100% CPU usage constantly with no apps running


  1. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #1

    100% CPU usage constantly with no apps running


    I get a lot of "not responding" in various windows and find CPU usage almost always at 100%. Even with no apps running. The Processes tab in Task Manager shows various processes running but 00 for most of them in the CPU usage column. One or two processes will show 02 in that column, but I don't know how to find out what is using 100% of my CPU.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,487
    Win 7 Pro x64/Win 10 Pro x64 dual boot
       #2

    Hi Joyce,

    Have you ticked "Show Processes From All Users" at the bottom of the Windows Task Manager "Processes" screen? That will show you more processes, and possibly what is eating up your CPU.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       #3

    Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
    Yes use Task Manager/ resource monitor to see what is soaking up resources although it is probably svchost.exe

    Most typical problem has been the windows update system running a muck

    You'll need to change these settings anyway to manually install these updates if they aren't installed already,

    When manually installing updates you need to switch your update settings to Never check for updates and restart the machine first.
    Windows Update Settings - Change

    Make sure KB3020369 is installed if not manually install it this is the main article page with all versions,
    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369
    These other links do prompt you to download as soon as you click on them just to give you a heads up :)
    Win-7 32 bit
    https://download.microsoft.com/downl...020369-x86.msu
    Win-7 64 bit
    https://download.microsoft.com/downl...020369-x64.msu

    Then manually install KB3172605 main article page with all versions,
    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3172605
    KB3172605
    Win-7 32 bit
    https://download.microsoft.com/downl...172605-x86.msu

    Win-7 64 bit
    https://download.microsoft.com/downl...172605-x64.msu

    After switch your windows update settings back to what you had prior and manually check for updates and the rest should show up shortly.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    100% CPU usage constantly with no apps running


    Thank you ThrashZone. I tried to follow your instructions and the links, but when I try to install the KB3020369 update, I get a Windows Update Standalone Installer tiny window that tells me it is "Searching for updates on this computer..." and the little green bar just keeps grinding away. Over 20 minutes on the current try. I tried both the links you provided. My Windows 7 is the 64-bit version.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    100% CPU usage constantly with no apps running


    Thank you ThrashZone! The problem with installing KB3020369 was that it was already installed. Once I figured that out and went on to install KB3172605, everything went pretty smoothly. And it appears that the 100% CPU usage problem is solved!

    Thank you thank you thank you!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    100% CPU usage constantly with no apps running


    It is no longer constantly at 100%, but spiking to 100% fairly frequently. However, when I do your last step, changing the setting back to the recommended setting to check for updates, it goes back up to 100% again. I now have it set to Never check for updates and the CPU usage is mostly below 100%. Can I leave it there? And just manually check for updates when I don't have anything else running?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 7,107
    W7 home premium 32bit/W7HP 64bit/w10 tp insider ring
       #7

    Hi Joyce,
    You sure can, quite a lot of us here use those settings, me included.

    Roy
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       #8

    Hi,
    I would use these settings personally
    100% CPU usage constantly with no apps running-update-settings.jpg

    Finally I would reset the update system,
    Try using this to reset the update system it's very good,
    Use Option 2 on the list after right clicking it and select run as administrator
    https://gallery.technet.microsoft.co...Agent-d824badc

    Download it to your downloads folder
    Right click it and select Extract all to the downloads folder.
    Then right click ResetWUEng and select run as administrator
    Follow the rest of the prompts
    Press any key to continue
    Type 2 for that Option on the list and the Enter key to reset update services..
    Press y for Yes and then the Enter key I believe twice
    After it has completed
    Type 15 for that option and the Enter key to restart the machine.
    Should say will restart in 60 seconds save your work.... press any key to continue.
    After restart go to windows updates and manually check for updates shouldn't take a few minutes.
    100% CPU usage constantly with no apps running-reset-win-updates-eng.jpg
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 9
    windows 7 home premium 64
       #9

    Start, scroll to Resource Monitor, click on. Apps are running. When searching for updates, wuauserv [update search] is usually the culprit in the services section. Right click to stop it.
      My Computer


 

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