My CPU usage spikes...

mrcalhou

According to the task manager, my CPU usage will randomly spike to 100%, stay there for a random amount of time, then everything will go back to normal. When this happens my computer stops responding, and what I find most strange is that the clock falls behind, even if I had just resynced it.

Anyone have any idea on what may be going on?

Aethios

It sounds to me like you might have a virus, although it could be many things. Two items of note:

First, do you have anti-virus, and if so, what kind?

Second, take a look at the Task Manager list of processes, specifically the ones with *your* username rather than just "SYSTEM" or similar labels, and let us know if there are any you don't recognize. With a few exceptions, processes labeled with your username should only include programs you started yourself or you have set to load on startup when you log in (such as instant messengers).

mrcalhou

I must admit, I don't know much when it comes to this stuff and I don't use any anti-virus...I had norton, but never subbed to it. I've had the laptop for two years and didn't have a problem, so I felt cocky and thought I didn't need it (which i always knew was a falicy). (the "it" is a reference to anti-virus in general, I HATE norton.)

These I don't recognize, or think I recognize but aren't too sure. It's everything that isn't aim, explorer, and taskmanager.

HPQTOA~1.EXE

hpqimzone.exe

msmsgs.exe

eabservr.exe

QPService.exe

ehmsas.exe

ccApp.exe

SynTPEnh.exe

hpwuSchd2.exe

jusched.exe

atiptaxx.exe

ehtray.exe

ati2evxx.exe

wuauclt.exe

Aethios

Avira Anti-Vir

This is regarded in some circles as the best free antivirus available. It does have a once-daily popup, but IMO it's a small price to pay. This particular service scans your hard drive in real time while files are being edited, to prevent viruses before they happen.

As for the processes, most of them are harmless.

atiptaxx.exe = ATI video driver

ati2evxx.exe = Never seen this before, but probably also for your video card.

msmsgs.exe = MSN Messenger

jusched.exe = Java Update Scheduler

hpwuSchd2.exe = HP software updater

hpqimzone.exe = Some kind of HP software thing.

wuauclt.exe = Windows Update

I don't recognize the others but they don't look particularly dangerous. I'd recommend you download Avira (linked above) and run a good thorough scan, and consider downloading Ad-Aware or something similar as well to eliminate any spyware you might have.

EDIT: I should clarify that it IS POSSIBLE that a virus would be running and active but not show up on the process list. There are ways to hide it, or mask it as a different process. Be sure to run anti-virus anyways just to be sure.

mrcalhou

Okay thanks. I've been scared to download anti-virus programs for fear of getting a virus or trojan or what-not.

Stuka1000

ccapp.exe is part of Norton and as you are no longer using Norton it should be disabled so as not to conflict with any other anti-virus software that you install.

 

What kind of laptop is it because you have processes running from HP, Compaq & IBM there.

mrcalhou

it's a HP pavilion dv 8309us

So far avira has found two things, but if it isn't a virus, what else could it be?

Stuka1000

Originally posted by mrcalhou


it's a HP pavilion dv 8309us
So far avira has found two things, but if it isn't a virus, what else could it be?

 

Spyware or Malware.  Run a couple of decent spyware checkers like Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D. 

mrcalhou

But you don't think it could be a hardware issue?

Stuka1000

Unlikely.  Run the spyware programs and the anti-virus, you may also want to run a good registry cleaner as the windows registry has a habit of filling up with all kinds of rubbish which slows the machine down a lot.  Windows itself ( especially vista ) is known to go off at a tangent from time to time and do what it wants to do rather than what you want it to do, usually stuff related to security etc. which makes the PC seem unresponsive for a few seconds.

 

Btw eabservr.exe is a compaq process  that manages Easy Access Buttons control panel on Compaq laptop computers so what it's doing running on your HP I have no idea.

mrcalhou

After running avira and removing two things it classified as a virus I have noticed an improvement in my performance. I'm not sure if this is just a placebo effect but I will do the other things as well. I was monitoring the cpu usage though and I noticed that on both my laptop and pc internet explorer will ramp it up into the 70 and 80 percents briefly. Is this normal?

xxlilDevilxx

There are somethings you can do,

1) Get a anti-virus program and do a full check (BitDefender is a good one)

2) Get a anti-spyware and do a full check (ad-adware, Spybot are free but cant remove some, currently I use Webroot and it is good, Webroot also have a free firewall download if you sub to it)

3) Get a register cleaner and do a clean up and register check (CCleaner is the one I am using and is good)

4) Check your ram (is it less than 1GB? you need alot of ram for vista), sometimes not enough ram will use Harddisk as a swap which pull more resources from the cpu.

5) Go to Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services and disable anything you dont need/use. Window always startup with lot of things after reboot. Not all of those are needed. (Be sure you check the description first)

6) Use Ubuntu or other Linux disco

Stuka1000

Originally posted by mrcalhou


After running avira and removing two things it classified as a virus I have noticed an improvement in my performance. I'm not sure if this is just a placebo effect but I will do the other things as well. I was monitoring the cpu usage though and I noticed that on both my laptop and pc internet explorer will ramp it up into the 70 and 80 percents briefly. Is this normal?

 

Yes that's normal.  Run the spyware programs and see if it's any better.

Darkholme

Originally posted by mrcalhou


Okay thanks. I've been scared to download anti-virus programs for fear of getting a virus or trojan or what-not.

Irony

Something else you might want to consider.

Comodo Firewall Pro (http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/):

Tons of options for advanced users, Easy to use for beginners. Award-winning performance. In the top 3 personal firewall software programs, free or otherwise.



CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/):

Formerly "Crap Cleaner", dubbed simply because it cleans your PC of all the unnecessary crap that is usually bogging down ones hard drive. Very through cleaning, lots of options, and automatic update alerts make this a MUST HAVE tool.

Use CCleaner in safe mode and you'll have better results.

mrcalhou

I won't be able to do it until the morning, because I need to get to bed soon. I really, really appreciate the help.

Darkholme

Originally posted by eric1000 
Btw eabservr.exe is a compaq process  that manages Easy Access Buttons control panel on Compaq laptop computers so what it's doing running on your HP I have no idea.

Compaq was bought by HP a long time ago and is now a subsidiary I believe.

Darkholme

Originally posted by mrcalhou


I won't be able to do it until the morning, because I need to get to bed soon. I really, really appreciate the help.

Something else I found for you that might help.

HP Pavilion dv8309us Notebook PC Support Page: h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product

Support, drivers, updates and such.

 

 

Stuka1000

Originally posted by Darkholme

Originally posted by eric1000 
Btw eabservr.exe is a compaq process  that manages Easy Access Buttons control panel on Compaq laptop computers so what it's doing running on your HP I have no idea.

Compaq was bought by HP a long time ago and is now a subsidiary I believe.

 

That would explain it

miagisan

just out of curiousity you running vista? there are a couple of programs like it's indexer,aero, etc which kick on at random times and does some work. There are tweaks...but being a xp user i am not too familiar with it

mrcalhou

I have XP.

I used avira, spybot S&D, and CCleaner, but my laptop is still doing it.

Stuka1000

download and run this http://www.download.com/Registry-Mechanic/3000-2094_4-10190447.html

 

It will not fix everything unless you pay to register it but it will give you a rundown of all your registry errors and fix the most crucial ones.

 

and also this one http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/downloads/index.cfm?categoryID=1727&itemID=23258

 

never rely on just one anti-spyware program.  Anti-virus programs are all pretty much the same but anti-spyware ones are not, I have 3 different ones.

 

You may also want to run a program that checks the winsock, many adware or spyware programs are badly written and attach themselves to the winsock, screwing it up in the process.  I don't think that you have this problem as your internet connection is ok but no harm in checking.

Darkholme

I also use CCleaner to clean my registry and it works well. Yes I agree, you should run two or three different Spyware/Adware cleaners if you want to cover everything. I use the following:

Spybot-S&D: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html

AdAware: http://lavasoft.com/

I also use the one that is built into Kaspersky Internet Security, but that's not free unfortunately. Aside from AV it also has a pretty good firewall.

They should make a software forum or turn this one into a Hardware/Software forum.

OP: Unfortunately it is really hard to diagnose some problems on a forum and without being able to look at it firsthand. I always get frustrated when the usual cleaning and troubleshooting doesn't work out. I'd like to see what your "Processes" and "Applications" tabs look like during one of these spikes. I feel like we're missing something.

 

mrcalhou

I've watched the processes when it spikes, and if I have guild wars running, then the task manager says that that is using up all my cpu. If EVE is running, then that uses it all. Same with IE or any other program I have running. The application tab doesn't look out of the ordinary. Though I have a lot more processes running when compared to my dell PC.

mrcalhou

I was watching my task manager and I noticed that an extra process would pop in briefly at the time that my laptop would slow down.

It's avwsc.exe and it's labeled under system.

Darkholme

Originally posted by mrcalhou


I was watching my task manager and I noticed that an extra process would pop in briefly at the time that my laptop would slow down.
It's avwsc.exe and it's labeled under system.

That's an Avira AV process, and is good. What you really need to do is, look through your installed programs and clean out anything you don't need, especially the ones that are resident and running in the background all the time. Many pre-built PC companies fill your PC with useless junk programs, much of it is bloatware that serves no purpose. Also don't forget to defrag your hard drive(s) often, especially if you download, install and delete a lot. I use another program made my the company that makes CCleaner, it is also free.

Defraggler: http://www.defraggler.com/

 

mrcalhou

I removed some program called "otto." Do you know what that is?