CPU help query.

[4bee]

I am experiencing slow loading of websites, mail etc & wondered why.

Using Task Manager in XP Pro, I find that the CPU Usage is 100%.:eek:

This is with the browser & mail shut down & no other progs open.:confused:


Has anyone any clues on what would be consuming this amount of CPU?
Seems to me that this could definitely slow down the works & give me the slowness I am experiencing.

Any advice gratefully received.

[jonesy63]

Hi - in Task Manager, click on the "CPU" heading of the table and let us know what process is using 100%.
Cheers,
Rob

[4bee]

Thanks Rob.

Ah, ok. Was out of the box.;)

Sychost.exe (SYSTEM) is consuming apx. 76%

Task Manager 22%

System 10%


I closed Sychost & usge fell to around 38% but then the Task bar 'enlarged' & eventually went back to normal. Usage now is apx. Max. 38% & slightly fluctuating. Seems more normal, but why did it do that?

[abaddonxi]

Have you got adaware or spybot?

Spybot download
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

Adaware download
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

I would also run a virus scan, here's one that you can run across the web from Symantec.
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym

All free.

All of that stuff is basic and easy and may make a world of difference.

Cheers
Simon

[jonesy63]

That was probably svchost.exe - not sychost.exe. Every time you start a connection to a new web site, download a file (ftp), it starts a new process. One connection was probably just hung.

Next time, do a "netstat -an" from a DOS window to see what connections you have. You might be able to figure out which site was causing the problem.

Or it could just be windows... ;)

Cheers,
Rob

[4bee]

Thanks lads. Was just doing a Google on this. Could have been a problem but maybe not now.

A little confusing. I'm sure it was a sYchost & not a svchost.

Simon, I have got & use those two, so fingers crossed. CPU is now down to about 30 - 50%.

I have just downloaded 'Process Explorer' from Micro****e which gives a better picture than Task Manager. Just got to work out what it all means now.;):D

Thanks for your responses.(ii):D

[abaddonxi]

As it happens I've just come up on this one too. Could be a virus, could be a memory leak. Here are a bunch of links.

Were you trying to run windows update at the time?


http://search.microsoft.com/results.aspx'mkt=en-US&qsc0=0&SearchBtn0=Search&q=svchost.exe&first=11&FORM=PNME
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309615
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932494
http://ask-leo.com/svchost_and_svchostexe_crashs_cpu_maximization_vir uses_exploits_and_more.html

Cheers
Simon

[4bee]

Hi Simon.
Each day after bootup I check Task Manager. If I see that sychost.exe SYSTEM is using copious amounts of CPU, I 'End Task' it.
That "fixes" the little mother for the rest of the day until I shut down.
It does not appear to affect any other Process that I can see & all I use seem ok.
I do not get any Error Messages re sychost, as mentioned in some of the MS posts & it could have well happened when using Win Updates but I cannot recall, as there was a red film over my eyes at that moment.:D

I have done a full AV, Registry, Spybot scan & anything else I can think of. It's marvellous just how much Troubleshooting one can cause with a 3lb axe & some plastic.:)
I guess I will have to live with it for now, but if you do get to learn of a fix then please post it here if you would.

Thanks.


I meant to add that Win Updates always listed ALL updates. Now, it tells me that I have never updated from the website, but if I go to 'Set Program Access & Defaults' & check there Win updates are listed.:confused::confused::confused::confused::co nfused:
I 'suspect' that may have occurred around the same time but again I'm not sure. sychost.exe connected & end tasked? Don't know.

[Bushie]

A search on google fo sychost.exe brings up a whole bunch of links almost all refer to the LEOX.B VIRUS


http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/sychost/
http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/sychost/

I would say you need to get rid of it, it probably connects to the net each time you start to download a new copy of itself.

Have a good hunt around to find the info on how to get rid of it.



Martyn

[Pedro_The_Swift]

you havent put in a new sound card lately?

[djam1]

4Bee
I admin a Windows Network with 120 machines and there has been issues with Windows update that have been causing just this issue in the last week.
Do a search in Google Groups and you should find the answers that you need.

Duane

[4bee]

Which particular issue, Duane? The sychost.exe or the "Not Updating"?

No, no new sound card, Pedro.

[abaddonxi]

4Bee
I admin a Windows Network with 120 machines and there has been issues with Windows update that have been causing just this issue in the last week.
Do a search in Google Groups and you should find the answers that you need.

Duane

Yep, that's the one I have, run the patch and another set of work-arounds to no avail. Switched to Windows update and the problem is gone. Did a virus scan and the usual spyware scans and found nothing.

Fortunately the computer is another one picked up off the side of the road, so I don't really car if it turns to slag.

Cheers
Simon

[Debacle]

A couple of free programs you can try are Clean Up by Stephen Gould and Regseeker. I run these plus Spybot as well as Defrag my disk regularly and the machine runs faultlessly. A website you could look up is Ray Shaw. He writes a column for the courier mail and seems pretty clued up.

[4bee]

I have had a chance to carry out some of the suggestions to no avail.

Problem is still with me, but I can improve things a lot still, by 'End Tasking" svchost.exe System.
CPU load drops back to 20 - 50% & all seems normal.

I hope this screen print in MS Paint works. I have marked the one that I have closed down. Any comments please as well as on others I can shut down safely? https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/05/164.jpgplease?