My cpu is running at 100% all the time

6SkrewSalute · #1 March 5th, 2006, 10:04 PM

I'm having the same problems as Ed here. My cpu is running at 100% all the time and all my applications are slowed. I'm checking for spyware with bellsouth security right now.

PS: I'm running Windows ME on a Dell Dimension 4300 if that helps any...

**Tweaker** · #2 March 6th, 2006, 02:38 AM

I would also check for viruses too.

You might also want to download and run Hijack This program and post the log results in our safety forum for someone to look at, might be some issues there.

tschrock · #3 March 6th, 2006, 05:34 AM

Do you have any shareware or freebie programs installed? Sometimes poor programming can cause a small application to enter into a loop. If this happens, your computer will max out the CPU at 100% trying to work through the never ending loop.

Since this is happening every time you start your PC, it is probably a program that is loading when your computer starts up. If this is the case, you can use MSCONFIG to figure out what is doing it.

Click on Start and then click on Run. Type msconfig and press enter. Click on the "Startup" tab on the right and you will see a list of every program that starts when your PC does. You can uncheck items to prevent them from starting up with your computer. Uncheck the first few, then click apply and ok. You will be asked to restart, and you will need to.

If your CPU is not running at 100% anymore, then you have found the offending program. If it is, then uncheck a few more.

If you need more help, take a look at this free tutorial.

http://www.schrockinnovations.com/msconfig.php

Thor Schrock
http://www.schrockinnovations.com

6SkrewSalute · #4 March 8th, 2006, 01:13 AM

It's not a virus, I've scanned with mutiple programs (Sophos, AVG, Norton and more). I downloaded HJT...I will post a log of that in the safety forum.
TY

6SkrewSalute · #5 March 8th, 2006, 11:48 PM

I had someone look at my HJT log in Cyber Safety. The result was that it must be a program running in the background. I was redirectied back to the ME forum for further help.

6SkrewSalute · #6 March 11th, 2006, 01:20 PM

Still need some help here...

**Tweaker** · #7 March 11th, 2006, 04:06 PM

Hello 6SkrewSalute

Have you tried looking in your startup to see what programs are running?

Try running msconfig and check what's loading at startup to see if any programs listed are causing this.

Click Start, click Run, type msconfig click on startup tab.

If it's really a program causing this issue than you should be able to eliminate it by checking each one to see if it's the culprit.

tschrock · #8 March 11th, 2006, 08:14 PM

Please post a list of all of the prorams that are starting up in MSCONFIG. I will look at them and tell you which you don't need.

**Tweaker** · #9 March 11th, 2006, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tschrock

Please post a list of all of the prorams that are starting up in MSCONFIG. I will look at them and tell you which you don't need.

Thanks for your input tschrock, I already asked him to do that in my post before yours.

6SkrewSalute · #10 March 11th, 2006, 10:59 PM

Freeram XP
SystemTray
EpsonStylus CX6400
BELLSOUTHALERTMANAGER
Bellsouth Internet Security
Quicktime Task
Epson Card monitor

6SkrewSalute · #11 March 14th, 2006, 01:55 AM

Uh...those are the programs that startup with my pc

**Tweaker** · #12 March 14th, 2006, 02:22 AM

Not seeing any program there that would cause this issue. Maybe I would get rid of Quick Time at start up, big resource hog.

6SkrewSalute · #13 March 15th, 2006, 02:57 AM

Other than that, there is nothing that is really hogging up my Ram/CPU?

**Tweaker** · #14 March 15th, 2006, 10:13 AM

If you ran an up to date virus check and nothing showed on your Hijack Log then I would try what tschrock said, by unchecking the programs listed in msconfig and restart the system as he said if it stops then you found the program causing this.

I'm not familiar with the Bell software your running, that might be the cause.

6SkrewSalute · #15 March 16th, 2006, 01:54 AM

Tried that, but nothing was really taking up very much memory. I think I have a stick of 64, a stick of 128, and video card with 256 Megs of RAM. Is that too little? Also, In the selective startup...these boxes are checked on the first menu:
Process system.ini file
Process win.ini file
Load Static VxDs
Load Startup Group Items
Load environment variables

Would unchecking any of these free up some resources/cpu...?