Problems with CPU: constantly at 100%?

[aaglo]

Hi,
Now I have this Uber-annoying problem, and I don't know how to deal with it. I can't find any help for me via google.

The problem:
I have AMD Athlon XP 1900 -processor (but I guess that's not the problem). I'm running windows 98 (but I guess that's not the problem either). I have scanned my PC from viruses, ad-wares and spy-wares. And still the problem is there. So, what the heck? Is my processor exploding or what?

The CPU being at 100% all the time is not the big problem. The problem lies in the fact that every single program I have, start off extremely slowly - for example my pc takes about 5 minutes to boot. But everything seemed to be fine in the safe mode...

Does anyone know what should I do? Should I get the processor out and ...

 

[Neomega]

How do you know it is at 100%, from reading the graph in task manager, or from looking at the processes?

 

[aaglo]

Well, the system manager graph shows, that the cpu is at 100% with no programs running.

About the slow start on various programs - they start really slow, but when I start them again, they seem to be opening normally (i.e. quickly).

Darn, should I re-install windows or what?

[Edit]:
BTW, what's the difference between these "from reading the graph in task manager, or from looking at the processes" - it doesn't help that my win98 is in finnish

 

[Damnyankee]

Hi,
Now I have this Uber-annoying problem, and I don't know how to deal with it. I can't find any help for me via google.

The problem:
I have AMD Athlon XP 1900 -processor (but I guess that's not the problem). I'm running windows 98 (but I guess that's not the problem either). I have scanned my PC from viruses, ad-wares and spy-wares. And still the problem is there. So, what the heck? Is my processor exploding or what?

The CPU being at 100% all the time is not the big problem. The problem lies in the fact that every single program I have, start off extremely slowly - for example my pc takes about 5 minutes to boot. But everything seemed to be fine in the safe mode...

Does anyone know what should I do? Should I get the processor out and ...

I know what the problem is, every program is starting at the same time. Go to "Start", then click "Run" then type in MSconfig and then click what programs u don't want starting at startup. Click most of them off and restart. The problem should be gone. I knew this because in Safe Mode, all unnecesay programs are not started, just the ones needed to run the computer

 

[aaglo]

I tried dropping the programs I didn't think I need - no luck.
I tried dropping the Virus-protection and firewall programs (with disconnected from web) - no luck.
So, the reason must be in some of the necessary programs - right? How can I determine which program is flawed? should I just keep on de-selecting different progs, and find out that way which program is giving me the head-ache?
Or does someone know a better way to check things out?

 

[Damnyankee]

I tried dropping the programs I didn't think I need - no luck.
I tried dropping the Virus-protection and firewall programs (with disconnected from web) - no luck.
So, the reason must be in some of the necessary programs - right? How can I determine which program is flawed? should I just keep on de-selecting different progs, and find out that way which program is giving me the head-ache?
Or does someone know a better way to check things out?

you know when you go to task manager and you see the processor tab, thats the programs i am talking about

 

[aaglo]

Oh, Now I see what you mean.

But I'm quite sure it doesn't help, since the problem started some 5 hours ago. Before that everything was running just fine (read: quickly)

 

[Goober]

Oh, i get this problem, a very easy solution:

1 - Press Crtl-Alt Del
2 - When the Windows Task Manager comes up, click on "processes"
3 - Double-click on "CPU"
4 - Close whatever is using most of your CPU power. For me, its usually AIM, Forefox, or Explorer. Just close it.

If it is explorer.exe, close it, and your icons and everything but yourbackground image will disappear, then start it again, using Task Manager. Works every time, and is much faster then restarting.

 

[Dell19]

Thats not a proper solution though... One solution may be to look at the processes tab and record the name of the process(es) that are taking up all your processor time and then if it isn't clear what program they belong to try searching on google. There may be some answers about program conflicts. When this happened to me there was a conflict between my virus scanning software and another program. After some searching there was a patch that actually fixed the conflict.

 

[Goober]

Not a proper solution? Really? 'Cuase I have been using it for a long time, and it always works, and I have yet to notice any adverse effects because of it.

programs screws up, you shut it down, right?

 

[Thrawn]

Yes, but explorer.exe is not Internet Explorer. explorer.exe is an important part of windows. From what I know, it controls things like My Computer and stuff. Not exactly sure what, maybe someone else with more knowledge can help out.

 

[Drift]

Yup, ctrl+alt+del and open the leaf "prosessit" (I guess, my Windows is English).

Then check from the list what process is eating up all resources (90-100). It's very probable that it's one single process that's causing the problem. Explorer is a very common process to do this. I'm not sure if Win98 was capable of restarting explorer if you end it, but there's no harm in trying. And yes, explorer handles all interaction with your computer's files so you can't do anything without it.

We'll be able to help more when we know what process is causing the problem.

 

[aaglo]

Unfortunately, apparently Win98 does not give detailed info on process-level. It only gives the lump amout of used CPU. :/
Well, I'll look for some fancy system startup scanners & other related analyzing tools.

 

[stormbind]

As has been pointed out by others, the culprit is badly written software and not the CPU.

Does it happen at specific times, or are you finding 100% usage when the computer has freshly booted? If you list the programs running, someone might recognise the problem.

 

[aaglo]

Yes, the problem occurs in normal boot (not in the safe mode), so it would indicate some bad programming/strange virus.

I'll do a system and startup checks with a progam I found (when I get to home).

 

[aaglo]

Woo-hoo!
The problem was my display drivers.
I reinstalled win98 - didn't help.
I reinstalled display drivers - now things are as fast as they should be (altough the cpu usage is still at 100% - maybe I just don't understand it )

 

[Goober]

Ohh, Windows 98, never mind my advice then. I am an XPer, I never leanred the ins and outs of 98.