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Gremlins Stealing My CPU Cycles!

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Post #1 last edited
THE PROBLEM:

I noticed that my system was running noticeably slower. It started taking several minutes both to shut down and boot up. My frame rates in video games went in the crapper and other programs are running slower than ever! :(

When I opened Windows Task Manager the performance view shows my CPU usage running between 20 and 30% ALL THE TIME even when no programs are running! The processes view shows the system idle process hovering between 97 and 99%. Before the system slow down occurred the performance view would show only 1 or 2% CPU usage when the system was idling. (I've included screen shots of both views when the CPU usage is at 30%) What in the blazes is using 30% of my CPU power when nothing is running!?!? That 30% CPU power I'm being robbed of is really sending my machine back to the Stone Age!
:angry:
🖼Click to load external image (Posted Image)
🖼Click to load external image (Posted Image)
(the screen shots were taken before the following things were tried but are still essentially the same)

SOLUTIONS I'VE TRIED:
Used MSCONFIG to end ALL startup programs.
Deleted the contents of Windows TEMP and USERS TEMP folders
Complete virus scan with Norton Anti Virus 2009
Defragged all hard drives
Uninstalled Suspected Programs
Disabled then Uninstalled Windows Search 4.0
Checked Device Manager for any error icons
Double checked and updated all drivers where needed
Ran MIGO Software Registry Repair
Scoured the Tech Support Sites for Possible Solutions
Disconnected the other two household computers from router
Ran ATF Cleaner
Ran Rooter
Ran Malwarebyte’s Anti-Malware
Ran ERUNT
Prayer and fasting…
;)

:pullhair: I'm at my wits end and hope someone in the community can catch the thief who's constantly stealing up to a 3rd of my CPU cycles! To help in the investigation I've also attached a DXDIAG report and a Nero InfoTool report. That’s a lot of information to help find a solution so my son can play Grand Theft Auto IV and Counter-Strike: Source with full graphics and frame rate capability and I can do some serious work on videos etc.

MY SYSTEM CONFIGURATION:
Gigabyte GA-K8NS Ultra-939 Motherboard
nForce3 Ultra Chipset
AMD Athlon 64 FX-60 Dual Core Processor @ 2.61 GHz
4GB PC 3200 Dual Channel RAM
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 500 Watt Power Supply
WinXP Professional Service Pack 3
Dell 2507WFP (Digital) Monitor
HIS ATI Radeon HD 3850 AGP 512 MB Video Card
SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Sound Card
On Board ICS 1883 chip (10/100) Mbit Ethernet
Comcast High Speed Digital Internet
4.55 TB Hard Drive Space
Logitech 5.1 Surround Speakers
Epson 4490 Scanner
Epson R220 Printer
Cannon S750 Printer
Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard
Microsoft Explorer 4.0 Mouse
Trendnet Bluetooth USB Adapter.

CURRENT HIJACK THIS LOG AFTER THE ABOVE FIXES HAVE BEEN TRIED:
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 3:35:47 AM, on 1/5/2009
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16762)
Boot mode: Normal

Moved from Malware forum as this doesn't appear to be a Malware issue.
HJT log removed.

Attachments:

Post #2
Hi Granpuff,

You certainly have given us much information to attempt to help you.

A few thoughts came to my mind when I read your post.

  • Is the computer still under warranty
  • You have to many processes running at startup
  • Have you cleaned out your dust bunnies
  • Check startup services enabled
Cleaning out the dust bunnies

Quick Access Process Library information to reduce processes at startup.

Startup list information for you to try and reduce programs at boot time.

Keep us posted if any of the above were to assist you.

kind regards,
Post #3
Hi Granpuff

Good to know you got a all clear from the malware forum :thumbup:
There was some things I found suspicious, but as said, I am not
a malware fighter. So sorry for the hold up.

Besides taking Tallin's good advices, could you try a tiny test?

I want you to start up in Safe-Mode and see if the CPU usage is still there.
To start up in safe-mode (You probably know this, others reading this may not)

Restart / Boot your computer.
Then keep tapping F8 right after 1st BIOS screen.
A black dos-like menu will appear if you caught it right.
Use the arrow keys to navigate to Safe-mode without Network.

Windows will now start up in safe-mode, which only loads a minimum of drivers
and services. Now check if the CPU usage is the same, or does it revert back to
normal?

Please post your findings, and we take it from there ;)

Regards Abydos
Post #4
Do we know this system has been cleared of malware? I see the comment about "moved from malware forum," but is this implying that the system has been thoroughly checked for malware, or was the OP simply stating that it didn't appear to be malware related? The safe mode test is a good idea. When you get back to normal mode open task manager, click the "Performance" tab, and click "View" -> "Show Kernel Times." I'm curious what a screen shot of that looks like. Interesting this 30% is only on one core. I suspect a kernel mode application/driver as no processes are shown in task manager to take up 30% of the CPU, or malware such as a rootkit, which would not be found with a simple HJT log and would disable the ability of malwarebytes or norton to detect anything.

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