topic Re: HIGH CPU usage in Electronics

HIGH CPU usage

scotttie — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 20:53:41 GMT

What does this mean when I see a warning like that from my Norton?

I seem to be getting them frequently today and yesterday.

Re: HIGH CPU usage

glb613 — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 21:30:47 GMT

Something installed on your computer is using a higher than normal amount of your CPU or processor's power. It can be malware, have you run a scan?

Re: HIGH CPU usage

Nuttmeg — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 21:42:33 GMT

You are running a program or process that is using the CPU a lot. How much RAM does you computer have? How old is this system?

Norton is just giving you info about your computer. You could have an unknown program using your processor. This probably is not the case.

If you use Chrome browser, It will have a few pages running in the background. Internet Explorer will do the same thing. You could be downloading a program.

I usually check the "task manager" if my computer likes its running slow.

Re: HIGH CPU usage

scotttie — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 22:26:58 GMT

Yes, I run scans often.

Hmm. I have no idea how much RAM my computer has. It's an old system. Windows Vista and the newest IE browser I can have which is an old one.

I don't use chrome

Re: HIGH CPU usage

gardenman — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 22:28:33 GMT

Shutting down and restarting the computer will typically fix this issue with no trouble. Sometimes programs or plug-ins will go a little crazy and grab resources they don't really need. You can go into Task Manager and see what processes are using what resources, but it's usually easier to just shut down and restart. that should solve the issue, If it recurs frequently, then troubleshoot it by going into Task Manager to find the culprit. It's not a big issue.

Re: HIGH CPU usage

Mayfayre — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 22:34:20 GMT

Open up Task Manager (Control+Alt+Delete buttons at the same time) and see which program you're using is hogging the CPU.

You might have too many programs open at the same time that are competing for CPU cycles, or may have left a graphics-intensive program running in the background or perhaps multiple browsers.

Check out the Norton forums to see if they have any mention of a similar problem.

http://community.norton.com/forums

Check whatever logs your Norton program might create to see if they list which program triggered the alert.

If you've got regularly scheduled security scans running, then perhaps they were running while you were using some other CPU intensive program.

Re: HIGH CPU usage

Lynnj — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 02:32:12 GMT

There is something (or a bunch of something's) that are using up your CPU. This is not good for your computer, or hard drive. I am sure you can hear the fan noise and I bet the bottom is very hot. What are you doing at the time you get these messages? Are you playing any games? Facebook games? Do yourself a favor, make a back up of the hard drive on an external hard drive ASAP. If these messages are happening frequently, and you can't figure out what is taking up the CPU, you'll run the risk of the computer hard drive crashing.

Re: HIGH CPU usage

PamelaSue72 — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 11:59:06 GMT

The Vista OS is known for "hard drive thrashing". Most often, it's because of Search Indexing. I completely disabled Search Indexing on my DH's Vista system; the constant drive thrashing gets beyond annoying. That worked for several months, but I've noticed that the drive has started to thrash again and now, I don't know what to do to stop it. It's pretty much constant, from the time we start the computer until I get so frustrated I have to shut it back down.

Google "Vista hard drive thrashing" and you'll see what I mean. I think this is what you're talking about. It has nothing to do with malware; it has nothing to do with any program or software that you're running. Check it out.

It's a common thing with Vista and if you figure out how to stop it (and keep it stopped), please let me know.

Re: HIGH CPU usage

scotttie — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 15:12:26 GMT

On 10/10/2014 gardenman said:
Shutting down and restarting the computer will typically fix this issue with no trouble. Sometimes programs or plug-ins will go a little crazy and grab resources they don't really need. You can go into Task Manager and see what processes are using what resources, but it's usually easier to just shut down and restart. that should solve the issue, If it recurs frequently, then troubleshoot it by going into Task Manager to find the culprit. It's not a big issue.

Thank you! Amazing how doing a re start solves so many problems.

Re: HIGH CPU usage

scotttie — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 15:13:51 GMT

On 10/10/2014 Mayfayre said:
Open up Task Manager (Control+Alt+Delete buttons at the same time) and see which program you're using is hogging the CPU.

You might have too many programs open at the same time that are competing for CPU cycles, or may have left a graphics-intensive program running in the background or perhaps multiple browsers.

Check out the Norton forums to see if they have any mention of a similar problem.

http://community.norton.com/forums

Check whatever logs your Norton program might create to see if they list which program triggered the alert.

If you've got regularly scheduled security scans running, then perhaps they were running while you were using some other CPU intensive program.

Thank you. I have used the task manager before but only when my computer freezes up which it doesn't very often. I'm going to remember this for next time the CPU warning shows up.

Re: HIGH CPU usage

scotttie — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 15:14:57 GMT

On 10/10/2014 Lynnj said: There is something (or a bunch of something's) that are using up your CPU. This is not good for your computer, or hard drive. I am sure you can hear the fan noise and I bet the bottom is very hot. What are you doing at the time you get these messages? Are you playing any games? Facebook games? Do yourself a favor, make a back up of the hard drive on an external hard drive ASAP. If these messages are happening frequently, and you can't figure out what is taking up the CPU, you'll run the risk of the computer hard drive crashing.

Thanks Lynn. No, I don't hear the fan and I have no Facebook account anymore. Thanks for the advice about backing up the hard drive.

Re: HIGH CPU usage

scotttie — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 15:17:26 GMT

On 10/11/2014 PamelaSue72 said:
The Vista OS is known for "hard drive thrashing". Most often, it's because of Search Indexing. I completely disabled Search Indexing on my DH's Vista system; the constant drive thrashing gets beyond annoying. That worked for several months, but I've noticed that the drive has started to thrash again and now, I don't know what to do to stop it. It's pretty much constant, from the time we start the computer until I get so frustrated I have to shut it back down.

Google "Vista hard drive thrashing" and you'll see what I mean. I think this is what you're talking about. It has nothing to do with malware; it has nothing to do with any program or software that you're running. Check it out.

It's a common thing with Vista and if you figure out how to stop it (and keep it stopped), please let me know.

Thank you. I have never heard of hard drive thrashing. And I have never heard of search indexing. Is there a downside to disabling it?

I'm getting in the mood for a new computer but want to wait for the new Windows 10 to come out.

Re: HIGH CPU usage

scotttie — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 15:17:57 GMT

Thank you very much to all who responded.

PS: This is a desk top and not a lap top computer

Re: HIGH CPU usage

glb613 — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 15:24:39 GMT

I did a complete restore on a computer a friend owns. After I installed all of the security software, it ran so slow, it stopped. I was able to determine it was the free/trial version of Malwarebytes using all of the resources. Once it was uninstalled, the computer ran great. I was able to find an old version of Malwarebytes(free edition), install it and it didn't hog resources. Chances are there is a program on your computer doing the same thing.

Re: HIGH CPU usage

gardenman — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 21:57:34 GMT

It's not always something obvious. A few years back the Google Toolbar would occasionally grab every resource it could get its hands on. If it recurs open Task Manager, click on the "Processes" tab, click on the bottom left where it says "Show all processes from all users," click okay when you get the warning and then take a look at what's using the CPU. In most cases the big user should be System Idle which means that most of your CPU is just sitting there waiting for something to come along and need it. If you see a big reading anyplace else, then that's your problem child. There are some processes you don't necessarily want to shut down, so if it's one of them, then a restart is your best bet. If it's something else, then you can try shutting down that process and see what happens. If it recurs routinely and the offender is something you can live without, check for an updated version, or delete the offending program.

When you click on the "Processes" tab you'll get a heading with Image Name, User Name, CPU, Memory, and Description. The CPU column will show you what's using the CPU and how much it's using. You may have to scroll all the way down to find the big users. Once you know what's using the CPU then the Image Name and Description will give you a starting point to identify the software causing the trouble.

Re: HIGH CPU usage

poregirl — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 00:53:32 GMT

Internet explorer browser is a piece of junk bloatware that uses too much resources. I recommend Opera browser.

I would suspect malware too.

Re: HIGH CPU usage

Mayfayre — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 22:05:47 GMT

On Vista, in addition to Search Indexing hogging the CPU, Windows Problem Reporting will also cause things to hang. I turned off both of those on my Vista computers.

Run > services.msc, then right click on whatever service you need and click Properties.

If you want to know which services are safe to disable or set to manual on Vista, check out Black Viper's website. He's been providing reliable information about services on all Windows OSes for years now. I found out about his website from a Computer Security forum that I belong to, and I've used his site as a reference site since WinME days.

http://www.blackviper.com/service-configurations/black-vipers-windows-vista-service-configurations/

Re: HIGH CPU usage

scotttie — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 06:04:11 GMT

On 10/11/2014 gardenman said:
It's not always something obvious. A few years back the Google Toolbar would occasionally grab every resource it could get its hands on. If it recurs open Task Manager, click on the "Processes" tab, click on the bottom left where it says "Show all processes from all users," click okay when you get the warning and then take a look at what's using the CPU. In most cases the big user should be System Idle which means that most of your CPU is just sitting there waiting for something to come along and need it. If you see a big reading anyplace else, then that's your problem child. There are some processes you don't necessarily want to shut down, so if it's one of them, then a restart is your best bet. If it's something else, then you can try shutting down that process and see what happens. If it recurs routinely and the offender is something you can live without, check for an updated version, or delete the offending program.

When you click on the "Processes" tab you'll get a heading with Image Name, User Name, CPU, Memory, and Description. The CPU column will show you what's using the CPU and how much it's using. You may have to scroll all the way down to find the big users. Once you know what's using the CPU then the Image Name and Description will give you a starting point to identify the software causing the trouble.

Thank you. It happened tonight and I did the task manager and "unhooked" the MSN messaging thingy that I never use anyway. Also, there was another program but I can't recall and I took that off too. I looked at the warning window and couldn't make hide nor hair of the information there but I didn't click the processes tab. I will do that next time!

Thank you gardenman. You are always so helpful.

Re: HIGH CPU usage

scotttie — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 06:05:14 GMT

On 10/11/2014 poregirl said:
Internet explorer browser is a piece of junk bloatware that uses too much resources. I recommend Opera browser.

I would suspect malware too.

Thank you but I don't want to change browsers. Every time I have I was sorry. I HATED Google Chrome and I'm not real fond of firefox although I use it occasionally.

Re: HIGH CPU usage

scotttie — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 06:06:08 GMT

On 10/12/2014 Mayfayre said:
On Vista, in addition to Search Indexing hogging the CPU, Windows Problem Reporting will also cause things to hang. I turned off both of those on my Vista computers.

Run > services.msc, then right click on whatever service you need and click Properties.

If you want to know which services are safe to disable or set to manual on Vista, check out Black Viper's website. He's been providing reliable information about services on all Windows OSes for years now. I found out about his website from a Computer Security forum that I belong to, and I've used his site as a reference site since WinME days.

http://www.blackviper.com/service-configurations/black-vipers-windows-vista-service-configurations/

Thank you. I will check this out. I don't know what search indexing is btw.