Processor problem

[CNeufeld]

You can try using ProcessExplorer to figure out what application is using your CPU when it spikes. I've found it gives more detailed information than Task Manager, even if it's not as simple. Can't have everything, I guess!

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/processexplorer.mspx

Clint

 

[Zorg]

You can try using ProcessExplorer to figure out what application is using your CPU when it spikes. I've found it gives more detailed information than Task Manager, even if it's not as simple. Can't have everything, I guess!

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/processexplorer.mspx

Clint

I like it, thanks.

 

[Kari]

I'm with Shawn on this one, failing hdd can cause strange freezes. Mine did, it even had nice clickety-click sound efects to listen to while waiting it to 'unfreeze'. And it only manifested itself when it had warmed up, usually after 10-15 minutes of use. 4 year old Seagate 🙁
I'm not sure if this will cause 100% usage on the cpu though, I never checked it, but youd better check your harddrives aswell.

 

[dayaldiw]

I notice something similar happen to my system as well but I dont know what is causing it. I have tried to install XP all over again, backing up all data, formatting the drive and then installing XP and still I come across the same problem. But things that I have noticed is that not just the screen freezes for few seconds but also the hard drive is being used constantly. I could be wrong here so correct me if I am please but I think there is an update which causes it to happen. I tried to turn of system restore as well just to make sure but that didnt help. But now Kari and Shawn make think if its a dying hard drive which seems to be problem since it never used to happen untill last 6months or so.

 

[bcboy]

I guess none of you guys have SMART-capable hard drives huh?

When my last drive died, my computer warned me it was coming, when I ran it's monthly checkup. Uh, you DO use regular maintenance, right? It's not just a good idea, it's a way to extend the life of your system. ScanDisk once a month, Defrag once a week. Plus, with SMART drives, system diagnosis software can warn you of incoming trouble with your drives. These are applications designed to check your computer's parts for danger signs. On the other hand, they only let you in on signs that something 'could' happen.

Mine had warned me that my hard drive had passed 10,000 working hours. Big deal. I've had systems that have been on 24/7 for, like, forever. But, sure enough, that drive died not long after.
I was like, 'What, is there a warranty that just expired?' t(>.<t) he he

Seriously, if you want to find out if the hard drive is suspect, find a program that will check the SMART status of your drives.

But, I don't think that's the case at all. Someone above posted that it was likely a software issue, and I'm inclined to agree. The CPU wouldn't spike because the hard drive was failing to deliver data. Just the opposite, I believe, since the CPU would have to wait for the hard drive to deliver some data, or at least an error.

If your hard drive is making strange noises, rythmic clicking noises in my case, and I believe Kari's, then definitely get it checked out. If everything sounds normal, and there's no warnings from checking the SMART status, you can basically rule out the HDD.

 

[Zorg]

Try SiSoftware Sandra Lite. It has all kinds of diagnostic/bench utilities. These include drive information and SMART status. Plus it is free for personal use. I like it better than Everest 😉

 

[bcboy]

Hey man, leave Everest alone, willya!

 

[jitpublisher]

It could be System Restore backing up your configuration, especially after a new install where you are loading new programs and installing drivers.

 

[Zorg]

Hey man, leave Everest alone, willya!

😉 😗 :lol:

 

[Zorg]

😀 didn't think i'd provoke a linux/windows debate!

Ok, the computer freezes - literally everything stops, but is able to resume a few seconds later without a problem. Watching this freeze in task manager CPU usage graph, I can see that the spike has registered a few seconds earlier after everything starts working again. However, on the CPU processes tab, it doesn't display past events and so I never see the offending item.

What puzzles me is that having owned many under-capable PCs with probably many viruses, I've never known a system to just freeze in this way. Anyway, you guys are the experts - I'll have to format & reinstall.

Did you reinstall XP? You never said that you did. You never got the temps like I asked in this post.

I want to be sure your temps are accurate. Download Core Temp and Prime95 25.5. Run Prime95 while monitoring your temps with CoreTemp. Preferably post a screen shot of CoreTemp or at least give us the temps.

 

[jimc8p]

Did you reinstall XP? You never said that you did. You never got the temps like I asked in this post.

Hey guys, thanks v much for all this info - sorry I haven't replied sooner, have been away and not been using the pc. This was a fresh windows installation and I haven't reinstalled yet. As before, the system works for a while (like it is now) and then will just start freezing up. Temperatures remain consistent when this happens - in the low 30s. I restart the it and all works fine again, but for less time than the previous boot.

Here's a screenshot of core temp and process explorer with Prime95 running in the background.

It was running for about 15 mins at 100% CPU usage just fine. However, freezes sometimes only show a spike of about 40%, so it's not caused by the processor bombing out as I previously thought.

There was actually a thing with my hard drive. It was capped at 137GB or something...I had to install SP2 and then run some Seagate software. Not 100% on this as someone did it for me, but I'm guessing you may be familar with that situation. The HD is a bit clunky, but I still think its probably a software problem. The worrying thing is, is that I only got as far as installing drivers before the problem started, so it's likely to happen again with a reinstallation?

 

[jimc8p]

This is weird - yesterday the pc worked for hours with no issues at all. Today, it has been freezing. It seems completely random, ie seems to be triggered by nothing, but then is really regular. Freezes roughly every 5 seconds for 5 seconds. I shut it down, and the strange thing is, it continues to freeze as windows closes and the system shuts off. Is that an indication it's not software but a hardware problem?? Thanks

 

[bobbknight]

All well and good answers for many of the problems we all experience with our computers.

As to your computer component list I see nothing that would cause your troubles regarding drivers and such.
That said I would suggest that you install your windows xp first, and before you install any other drivers and software that you install windows xp sp2.

I say this because you did not mention having to install drivers for your sata drive so I guess your windows xp install disk has sp1 incorporated into it. Insure you hard drive is setup to run at sata 2, and I would say to put it on the first sata connector on your motherboard.

Next after installing your windows xp with service pack 2, download all the current drivers for your system and start their install.

I would be interested to know what kind of security software you are using, as I have seen this behavior with certain firewall and anti-virus software.

I still use the following software for security.

Sygate firewall http://www.download.com/3000-2092-10049526.html
Avast! anti-virus http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
Spybot http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
Adaware http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

I also add a couple of programs from: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/products.html

I would also check the drive with seatools from the seagate website, I use the dos version that you burn to a cd.

Good luck I hope this helps.

 

[jimc8p]

Thanks everyone for the input. Fingers crossed, problem is fixed. I had an error message from NMIndexStoreSvr.exe. Google took me to many pages with people having similar problems with CPU usage. Turns out it's some dodgy Nero application, but have now uninstalled and there has been no freezing. Cheers.

 

[jkflipflop98]

CPU utilization is not hardware. It is software by definition. Could be anything that's installed, whether that's the OS, a flakey driver, a cheesy third-party (productivity app) or a virus.

The problem is he can't seem to identify what software is causing the spike. It is typical of Windows to hide information from the user. Viruses go out of their way to cover what's actually happening on the system and Windows has a lot of places to hide things and a lot of way's to get programs to start.

On Linux when a program goes nuts and starts soaking up CPU time you can identify it. Whether that be with top/ps or their GUI conterparts. Intel has written a new program called powertop which even shows you which processes are causing the CPU to wakeup from sleep modes and cause battery drain which is very nice for notebook users. Intel is now touting Linux as the most power-efficient notebook OS on their chips.

BTW, you don't have to be a command line shell expert to use Linux. That is a skill no longer necessary to be an regular user of Linux. On the other hand Linux will reward you if you become skilled with the shell and all of those wonderful, powerful tools that come with it.

Ya, you have to download, compile, reconfigure X, switch to a hidden display mode only available through a text command, recompile your kernel with hybrid Nvidia code, and hope to god you didn't do it in the wrong order or your computer has to be reformatted because the system has no idea what video timings to use anymore - just to install the latest Nvidia display driver for the six games that run in linux.

Sounds really user-friendly to me. :lol:

 

[Zorg]

Thanks everyone for the input. Fingers crossed, problem is fixed. I had an error message from NMIndexStoreSvr.exe. Google took me to many pages with people having similar problems with CPU usage. Turns out it's some dodgy Nero application, but have now uninstalled and there has been no freezing. Cheers.

I'll bet you have it. I have heard so many problems with Nero.

 

[jimc8p]

Looks like I spoke too soon. The freezing has happened again - Nero was a coincidence. In process explorer I can see that the spikes are caused by DCPs/hardware interrupts. As far as I can tell from the reams of discussions on this exact problem, it is something to do with devices. Looks like a real problem though with no particular solutions 🙁

 

[Zorg]

Oops, I missed your post, probably a little late at this point.
It looks like you might need to do an XP reinstall. Run it for a while and see if the problem reoccurs. Then set a restore point and load one program. Use it for a while to see if the problem shows. Continue setting restore points and loading programs one at a time until you see the problem again. First check for conflicts /problems with the software that can be fixed. If you can't find anything, then uninstall the program and go back to the restore point before you installed it. Sometimes a restore point won't clear what has buggered the OS and you will have to do a fresh install and just not use the program.