CPU Usage Spikes to 100% when...

[corvettelover]

Hello,

 

I have a Compaq 6715b

Specs:

 

CPU: Mobile AMD Sempron 3600+ 1.99ghz

Video: ATi Radeon x1270 256mb

Ram: 1gb

Operating System: Windows XP Professional Edition

 

My laptop was fine until a week ago,

It had tons of Trojans (I finally got them off) and was really slow,

 

The problem is: even though there is absolutely no Viruses or Spyware or Malware ect...,

My CPU Usage keeps spiking to 100%, when I play GTA San Andreas or NFS ProStreet I get high FPS (Frames per Second for those who didn't know), but I get lag/stuttering (lag as in the game will freeze for a second, sometimes around 5 seconds with ProStreet!) and they were completely fine a week ago, could someone please help me with this annoying problem.

 

Also, it is alot slower starting up then it was before I got the trojans.

 

And, when I go into the Device Manager it has a "!" beside the Processor and IDE Controler, it says it cannot load the driver for the device.

 

Help would be appricated.

 

Thanks

 

EDIT: Reason: Grammar and more info.

 

Edited November 17, 2008 by corvettelover

[Wolf68k]

It would help to know what all programs are running at the time.

When you're playing games does the lag spikes come and go or is just one time and that's it?

Does it happen only when you're playing games?

Does it happen every time when you're playing games?

You said you had trojans before and that you got them all, or so you think. Are you now running an anti-virus? If so, which one and include version number?

It's a pre-build system, so unless you installed Windows yourself and dug up the mobo drivers yourself and installed them, then it could be something that was installed by Compaq.

 

As for your Device Manager issue, sounds like a simple driver isn't installed correctly. I'm surprised you're not getting a "found new hardware" popping up each time you start up. Go to Compaq's website and find the chipset drivers for that mobo.

[corvettelover]

"It would help to know what all programs are running at the time."

The program amount doesn't affect much, but it goes 100% regardless of the amount of processes, I thought it was maybe Kaspersky but I tried disabling it and made sure the process was killed but that did not help.

 

When you're playing games does the lag spikes come and go or is just one time and that's it?

No, it happens like every 5 Seconds.

 

"Does it happen only when you're playing games?"

Mostly, it'll happen when I mulitask with a lot of stuff at one time while playing music.

 

"Does it happen every time when you're playing games?"

Yes

 

"You said you had trojans before and that you got them all, or so you think. Are you now running an anti-virus? If so, which one and include version number?"

Of course I am running a anti-virus, I'm not a noob.

I am currently running Kaspersky 2009 BETA, I was running AVG a week ago and before that I was running Mcafee and AVG at the same time and there was no lag.)

I've run and scanned with AVG, Anti Malwarebytes, Microsoft Malicious Program Remover Tool (or whatever its called) Kaspersky 2009 BETA (I am currently running Kaspersky 2009 BETA), I checked the .dll names of the trojans and deleted them from the system32 folder, I made sure that non of the stuff I deleted was a system file, I googled and yahoo'd the .dll names before I deleted them.)

 

 

and like I said, it was fine a week ago, I've uninstalled and reinstalled Processor drivers and that did not help much, the computer did however start up a bit faster with the new drivers, but it still does the 100% spike when playing a game.

[matthew1g]

Deactivate that antivirus, disable a couple of services, and remove some processes. those should all help.

 

That said, the CPU you have is very weak .. dont push it too hard.

[corvettelover]

..no, disabling does not help much, I already tried that! and it was fine a week ago so don't feed me "your CPU is too weak" because it was fine a week ago! could it be a setting the trojan changed maybe?

 

sh*t: I have Vundo Trojan, AntiMalware Bytes Removed the Reg Keys from my computer but I am worried that there might be more traces of it on here, can anyone name the best AntiVirus program?

 

:I am using:

Kapersrky 2009 Beta

AntiMalware Bytes

Spybot Search and Destroy

Hijackthis

Edited November 18, 2008 by corvettelover

[corvettelover]

...is anyone going to try to help me?, any help would be appreciated.

[Jim]

Try this: start one of the games you mentioned and alt-tab out of the game. Open task manager and pay attention to the processes. To make this easier to spot, click "CPU", the title of the column, so it's set to descending order (process using the most on top); this way you'll be able to see which process keeps jumping your CPU usage.

 

This might not work, since you have the game minimized at the time while doing this, but that shouldn't matter.

Edited November 20, 2008 by Vicehog

[corvettelover]

..thank you for posting help, I will try that and post back if that helped at all.

 

(Nice Icon BTW )

 

EDIT: Normal Taskmanager didn't do much, so I got the Process explorer and

"interrupts.exe" is taking up a good bit, the processes name is "Hardware Interrupts". I will look deeper into the problem and post back if anything else works, anyone can post if they know something.

Edited November 20, 2008 by corvettelover

[gta_rodney]

watch for a C:\windows\system32\autorun.inf that could start an application while starting windows. If it is there then what is written in it ?

[corvettelover]

...I didn't find a autorun.inf, I did however find a AUTOEXEC.NT and bopomofo.uce....I wonder if this Trojan somehow damaged my CPU or something =/

[Fozzy Fozborne]

I think the most efficient way to figure out what's running is by downloading and running Hijackthis.

 

After launch the program and chose a scan with a logfile. After it scans (5 or so seconds), save the logfile to the desktop and copy and paste it on this forum. Also go to Hijackthis.de and paste your logfile into the box and click analyze. Check for any programs with an X and post them here.

 

Caution! Do not fix anything unless you are completely positive that it should be removed! Fixing something that shouldn't be fixed can alter your system.

[corvettelover]

..here is the Log, I will post what Hijackthis.de say's about it too,

 

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2

Scan saved at 4:03:51 PM, on 11/20/2008

Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)

MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16735)

Boot mode: Normal

 

Running processes:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\winlogon.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe

C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\Ati2evxx.exe

C:\WINDOWS\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\System32\bcmwltry.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe

C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLTRAY.exe

C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe

C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\sched.exe

C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avguard.exe

C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avgnt.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe

C:\Program Files\AIM6\aim6.exe

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE

C:\Program Files\AIM6\aolsoftware.exe

C:\Program Files\PC Tools Disk Suite\DSService.exe

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe

C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

 

O2 - BHO: IDM Helper - {0055C089-8582-441B-A0BF-17B458C2A3A8} - C:\Program Files\Internet Download Manager\IDMIECC.dll

O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll

O2 - BHO: Spybot-S&D IE Protection - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll

O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\ssv.dll

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [synTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [broadcom Wireless Manager UI] C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLTRAY.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QlbCtrl] %ProgramFiles%\Hewlett-Packard\HP Quick Launch Buttons\QlbCtrl.exe /Start

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [hpWirelessAssistant] %ProgramFiles%\Hewlett-Packard\HP Wireless Assistant\HPWAMain.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVP] "C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009\avp.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [soundMAXPnP] C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [soundMAX] C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\Smax4.exe /tray

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [startCCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avgnt] "C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avgnt.exe" /min

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Aim6] "C:\Program Files\AIM6\aim6.exe" /d locale=en-US ee://aol/imApp

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe

O8 - Extra context menu item: Download all links with IDM - C:\Program Files\Internet Download Manager\IEGetAll.htm

O8 - Extra context menu item: Download FLV video content with IDM - C:\Program Files\Internet Download Manager\IEGetVL.htm

O8 - Extra context menu item: Download with IDM - C:\Program Files\Internet Download Manager\IEExt.htm

O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000

O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\ssv.dll

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\ssv.dll

O9 - Extra button: Web traffic protection statistics - {1F460357-8A94-4D71-9CA3-AA4ACF32ED8E} - C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009\SCIEPlgn.dll

O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL

O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Spybot - Search & Destroy Configuration - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll

O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe

O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe

O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.k12.com

O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupd...b?1182892836953

O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/shoc...ash/swflash.cab

O23 - Service: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus Scheduler (AntiVirScheduler) - Avira GmbH - C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\sched.exe

O23 - Service: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus Guard (AntiVirService) - Avira GmbH - C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avguard.exe

O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe

O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe

O23 - Service: Kaspersky Anti-Virus (AVP) - Kaspersky Lab - C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009\avp.exe

O23 - Service: PC Tools Disk Suite (DiskSuiteService) - PC Tools Software - C:\Program Files\PC Tools Disk Suite\DSService.exe

O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe

O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe

O23 - Service: PC Tools Auxiliary Service (sdAuxService) - PC Tools - C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\pctsAuxs.exe

O23 - Service: PC Tools Security Service (sdCoreService) - PC Tools - C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\pctsSvc.exe

O23 - Service: TuneUp Drive Defrag Service (TuneUp.Defrag) - TuneUp Software GmbH - C:\WINDOWS\System32\TuneUpDefragService.exe

O23 - Service: Viewpoint Manager Service - Viewpoint Corporation - C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Common\ViewpointService.exe

O23 - Service: Broadcom Wireless LAN Tray Service (wltrysvc) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE

 

--

End of file - 6467 bytes

 

[Wolf68k]

"It would help to know what all programs are running at the time."

The program amount doesn't affect much, but it goes 100% regardless of the amount of processes, I thought it was maybe Kaspersky but I tried disabling it and made sure the process was killed but that did not help.

This is the sort of reason for dual monitor for gamers, you run the game in the main monitor and can run other things in the second and in this case the task manager. But back to this issue....This question wasn't about the number of programs but which ones.

There are a number of things that can cause this, from an antivirus, IM client (msn, aim, yim), leaving a browser open, or even a number of Windows services.

According to your HJT log you have both AntiVir and Kaspersky. Not a good idea.

I also see PC Tools Disk Suite has a service that running, that could be doing it as well.

Like I said; it's not the amount, it's what is.

 

Just because you went some where and read the manual removal steps and what files to look for, that doesn't mean you got them off. In many cases viruses/trojans/the-alike will create a string of random letters and numbers for it's files to make it that much harder to find and remove.

Microsoft Malicious Program Remover Tool, that sounds like the one that MS puts out each month with it's security updates and that only looks for a set small number of things, not everything.

 

 

And you do know that most games are gonna use most, if not all, of the CPU anyway? Unless you have a multi-core CPU then it won't seem to use as much even if it really is. Let me explain and start off saying this is just to put it into a perspective; if a game wants to use 2.5GHz of a CPU and you have a single-core 3Ghz then the game will look as though it's using 2/3 of the CPU and let's call that 80% usage (forget the actual math), however that same game on a dual-core, that has the same 3GHz rating, is still gonna use 2.5GHz but according to the task manager it's only using about 10% of the CPU.

 

So the problem isn't at that you're getting 100% CPU usage from the game but that something is causing even more usage and maybe even biting into the usage that the game wants to use.

[corvettelover]

..sorry for the bump, but the problem dissapeared for some weird reason,

I tested to see if it would still do it and it didn't skip/lag at all,

 

I ran FireFox with 16 tabs open, (3 had flash) Opera with 5 tabs, (2 had flash) Window Media Player, AIM 6, AVIRA AntiVir Personal, 6 Wordpad's, My Pictures (loaded with pictures), GIMP, Paint.NET and my music didin't skip

 

and GTA: San Andreas was smooth as can be, I had Riot mode and ped's have weapons turned on along with the FX Quality at Very High @ 800x600 and 1024x768 and it ran fine. (25FPS cause I had frame limiter on)

 

...so all I had to do was leave it on for a could days and the problem went away XD,

 

it would be appreciated if someone could shed some light on why it went away though

Edited November 24, 2008 by corvettelover