cpu use

[jiff41]

Hi,

I have a Fairly new pc W7x64 which I use for recording (DAW) & I notice when the machine is idle, no processes running the task manager reads 25% cpu use

system idle 75%

system & kernel 25%

I contacted the people who built the PC & they say it's normal, that things always run in the backround, but this laptop(xp) & my other PC(W7) both run 0%(sometimes 2%+/-) when idle.

I've noticed lately that when I'm recording if I stop & listen I can hear little clicks,I think that's the processes starting & stopping that I can see in task manager?

I've also seen threads on the net that say there was a bug in windows that causes exactly this behaviour!

Any help would be much appreciated, as I'm trying to learn to fix things like this myself

[Alan2273]

You need to track down the actual process that is using 25% of CPU, than either post it here for analysis or Google it your self.

1. download free software called Process Explorer from internet
2. Run procexp.exe
3. Find explorer.exe in process tree, right click on it and click properties
4. in properties, click on threads tab
5. in column CPU you will see what thread used CPU on left side, and name of running file on right side.
6. browse your HDD for that file, if you dont know where is it, use search function instead
7. backup file (just copy in another folder or rename file)
8. if you copy file, delete it from original directory
9. go back to Process Explorer, mark thread those as CPU with left mouse click on it and click Suspend button on right bottom corner

[jiff41]

Hi Alan2273

I already had process explorer but couldn't make much sense of it.

However I followed your instructions & straight away found a file that seems to be suspect.

I tried to go further as you suggested but got stuck so I did a capture for you to see

can you please keep the instructions simple, I realise for you it comes easy,for me not so!

thanks for what you've done so far,at least I can see light in the tunnel now!

[Alan2273]

You are getting closer to tracking the problem down.

In the picture you posted you show explorer.exe, but that is not using the 25%.

If you click on the box with the cross in it by system then find out what process is using the 25%, then double click that process and post a picture of the box that comes up, or Google that process.

Just out of interest are you using any sort of download manager?.

[jiff41]

Hi Alan2273

I clicked on the system thing & I get this result, when I try clicking on anything else it says access denied?

hope this right!

I did download a free download manager from major geeks, for when I download plug-ins & such,it does help a lot!

[Alan2273]

Do not click on the word system, click on the little box by the left hand side, then it will open up the system processes and the little box will go from a + to a -.

[jiff41]

Hi Alan,

Sorry about this but I'm new to all this but I'd love to learn.

Right if I click on the "+" by system it opens up;

Interrupts

smss.exe

csrss.exe (flashing <01 in cpu column)

csrss.exe (steady <01 in cpu column)

then + winnit.exe is next in the tree?

I clicked on the two csrss coz I didn't know which one is relevant?

hope the pic helps?

[Alan2273]

You have opened the right one, but it is still not showing what is using the 24.95%, so it needs a new perspective on this.

Download this program (CCleaner), from FileHippo, http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/download/5cf7b89e65f697135744c366b6e558cf/

Install the program, (check what boxes come up when you install it as you may not want the extras).

Launch CCleaner, then in the left hand pane click on tools, then in the next column, click on Start Up, click on the top entry, the press Ctrl & A to select all, then in the right hand column click Disable, then exit the program and reboot your computer.

Now start task manager, and if that solves the problem, hopefully it will, then go back into CCleaner and enable them one by one, each time checking Task manager to see if the CPU usage has gone to 25% again, and that will tell you which program is using it.

[jiff41]

Hi Alan

Well I did the C cleaner thing & no luck I'm afraid!, I had already turned everything off(that PC is offline & only used for recording!)

I clicked on "csrss" find online today & learnt that some nasties can embed themselves in it!

One comment said "if you have 2 of them one is almost certainly malware!"

So I was thinking, could I suspend the bigger active one to see what happens, I realise it's critical but that one could be the problem?

I looked for them on "C"drive & they're both exactly the same address?

OR is the only answer a fresh install?, I did one last week (the one where you keep all your files) hoping to solve it but it didn't work! :(

[Alan2273]

I think in your case a fresh install will solve your problem.

You must have a disk as the fresh install that you thought you had done was actually a repair install, (the one that leaves all your files and folders intact).

A fresh install will take it back to how it was the day you got the computer.

If you do a fresh install you will need to do all the Microsoft updates and install all your programs again,

so if you go down that route, back up all your important information, then restore it after everything is updated and your progrms are back on your computer.