at my wit's end, please help!
Edited by TheTooz, 02 June 2009 - 02:46 PM.