Explorer.exe and other processes using 50% of CPU

[Splinshint]

This is NOT a virus issue.

Running XP SP2 on Dell Optiplex GX620

This just randomly started happening to my client in the last few days.

Boot PC and look at processes. Explorer.exe hangs at 50% CPU usage for around 5 minutes. Not able to open anything. Then it jumps to 0% and all of my programs start to open. THEN, other random processes start doing the same thing for 5 more minutes. All at 50%. I can shut each one down at 50%, and another will take it's place. At this point the other 50% is alloted to System Idle process.

Then five or so minutes later, System Idle jumps to 99%.

I think the processor is going bad. Thoughts?

 

[iisjman07]

How are you so sure that the machine is clean (have you done a manual inspection or just run scanners)? Processors rarely (and I mean rarely) go bad, and when they do they tend to act like a dead motherboard - the machine won't even POST. I've never seen a machine with a bad processor that would still boot and work. "System Idle" process should be high which you should probably know. What diagnostics have you done?

 

[NYJimbo]

This is NOT a virus issue.

Running XP SP2 on Dell Optiplex GX620

This just randomly started happening to my client in the last few days.

Boot PC and look at processes. Explorer.exe hangs at 50% CPU usage for around 5 minutes. Not able to open anything. Then it jumps to 0% and all of my programs start to open. THEN, other random processes start doing the same thing for 5 more minutes. All at 50%. I can shut each one down at 50%, and another will take it's place. At this point the other 50% is alloted to System Idle process.

Then five or so minutes later, System Idle jumps to 99%.

I think the processor is going bad. Thoughts?

Eliminate the operating system and all its programs by booting with something like UBCD4win and see if it does the same.

How much ram and how much free.

Run hard drive stress testing or performance testing.

 

[Splinshint]

Thanks for the replies guys. I should also mention that it does the same thing in safe mode too.

I have run full scans with AVG, Norton as well as spybot, AAW, etc.....

And it is not acting like it's a virus issue. I see NOTHING abnormal, but that's not to say that I am not wrong either.

Any good suggestions for those hard drive stress tests?

 

[NYJimbo]

Thanks for the replies guys. I should also mention that it does the same thing in safe mode too.

I would definitly go with a UBCD/UBCD4win boot and play with it. Safe mode or not, eliminate the whole O/S in one quick boot and then you get a better feel if its hardware.

 

[Splinshint]

Didn't even know about that tool. Downloading it now. Thanks, and i will let you know what I find.

 

[NYJimbo]

Didn't even know about that tool. Downloading it now. Thanks, and i will let you know what I find.

Its pretty complicated the first time you do it. UBCD4win you got to install it, configure it, create the ISO and then burn it. Using the boot disk the first time is a bit confusing.

However, this tool is one of the most important things you can add to your software collection and IT WILL help you many times when you have no other choices.

Really spend some time learning the configuration options and play with all the tools it has after it boots and appears like a regular copy of windows.
So much cool stuff in there.

 

[vdub12]

I've never seen a machine with a bad processor that would still boot and work. "System Idle" process should be high which you should probably know. What diagnostics have you done?

My test system has an Athlon 2000+ that has something wrong with it. It runs great until you run anything with 3D and it trips out. I have used that CPU in a few systems all with the same result so now its in my test system.

However, this tool is one of the most important things you can add to your software collection and IT WILL help you many times when you have no other choices.

I agree no tech should be without that CD. Its been a life saver many times. I have modified mine a little bit. I am running the classic theme instead on luna and I also added get data back to it. I plan to add ghost and brand it some day.

 

[Peaceful]

might wanna try uninstalling all that extra dell software. I recently had a dell dimension peaking at 100%. Did a restore with just the os disk minus the extra dell utilities and she's been running lean and mean ever since.

 

[MobileTechie]

You might want to check out the built-in Windows performance tools (Admin Tools->Performance) - System Monitor will give you a graph of any counter you set. My default it measures CPU%, pages and disk queue but there are hundreds of counters to choose.

You'll need to look up what the baseline numbers should be for some of them but it's a good and very underused tool for troubleshooting performance issues.

 

[NYJimbo]

might wanna try uninstalling all that extra dell software. I recently had a dell dimension peaking at 100%. Did a restore with just the os disk minus the extra dell utilities and she's been running lean and mean ever since.

I wouldnt do it unless you tell the client. Not alot of fun to give a machine back to a client and then they ask "Where did that little icon go, I need that".