Help please?

[Antares]

I need some help from one of you computer gurus out there. My computer is running strangely and after running my anti-virus and malwarebytes software, it's still doing the same thing. The CPU spikes out at 100% randomly and I have to wait for it to clear out before I can do anything else. This is a screenshot of the processes section of the task manager. Does anyone recognize anything here that might be causing this problem.



Another question...Do you see anything there that should be turned off and how would I do it?

[goodguy]

It's either the Antivirus program (avast) or, more likely, the Java Quick Starter (jqs). The latter can be disabled via the Java Extended Settings in Control Panel.

[Najemikon]

I use Avast and never had a problem with it. From the list, there are two I'm not happy about.

Look here: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=85024 They're discussing high CPU usage from acs.exe, which you have. Might be worth killing that temporarily, though it may also take your net connection with it.

Also, sweetim is some sort of emoticon plug-in for Messenger. Unnecessary and largely trouble, bloody things, I hate them! Google how to uninstall Sweetim (don't just go straight for add/remove programs). I wouldn't trust it.

Thing is, you already know how to get into task manager, so have you monitored it when it taps out at 100%? If you click the CPU column it will sort by the processes putting the largest demand on the processor. System idle should be the percentage of whatever is left, so don't be concerned by it running at 99% as it is there.

Also, don't rule out hardware. A dodgy fan full of dust can cause the CPU to spike. If it starts turning itself off, take the lid off and give it a blow out (don't use a Hoover!).

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

First of all your list is incomplete. Compare CPU usage (4%) and listing which sums up to 0%.

For a listing of all (except hidden) processes flag the "Show processes from all users"-option.

Processes that can/should be disabled in Autostart (via "Start -> Run -> msconfig):
jusched.exe (Java Update scheduler)
PDVDServ.exe (There's absolutely no sense in having normal applications in the Autostart, they don't start faster when needed and are using RAM when idle)
RichVideo.exe (There's absolutely no sense in having normal applications in the Autostart, they don't start faster when needed and are using RAM when idle)

SweetIM is a PlugIn that comes with MSN-messenger and should be disabled. If you are not using the MSN-messenger you might even want to uninstall it.

ctfmon might cause some trouble in CPU and RAM usage. To disable it Rightclick on the "US" sign in the lower right area of your taskbar -> Choose "Settings" -> Click on the second tab and disable "Enhanced Settings" (or equivalent, sorry for not being more precise, but I'm using the localized German version).

For finding unwanted processes I found "Spybot Search & Destroy" to be extremely useful.
In the "Enhanced" mode (which you can easily enable after installation) you can:
- get a complete list of all processes that are starting with your system with an easy to use traffic light system to distinguish between malware (red), unneeded (yellow) and OK (green).
- get a complete list of all processes currently running on your machine (incl. hierarchies and dependencies), which is much better than the very simplistic "Windows Task Manager".
- get a list of all currently installed Browser PlugIns with an evaluation in the already mentioned "Traffic Light"-style.
- By "Immunizing" your system known malware-site calls by your machine automatically get redirected to 127.0.0.1 (means they don't get out of your computer and therefore end up in Data-Nirvana)

[BigTim]

Just off the top of my head.  What CPU do you have?  Is it overheating?  I'm just thinking the people are right.  The numbers don't add up.  If your getting 100% spikes you may be having an actual physical problem not software related.  What speed and brand processor do you run?  Is it seated right?  Have you had any bumps or anything like that to the case.  Maybe I'm way off but the simple stuff to check is that sort of thing. Software can be a bitch to run down.  Hope that helps a little.

Big Tim

[Eric]

Task manager is a crappy tool to diagnose high cpu.  Process Explorer is much better.  Run it on your next CPU spike, it will help you identify the process(es) that is/are responsible.

Task Manager can show you lots of "svchost" processes but it doesn't tell you what process it is actually "hosting", process explorer does.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653

[Antares]

Finally figured out what it was. One of my add-ons or extensions was corrupt in Firefox. I removed the browser and all personal info and re-installed and now the problem seems to have disappeared.

Thanks to everyone who tried to help.

[Antares]

Needs some help again...I want to do an internet search using four keywords. I only want pages to appear that have all four keywords on it, not just three or two of them. How do I type in the search so that this happens?

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Combine the words with an all caps "AND" (without inverted commas), this will give you only the search results that contain all parameters of your query.

If you are looking for a certain combination of words (e.g.: absolutely no sports) put your query in inverted commas.

[kahless]

Maybe this could help: Google Queries <- click!

[Achim]

According the Google Help page the trick with AND will not work, as it is already the default. Yet the default occasionally will omit words.

But, if you go to Advanced Search (only shows up, below the page numbers, after you clicked Search for the first time) you will have a field to "Find web pages that have...all these words:".

[Blair]

That part of the Advanced Search lies. If you only use that field, you are doing the exact same thing as a regular search. It was just easier to state it that way than to explain it would try to find pages with all words but may include other similar pages with only a few of the words.



Search in Google with a plus sign in front of each word, like this:

+only +show +pages +that +have +every +word


You can exclude pages that have a word by using a minus instead. The same trick also works with phrases by placing the plus of minus in front of a phrase that is surrounded by quotes:

+"Include all pages with this phrase" -"except for those that also contain this phrase"

[Achim]

That part of the Advanced Search lies. If you only use that field, you are doing the exact same thing as a regular search. It was just easier to state it that way than to explain it would try to find pages with all words but may include other similar pages with only a few of the words.

Year, some further testing revealed that to me too. Not working as advertised is hat I say to that. The + signs sem like a good idea though.

[Antares]

Thanks for the help, but I guess the website I'm looking for is gone. Blair's idea worked great.