I am running Windows 2000 professional. A few days ago i noticed a considerable slowdown -- very considerable, almost unable to do anything. In task manger i see that a file called stisvc.exe is using up all my CPU. Restart fixes it, but then within a half hour, it's back again and it's like being in quicksand. i researched a bit online and discovered that stisvc.exe is not a standard part of Windows 2000, but is installed when you attach a scanner - which i have done about 3 weeks ago. I searched on MS Windows 2000 site and came up with a posting called "Windows 2000 Still Image Service Exposes User Elevation Vulnerability (Q272736)" I'm not that technical, so i don't understand all of what it said, but net net was to upgrade to Service Pack 2...which I did, but problem persists. Any clue? thanks Dell Dimension 4300 Windows 2000 professional Version 5.0.2195 Service pack 2 Build 2195 Attached via Belkin USB BusStation: HP scanjet 5490c HP deskjet 960c (both of these devices won't work while this is happenning, but work fine when it isn't)

I would check for updated drivers and software for your printer and scanner. There is several more patches for Windows 2000 out there. I think they will be going to service pack 3 soon. Well, that's all the idea's I have for right now. You may not have to re-boot everytime too. Maybe staring and stopping a service may solve the problem instead of having to re-boot everytime. Thanks Carlo

Thanks, I will check for more w2000 updates. I have reinstalled the drivers for the scanner and printer, but didn't help. I tried stopping and starting the service as well. Also doesn't help - goes straight back to 99% or so. I have to have stisvc.exe running in order to scan, but when it uses all the cpu, the scanner won't function -- is catch 22.

Update: I have been running my system since yesterday with no problem -- stisvc.exe is behaving itself. I've been scanning a lot as well. The only thing I changed is connecting the scanner directly to the USB port on my computer rather than through the Belkin USB BusStation.