high cpu usage - unknown cause

[pontifex]

Hi,
I get regularly high CPU usage without any visible reason in task manager. A desktop gadget shows the CPU usage between 50 - 70 % but in the task manager there are two or three processes with 1 % each.
I see also higher power consumption. In normal idle state I have some 18 W, with the CPU usage increased it is 40 W. And of course, the notebook is pretty noisy at that time because the CPU temperature runs to 50 °C. (Usual is 15 - 20 °C.)
The notebook is HP ProBook 6540b - Intel i5, Win 7 Pro. It is new and I am quite disappointed I cannot take it to a library because of the noise.

Because I see nothing in the task manager I am not able to determine the cause of the problem.
If anybody has any ideas what to do, I would be very glad. Thx.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Welcome!

I suggest ending all the third-party processes one at a time, next time it happens. Google the name of the process, and if it's not a part of Windows, right-click and select End Process.

 

[kucing13]

can you post a snip of your task manager when it reach high usage . I'll appreciate it

 

[richc46]

Welcome!

Welcome to the Forum Pontifex

I suggest ending all the third-party processes one at a time, next time it happens. Google the name of the process, and if it's not a part of Windows, right-click and select End Process.

Excellent and informative post as usual. I would just like to add that pontifex may have to click on show process from all users, in the lower left of task manger, first. I make this comment because just recently, I have read 2 posts where this fact was not known.

Good luck to all.

 

[Victek]

Hi,
I get regularly high CPU usage without any visible reason in task manager. A desktop gadget shows the CPU usage between 50 - 70 % but in the task manager there are two or three processes with 1 % each.
I see also higher power consumption. In normal idle state I have some 18 W, with the CPU usage increased it is 40 W. And of course, the notebook is pretty noisy at that time because the CPU temperature runs to 50 °C. (Usual is 15 - 20 °C.)
The notebook is HP ProBook 6540b - Intel i5, Win 7 Pro. It is new and I am quite disappointed I cannot take it to a library because of the noise.

Because I see nothing in the task manager I am not able to determine the cause of the problem.
If anybody has any ideas what to do, I would be very glad. Thx.

.
I suggest trying System Explorer which will enable you to see processes in much more detail then the Task Manager.

System Explorer Homepage

System Explorer is freeware, and has other great capabilities in addition to process viewing.

 

[pontifex]

richc46 is right. I didnot switch the manager to see processes of all users. Now, I see two are responsible:
WmiPrvSE.exe user: Network service
and svchost.exe user: system
If I understand it well, the both are a part of windows. But they still seem to increase the cpu usage randomly, without any specific action from my side...

 

[Victek]

richc46 is right. I didnot switch the manager to see processes of all users. Now, I see two are responsible:
WmiPrvSE.exe user: Network service
and svchost.exe user: system
If I understand it well, the both are a part of windows. But they still seem to increase the cpu usage randomly, without any specific action from my side...

.
Have you done a scan for malware with something like MBAM or SAS? It's always good to check because malware can masquerade as system files.

 

[richc46]

Victek, excellent point.
svchost trojan/virus/spyware/malware!? - Tech Support Guy Forums

So astute, that I think it deserves rep.

 

[pontifex]

no malware

I scanned the computer for malware with MBAM. Nothing found.

 

[richc46]

Ok then we have to assume that the increased cpu usage is normal for the OS.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/what-is-svchostexe-and-why-is-it-running/

For Vista and 7


http://www.technibble.com/how-to-fix-svchost-using-100-cpu-memory-leak/

 

[pontifex]

Ok then we have to assume that the increased cpu usage is normal for the OS.
What is svchost.exe And Why Is It Running? - How-To Geek

For Vista and 7


How to Fix svchost.exe using 100% CPU / Memory Leak | Technibble

Thanks for the link. I find the article suggestive .-) I will try to catch the service that makes the svchost use more cpu time. I can also shut up some unneeded services.
Yet, it is just a half of the problem. The second halt is "WmiPrvSE.exe". Can this process be stopped?

one moment, it is back right now...

So, the services run on the svchost are: Power, Plug and Play and DCOM Launch. See pictures below.

And it is away. It lasted app. 5 minutes, this time.

 

[pontifex]

Problem solved

I watched the processes in the System Explorer but I did not find the way how to stop the two services responsible for my troubles. Then, I searched in system logs (events protocols) accesible through the Action Center, I selected events occured at the time the high cpu usage appeared and, finally, found some minor problems with two Hewlett Packard utilities which are normally loaded as services at startup - HP Power Assistent and HP Wireless Assistent. So I shut them down and excluded from startup launch and... the problem never appeared again. I did some experiments to confirm this hypothesis, and it was not but hypothesis because the only link between what I have seen in the task manager and what i have found in the log was that the both somehow concern network connection, and now it is for sure.
So, the problem was HP software which, moreover, does not bring any significant improvement to basic win tools to manage wifi and power consumption. Now, the cpu is calm 20 °C and silent!
... btw. have ever noticed how noisy a harddisk can be?