Solved High cpu use while computer is idle

[Atom]

I have an older computer (intel E6700;8gb ram, Win7-64). It's usually not doing anything, but it's on and connected to the network. I received a windows message that I was running low on memory and then I noticed that cpu use was 100%. I did a restart and got a prompt that the page file size had been changed. Now, if I run the machine with nothing being done, the cpu use does not go to a low value and line out; it's constantly oscillating between 0 and 10%.

I am seeking help in identifying which processes or services are causing this behavior and/or which hardware, if any may be at fault. I did a full virus scan and there was nothing.

Thanks for any assistance.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Try working thru this:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html

 

[Atom]

Try working thru this:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html

I tried that to no effect. Today I noticed that the machine would no longer turn off it's display or put itself to sleep. Now I've done a complete reinstall of Windows 7 and the cpu activity is still there with nothing else installed. I've also tried disconnecting all the peripherals and the network cable and this had no effect. One other thing I tried was a different hard drive running Windows 8; in this case the cpu runs much quieter and not regularly cycling between 0 and 10%. Possibly it's the SSD with the Win 7 on it; it's an OCZ Agility 3?

 

[UsernameIssues]

Try Process Explorer and see if you can determine what EXE/DLL is causing the activity.

 

[Atom]

Try Process Explorer and see if you can determine what EXE/DLL is causing the activity.

It's System processes

 

[logicearth]

Try Process Explorer and see if you can determine what EXE/DLL is causing the activity.

It's System processes

That would signify it is a driver or hardware issue. Or something that interfaces with the deep levels of the system.

 

[Atom]

Try Process Explorer and see if you can determine what EXE/DLL is causing the activity.

It's System processes

That would signify it is a driver or hardware issue. Or something that interfaces with the deep levels of the system.

I've updated all the drivers, but it's still there.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Is it due to IO activity?

 

[Atom]

Is it due to IO activity?

View attachment 267194

Nothing on IO. Attached CPU graph with system at idle

 

[UsernameIssues]

Bummer, having a corresponding IO spike would have made things easier to track down.

AVG antivirus used to load their signature files into the System process. This caused a lot of IO traffic to/from that process. Which is why I asked about the IO activity.

Does this CPU activity show up while in the safe mode? (just the safe mode, not safe mode with networking or any of the other safe mode variants)

 

[Atom]

Bummer, having a corresponding IO spike would have made things easier to track down.

AVG antivirus used to load their signature files into the System process. This caused a lot of IO traffic to/from that process. Which is why I asked about the IO activity.

Does this CPU activity show up while in the safe mode? (just the safe mode, not safe mode with networking or any of the other safe mode variants)

In safe mode, the cpu activity will stay at zero.

 

[fezbombmatt]

I had a similar issue, mine was an audio driver that somehow didnt install correctly. Once i found out i uninstalled. Ran CCleaner and Driver Fusion to remove all traces of it. And reinstall BAM problem solved.

So what drivers have you updated after fresh installation?

 

[Atom]

I had a similar issue, mine was an audio driver that somehow didnt install correctly. Once i found out i uninstalled. Ran CCleaner and Driver Fusion to remove all traces of it. And reinstall BAM problem solved.

So what drivers have you updated after fresh installation?

All of them. I've also tried disabling/uninstalling the audio device, but I'll take another look at that. I may also take a look at just installing the drivers that came with the mobo to see if the problem is present there.

edit: Turns out it's the printer port(LPT1). I just started disabling devices and it turned out to be that one. Since I don't need that I'll just leave it disabled.

That was easy...

 

[fezbombmatt]

Drivers do my head in. I cant install one now without using safe mode first and cleaning any old traces lol.

Install it properly and it should be fine.

Assuming that it is the driver anyway.

 

[Atom]

Drivers do my head in. I cant install one now without using safe mode first and cleaning any old traces lol.

Install it properly and it should be fine.

Assuming that it is the driver anyway.

Drivers have sure used up a lot of my time too. I'm just putting the parallel port and the two com ports on the disabled list until further notice. I can't imagine why I'd ever need them.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

 

[Britton30]

Atom, try this: In the rb:Start box type resmon / Enter. The Resource Monitor will open, follow the numbers in the snip to find specific CPU processes in use. Note it may have two scroll bars to see the bottom bars, this is a composite image.

 

[Atom]

Atom, try this: In the rb:Start box type resmon / Enter. The Resource Monitor will open, follow the numbers in the snip to find specific CPU processes in use. Note it may have two scroll bars to see the bottom bars, this is a composite image.

View attachment 267219

I use Process Explorer for this, but was unable to determine anything from it. Did you see my previous post. I'm marking this solved.

 

[Britton30]

Yeah I saw it, that's why I made my suggestion, you get more than a graph. :huh: