100% CPU Usage

[Reece212]

I've been having this problem for quite a while now. It is a pain.

Windows 7 Ultimate x64
HP EliteBook 6930p

I am still using the original battery and charger.

Ok, so when my laptop is plugged in (charging or not charging) the CPU usage shoots up to 100%. If I unplug it, it returns to normal. I have tried System Restore, but it takes ages, so I quit in the middle of it.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Some say it's a virus, some say it's a battery problem.

 

[Little Darwin]

I would upgrade to the latest drivers. It helped me a lot when I was getting CPU spikes.

Does the 100% ever drop down, i.e. after a few minutes?

 

[Reece212]

Well, occassinally, the CPU drops to 60-80, but the peformance is still slow.

And I haven't upgraded my drivers in a while, I will try that.

 

[Petey7]

I would try system restore and LET IT FINISH. I would never stop something like that half way through. It's like stopping half-way through major surgery.

 

[Reece212]

But I really think it's a battery problem, as disconnecting the AC Adaptor makes it go fast again.

 

[Reece212]

Sorry for doublepost - I forgot to mention it goes very slow also when starting up, and when in the BIOS.

 

[Petey7]

But you still might have screwed something else up by stopping the System Restore half-way through. When you create more problems, its harder to discern when a fix for the initial problem is found.

Also, it sounds like the battery is perfectly fine. They symptoms you describe would be caused by the charger, motherboard or BIOS. Lets start with the free option.

Go here and download the latest BIOS update, and install it. It may take some time and unless you plan on throwing the computer in a the trash, let it finish. If you don't the computer will be made unusable.

If that doesn't work, then you can buy a new charger. If the charger is outputting the right amount of power, the bios automatically makes the computer run slower.

 

[cluberti]

Do we even know which process is consuming the CPU time when you plug in the laptop? That might at least tell us what's happening, or where to start.

 

[zigzag3143]

I've been having this problem for quite a while now. It is a pain.

Windows 7 Ultimate x64
HP EliteBook 6930p

I am still using the original battery and charger.

Ok, so when my laptop is plugged in (charging or not charging) the CPU usage shoots up to 100%. If I unplug it, it returns to normal. I have tried System Restore, but it takes ages, so I quit in the middle of it.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Some say it's a virus, some say it's a battery problem.

\

I have several suggestions. One tell us your system specs so we know what hardware we are dealing with.

Second, right click taskbar run task manager and tell us in the performance tab which process is using the most cpu cycles.


Etc

 

[DutchBoy89]

Having the same problem here!

cpu: HP compaq 8510w

system:
Windows 7 Professional x32
Intel(C) Core(TM)2 Duo processor (2,50 GHz)

When I don't charge my Laptop it works fine, but as soon as I plug in my recharger the CPU usage shoots up to 100%. When I run the task manager and resource monitor it gives the following percentages:

perfmon.exe 31% (the resource monitor)
taskmgr.exe 29% (the task manager)
sidebar.exe 9%

the rest of the processes vary from 0-5%, all normal I guess.

When I unplug my Laptop the CPU usage returns to normal and my computer works just fine. I'm starting to think it's a Windows 7 problem, but I hope someone can help me with this.

 

[Mutos]

Hi all,


Registered here even as I run XP, just to say I have exactly the same issue with XP32 on a HP 8510w. The more tests I run, the more I think it could be a hardware issue.

I already disabled most processes, rebooted in in safe mode and disabled all I could from the remaining processes, remastered my machine twice on different masters, and even changed the battery, all to no avail.

There is in my case another point I didn't see mentionned in earlier posts : when docked, everything is fine, the machine charges up and CPU is normal. When unplugged, CPU is normal. When plugged through charger, CPU is 100% and machine crawling, but also it doesn't charge up. Even when on standby or shut down, it doesn't charge up when plugged. I discovered this fact just now, and to me it may point to the charger.

In last resort, the 3 last tests I can ll do are :
- Change the charger as my latest thoughts point to it,
- Upgrade the BIOS in hope there is a fix within a newer version,
- Remaster using XP64 to see if it is related to a 32-bits driver issue.

Then if nothing works I'll have to change machine.

 

[Mutos]

Hi all,


Just to say I tested the charger (power supply) and it was that. I replaced it with a compatible one and all is OK now.

 

[pikalax]

I apologize for hijacking this thread, but I have the same problem with my HP Pavilion dm4t laptop and would like some answers. The spike lasts about 5-10 minutes after inserting the AC adapter. It also does not happen every time, but when it does, I usually prefer to kill the power rather than let my computer burn itself out.

My computer has also been very slow when starting up and loading the desktop and start menu. It is also slow to respond when plugging in and removing known USB devices and when switching power states from "plugged in" to "battery" or from "awake" to "asleep" on lid close. And this is an eight-month-old computer in otherwise pristine physical condition and no detected malware.

Processor is Intel Core i3: 4x 2.1 GHz. 4GB of RAM total. Other specs can be obtained from the manual for the HP Pavilion dm4t-2100 CTO Entertainment Notebook PC.

 

[OldMX]

Maybe that model is not compatible with Windows 7?

 

[pikalax]

OldMX, if you're responding to my post, your suggestion is impossible. The system came with Windows 7 pre-built.

 

[Gamer1238]

I apologize for hijacking this thread, but I have the same problem with my HP Pavilion dm4t laptop and would like some answers. The spike lasts about 5-10 minutes after inserting the AC adapter. It also does not happen every time, but when it does, I usually prefer to kill the power rather than let my computer burn itself out.

My computer has also been very slow when starting up and loading the desktop and start menu. It is also slow to respond when plugging in and removing known USB devices and when switching power states from "plugged in" to "battery" or from "awake" to "asleep" on lid close. And this is an eight-month-old computer in otherwise pristine physical condition and no detected malware.

Processor is Intel Core i3: 4x 2.1 GHz. 4GB of RAM total. Other specs can be obtained from the manual for the HP Pavilion dm4t-2100 CTO Entertainment Notebook PC.

Hey Pikalax

This is a tough call cause its a laptop.... have you called HP about this issue?

Try taking the battery out and using just the AC power if you can see what that does.

Then restart it with the battery in and do the normal stuff. It might be the battery it might be the connection for the power inside the laptop itself but I'd call HP to let them know.

Cheers

Gamer1238

 

[pikalax]

I actually let it do its thing until it calmed down. It's fine now, and it's actually slightly faster for it.

 

[Gamer1238]

I actually let it do its thing until it calmed down. It's fine now, and it's actually slightly faster for it.

Ah ok, is it slow while booting up? If so just go to msconfig and then to the start up tab. That will list all your programs that start up when your computer boots into windows.

But if start up is ok. I'm glad its fixed

Gamer1238

 

[TechGrinder]

Some processes fill up the CPU usage like hell, and makes your computing slow. It's OK to have a maximum of 20-30 % but values over that is very worrying (I've had the same probe, before).
Now what you must do is end the processes that fill it up. First open the task manager (Ctrl + Shift + Del in Windows 7) and go to the processes section. Then click the CPU column header and keep it in a way that the arrow under it points down. By doing so, the processes that use the CPU a lot is listed at the top. Then, delete that process by selecting it and pressing Del. However, if the process is needed by the system, it will be dangerous.
Another thing is to NOT INTERRUPT THE SYSTEM RESTORE. You could keep it overnight and the next morning you'll find everything right (That is if you are going to restore).
It also could be aa problem with the charger.

 

[pikalax]

I have never once interrupted a System Restore. And the most expensive process was system.