Uncontrolled RAM usage

Hi,

I am have been having some problems recently with RAM usage. Normally when my computer is just sitting at the desktop it is using about 23% of my total RAM (which is 8gb) However, within the last day or so whenever I boot up the computer will start at about the normal 23% but then work its way up to the 40-60% range.

This will happen even if I am not using the computer or even if I just let it boot up and then sit there if I come back a few hours later the RAM use is sky high. In the process manager once I click the "show processes for all users" button and sort by the amount of memory being used I get an svchost.exe at the top and the RAM usage for this process will just grow and grow and continue to grow until I restart my computer.

Again, this happens even if I don't use my computer to do anything.

When I right-click on this process and select the "go to services" option the services that are listed are:

UxSms
TrkWks
HomeGroupListener
Netman
IPBusEnum
WPDBusEnum
PcaSvc
Sysmain
AudioEndpointBuilder
wudfsvc

Malwarebytes scan and Norton scan reveal no virus or malware.

The most recent piece of software I installed was Alpha Protocol via Steam, however I did uninstall this software and re-boot to test and see if it was the problem and it still did it with it uninstalled.

I am running windows 7 home premium 64 bit fully updated

The most annoying and strange thing is that it will start off low and then just keep growing and growing until a reboot, even if I don't use programs and just let it sit at the desktop.

Sorry for the somewhat wordy description, I just didn't want to leave anything out. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

(I attached a screen capture of the offending process just in case that helps out and in the picture i do realize that there are more things using my RAM there than just that process but I think you get the point)

EDIT: I just thought of this: my Norton Security Suite (provided by Comcast) just went through a MAJOR update where the whole program was basically changed. Not sure if this could be causing the problem or not, just thought I'd mention it.

richc46 said:

Welcome
Step one is a full test with memtest.
Run it for 8 passes. Then test each slot for 8 passes
Guide to using Memtest86+ - Geeks to Go Forums

Memtest ran and it passed with no errors

karlsnooks said:

Belvadier,

I've found RESMON and the CPU tab to be quite informative.

Is a possibility to 100% disable Norton and use Microsoft Security Essentials? That way we rule out any Norton-related problems.

There is a link in my sig for Microsoft Security Essentials and also for CCleaner which I'm going to ask you to use for the following:
LIST OF STARTUP PROGRAMS USING CCLEANER


CCleaner | Tasks icon | Startup tab | click on Save to text file button (bottom right side)

Using the PAPER CLIP icon in the top panel of a Message Reply window, attach the .txt file generated by CCleaner.

Startup list is enclosed as requested.

I think the only way to be sure Norton is 100% turned off is to uninstall it. I can turn off the individual items such as the real-time protection, etc. but the program itself is still running...

logicearth said:

Your computer is hardly idle. Why do you think your computer is idled with 96 processes running?

I did say in my OP that I was aware that at the time of the screen shot I had many other things open and that that was just used to show the specific process that was continuously growing out of control.

I had several chrome windows open, steam, my dropbox, etc. at the time of the shot however maybe I have some processes running that shouldn't be running? I don't know. I can take a screen capture after a fresh reboot before I do anything listing all of the processes if that helps...

Looking back I probably shouldn't have used that image for this post as i do have a lot of other stuff open.

EDIT: attached two screen shots of my entire process list after clicking the button to show processes for all users right after a reboot. Norton, dropbox and eraser do load at startup, other than that I've no real idea what everything else is. If it helps the only way for me to demonstrate what happens would be to take a shot of the list with the growing svc host after a fresh re-boot before i go to bed and then leave it on all night without doing anything (other than taking the screen shot) and show how much the usage has grown which I can do that if it will be helpful)

richc46 said:

Your memory may be fine, but that test takes at least 8 hours to do properly.

My apologies, I did not notice that you said to let it run 8 passes, that is something I think I will have to save until tomorrow.

logicearth said:

The highest process is under 250 MB even in your first screenshot. I suspect the problem is something else, something that Task Manager cannot see because it is not associated with a process, a memory leak for example.

Lets see what RAMMap shows.
RAMMap

I got RAMMap but unfortunately I have no idea what all it is that I am looking at...

is there a log file I should post of screen shots? and if screen shots, which sections would you want to see?