Cpu load goes to 100% upon each new task

Hi,

I'm running Vista Ultimate 32-bit on a self-built machine, E6850, 2 gig DDRII RAM.
Since 3 days now my computer started running really really slowly whenever i start something new…
The CPU total load goes to 100% when for example i open IE, when i log onto msn, when i open a picture, when i click something… if i'm not doing anything new the CPU load returns to normal and stays that way usually until i click something new and then it takes off again.

I've been reading this topic: http://forums.whatthetech.com/CPU_100_but_…ean_t87110.html since his problem is very similar to mine, but unfortunatly there is no real clue as to what his problem really was or what the solution is.

My problems started right after i had done some (and here's the part were i must say i'm a bit uncomfortable) tweaking to my tcpip.sys settings and installed something called readydriver plus after which i had severe boot problems. I've restored all of the tcp settings to their default values now and uninstalled this program.
Around the same time i also did a firmware upgrade for my DVD-drive: a Sony AD7173A.
I also recently installed Advanced System Optimizer and with that i tweaked a setting that was making Windows delay loading menu's for a few milliseconds.
This is everything i can think of which may (or may not) have to do with my current issue.

When the problems first started occuring i was thinking to myself of doing a "rollback" using windows recovery but i discovered that i had no recovery points although my system was set to create them.


Thanks for your time and help

Note: i was going to add a hijackthis log to this post but i can't seem to upload it.

Edit: I've checked my Device manager for problems (none found), ran a CCleaner scan and i'm doing a SuperAntiSpyware scan now. So far: 0 threats but the scan is taking forever to complete (+-3 hours of scanning now)

Hi OLH and welcome.

First, HJT logs go in the HJT forum only, but there's a couple things to check first so hold off on that.

You said you tried to rollback using "windows recovery" - not sure if that is what you meant to say. You should be using "System Restore" to "rollback" to 3 day ago, before you made all those changes.

Note that you will not find many experts that believe in those optimizer programs.

The CPU total load goes to 100%

And when it does, what does Task Manager show is using those resources? The below are all enhanced Task Manager type programs that will show you what is running on your computer. Each is nice in its own way. What's Running is probably the easiest, with AutoRuns for the more experienced, and Process Explorer the most popular. With these, for example, you can see what processes are using each of those various svchost.exe images.

AutoRuns for Windows
Process Explorer
What's Running

Have you scanned for malware? I recommend cleaning the system of crud with Disk Cleanup, then do a supplemental scan with Malwarebytes's Anti-Malware (MBAM).

Then let us know how it is going.

Eh… i was apparently too lazy to look up System Restore so i called that Windows Recovery… but regardless of the name my problem still remains that there are NO system restore points made… i don't know why, i don't know how, but they're just not there. It was one of the first things i've tried since they have helped me get out of misery before I am currently in the process of cleaning up the disk. I've used disk cleanup, CCleaner, defragmented and i am now scanning my hard drive for malware using SuperAntiSpyware, now i'll do a Spybot scan, after that comes MBAM, then combofix and then MGTools. So far: nothing found. (i've also checked my program files and installed programs list for unwanted apps but nothing there either or it's well hidden) About the Task Manager: Nothing specific is using up the CPU. However, everything i do will make the total amount of used CPU go to 100%. So if i fire up msn, it will be msn, if i open IE, it will be IE and so on. If i start the Task Manager, it will be the task manager. Somehow everything i do just seems to overload the system. Even the most stupid task like opening notepad becomes a drag… I'll check out the programs you recommended and i'll try to purge some information from them. BTW:I'll be at my gf's house, at least until saturday evening so it might be a while (probably sunday)before i post again.

then combofix and then MGTools

I would stop short before that unless you have been certified to use those tools. Rather, if still having problems after MBAM, see What TheTech HijackThis Log Procedures for complete instructions on running HijackThis, then post a log where instructed. Please refer to this post so they can catch up. When the HJT analysts give you a clean bill of health, please post back here with an update.

I've ran spybot, MBAM and they both came back clean too. No problems at all. Problem still persists tho so i'll follow the HJT instructions. I'll be back Thanks!

I'll be back

Good - keeps us posted.

Err, back a bit sooner than i expected I posted my log but i still ran combo-fix… and while that was running there was some kind of fatal crash and i managed to view something about: Catchme.sys Now that doesn't really sound like a "good" sys file to me and a short check on the internet confirms that. I haven't found any clear instructions on how to remove it, and there doesn't seem to be a combofix log as it didn't finish running after reboot. The weird thing is that there is a Catchme.cfexe in the Combo-fix map… So now i'm unsure whether this is "it" or not?

I posted my log but i still ran combo-fix…

I urge you to stop everything and wait for instructions from the HJT experts.

I'm afraid i don't know when to stop.

Anyways: Problem solved.

I've been tweaking a lot of things but the one thing that finally came up was this:

In my power options the CPU performance was limited to 50%… I have no idea why or when this setting was changed to that but after i put it to 100% my pc started being it's good old self again with superfast lovelyness

Still weird that this setting was changed, i have no idea what could be the cause of this. I've left my HJT log open for revision but i suppose it'll be clean.

Thanks for the help and i guess this closes this topic?

Btw Digerati: http://forums.whatthetech.com/CPU_100_but_…ean_t87110.html ==> the guy in this topic may have the same issue, perhaps you could have him check his power settings too? It's a long shot and he has probably bought a new comp or something else by now but it might just work?

I am glad you fixed your problem and thanks for posting the follow up. And I am watching that other post - thanks.