Random BSODs, 100% Utilization, and Driver Issues

[iXneonXi]

Well SDFormatter hasn't caused any Blue Screens now, so that is nice! I haven't used my computer enough to get a random BSOD.

The CPU usage issue still occurs. Notice the solid blocks of usage around 50 or so percent. It occurs frequently enough to witness multiple times in one sitting.

 

[richc46]

The amount of CPU used is not an indication of a problem.
First, try not using so many broswers at once.
Then make a clean boot to try to find the precise cause
How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

 

[iXneonXi]

I only had two tabs open. Chrome just does that. This does occur with no Windows open and only background process running.

I consider it a problem because these spikes of heavy usage affect my ability to use the computer. During those spikes the program I am using will occasionally lag, this can be devastating in a video game, or just plain frustrating while watching a video or playing music.

I'll go through the list following the Clean Boot method, but I was wondering if there's a way to automatically performance chart the various Services and Startup Objects. I have a massive list and it will take an extremely long time to diagnose following the Clean Boot method.

 

[richc46]

Give winpatrol a try. Not exactly what you asked for, but in my opinion better than a massive job with cleanboot.
BillP Studios - WinPatrol

 

[richc46]

Also
Make a full anti virus scan, Download and make a full scan with malwarebytes, just to be sure its not a problem that demands immediate attention.

 

[iXneonXi]

I've used every good scanner for malware and AV and have cleaned anything (didn't even have viruses). Pretty sure it's not that, though it could be a remnant effect of one I had long ago.
I'll look into WinPatrol.

 

[iXneonXi]

Using a variation of the Clean Boot method (I used Autoruns) I was able to solve the spikes. I disabled Bonjour (Action Center said this was causing issues), PunkBuster (I don't use those games anymore), Solidworks Licensing (I don't do CAD anymore), Seagate (unnecessary). I removed a couple programs I don't use from startup as well. I ran process explorer for about 40 minutes and didn't notice any unusual spikes. Thanks. I believe for now the bulk of my system issues have been taken care of. If I BSOD again I will run the tools and post another report.

 

[richc46]

Im glad that most of the problems are solved.

 

[fbell50]

External Sata drive caused my problem

I had the same problem, 100% cpu in thread 'ntoskrnl.exe!KeAcquireInStackQueuedSpinLockAtDpcLevel+0x1e0'". It was caused by a bad external sata drive. It also caused hibernation to fail requiring a power down.

 

[RDougShelton]

ALSO Get "ntoskrnl.exe"!KeAcquireInStackQueuedSpinLockAtDcpLevel+0x1e0

iXNeonXi:

Do you have any more detailed info on how you were able to get rid of this CPU-hogging kernel process?

I've got the same problem - also in Win 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1. However, in my case it didn't appear it was Bonjour causing the problem (I did Stop it), and I don't use any of those other services you indicated you'd halted in your post below. In fact, I "Stopped" literally EVERY Windows Service my admin-level userid allowed me to (essentially rendering the system unusable, but wanted to check to see if any one of those services was causing the problem), leaving me with only about ten services still running - all Microsoft services, plus one AVG service - but Task Mgr still showed the Kernel taking that 50% of CPU (for the indicated Thread). I also killed every process (except AVG, which I temporarily disabled) - same issue.




iXneonXi;

"1450374]Using a variation of the Clean Boot method (I used Autoruns) I was able to solve the spikes. I disabled Bonjour (Action Center said this was causing issues), PunkBuster (I don't use those games anymore), Solidworks Licensing (I don't do CAD anymore), Seagate (unnecessary). I removed a couple programs I don't use from startup as well. I ran process explorer for about 40 minutes and didn't notice any unusual spikes. Thanks. I believe for now the bulk of my system issues have been taken care of. If I BSOD again I will run the tools and post another report.[/QUOTE]

 

[RDougShelton]

FIGURED IT OUT!!

There was a driver from "New Software, Inc." for a product called "Folder-Lock", which is used to be able to assign a password to access windows folders, that was getting invoked by the Win7 System Kernel. I uninstalled this product, and presto, problem gone - no more 50% of CPU being used by system - - -

How I Did It::

I couldn't find any software or features within "Xperf", "Windows Process Monitor", or "Windows Process Explorer" that allowed me to "map" the offending Thread ID to the responsible driver. However, Windows Process Explorer does display info for all the Drivers being loaded/invoked for a given process - including the "System" kernel process.

So I just went and slowly browsed thru all 173 of them, and thought about what non-Microsoft drivers might possibly have something to do with locking up resources - a clue given to me by the Starting Address for the offending TID from Process Explorer:

"ntoskrnl.exe"!KeAcquireInStackQueuedSpinLockAtDcpLevel+0x1e0".

Normal "human heuristics logic" - - -