My CPU usage constantly shows 100% usage under Window Task Manager/Performance. Firefox takes about 300,000K Memory usage according to Processes. The other two big memory usage is about 15,000-30,000K at most. Rest are 1,000-5,000, but there are like 20 of those. I see this thing called SVCHOST.EXE multiple times, (around 10-12 times) each taking up 3,000-5,000. The main programs I'm running is Firefox and some basic Word Documents, and some stock software, AIM and Last.FM software. But it still shows 100% usage. Is it likely I have some sort of virus? I have 2GB Memory on computer and the processor is a 3.0 GHZ, Pentium 4.
WOW firefox @ 300,000k? Mines is at 53,000k.... Anyways, this happens to me too from time to time and the computer starts dragging ass. A simple restart always works for me. Edit: Here's some info for the svchost.exe thing http://www.neuber.com/taskmanager/process/svchost.exe.html
I have about 10 Firefox windows open. About 4 of the windows run embedded music and video files. I really don't like having to restart my computer since I will have to close everything. Thx for the link. The SVCHOST.exe program was most concerning since it appeared so many times.
Memory Usage has nothing to do with CPU usage in task manger. If you want to see what's eating up with CPU usage, sort processes by CPU. Generally you should see System Idle Process use up most of it (assuming not much is going on). In your case of being at 100% used, you'll see an application or commonly explorer.exe which is windows explorer. If what I've said is true so far, highlight explorer.exe or the application and hit end process. If you just closed explorer.exe, you should see your start/taskbar disappear. Now with task manager still open, go to the file menu and choose new task. Under Open, type in Explorer and the taskbar should come back up. Hope that helps you out.
So what is it that is using up all of your cpu? Click on the CPU heading within Task Manager. Edit: eh nevermind. Superfob beat me to it.
Thanks. I did that and shut down Explorer.exe and started it back up again. But I don't understand what the purpose of shutting down the Explorer.exe accomplishes? When I shut it down and typed in Explorer to get it back, it just appears that nothing has changed in the Processes. (I may be wrong, but thats how it looks like).
Task Manage -> Processes Then click on the CPU column until the largest number is at the top. What image - process - program is using the most of your CPU? A reboot was suggested (which you don't want to do), so turning off and restarting individual processes is the best available alternative to that. You might start saving what you need to save because a reboot might still be needed.
Restart is your best option at this point. If it continues after restart, chances are you have viruses or malware on your computer.
Did doing that free up your CPU usage? I find that sometimes the Explorer process hangs from what I'm guessing is a continuous loop. Shutting it down and restarting serves as an quickier way than rebooting. If its another process that is consuming your CPU cycles, then you need to shut that down.
