Hi I will go into task manager and the itemized list of processes says 0 percent usage when Im not doing anything and then syustem idle process will be at 99-100 but then at the bottom of the window, the cpu usage meter says usually 80 percent. Something is eating up my processor with out showing itself up in the task manager window. Does anybody know what this could be. I did a virus scan a couple days ago and had about 450 infected files but cleaned them all and it still does this with my cpu. Please help. Thanks a lot.

I'm not sure I understand. Do you mean you are looking in the performance window when you quote your usage, if so go into the Processes tab and see what is running that is requiring so much CPU usage and shut down the offending process. Be careful you do not shut down a necessary one or you may be in trouble. Normally, you will see the column under CPU cycle for the process that is sapping your CPU.

Go to Task Manager to check which processes use most CPU.

Had a very similar thing last week. It turned out to be the DNS Client. It showed-up in the Task Manager>Performance as "scvhost.exe-Network Services" and was eating-up 99% of the CPU on boot-up. I figure it one of those infamous critical updates that did it. But, through several reboots and turning services off and on, I was able to isolate it and all is well now. Beleive it or not, the network runs just fine with the DNS Client in manual, instead of automatic!! You may have to do the same thing....good luck.

Well lets consider the fact you had a virus first. The system idle process is normal for it to show those numbers. Mine right now is between 97 and 98 so ignore it. Viruses can do nasty things and you may have to format and start fresh to resolve the issue. You can also attempt to "repair" XP via using the 2nd repair option built into the Windows XP setup but if it was my box. I would format and reload. KTTD

Hi, I was looking in the proccesses tab. What is confusing is that none of the processes show usage besides system idle process, which is the last process on the list. and it is showing 99 percent. the user name on it is system so I didnt touch it. now another thing that just happened today is in the username field, they are all blank besides the system idle process which says system. What could be going on. I wouldnt be worried about this but my internet is way too slow these days. I know its just this computer because my other computer is half as fast as mine and when I scroll on the internet with mine it takes a second to respond where on the other comp, It is flawless. Thanks in advance.

In Task Mgr, your system idle process usage is normal. It sounds like you have a virus as was mentioned above. Have your checked this yet? This is the first thing to do.