CPU Usage at 100% minutes after start-up - what to do now?

[enwar3]

I just don't know what else to do. It happened a month before for a couple days but disappeared before I figured out what was wrong. Now it's been happening for the last week and a half.

What happens is I start my computer up and it's fine, but then 5-10 minutes in it gets really laggy. Task manager says CPU usage is at 100% even when I have nothing really running, but the program that is using it all up ranges from Opera to Firefox to Skype to NMUserIndex something something (Nero program I think). I've run the full scan on Avira (free version) as well as Spybot (nothing) and Malwarebytes (nothing). I also regularly update using Secunia PSI and use a non-admin account for my everyday uses.

So what should I try now? Take it in to Best Buy? Re-install windows? Maybe it's an overheating problem? The first time it happened, the weather was really really hot, and it got better when the weather got cooler. Maybe the cpu scales down in high temperatures?

This is really frustrating =[

 

[balloonshark]

You could try putting a fan near the intake of the computer. Run the fan blowing on the computer for a while and see if that cures the problem. If not, you've eliminated one variable. You may also want to clean up all the dust bunnies with a can of compressed air regardless.

 

[daw123]

Originally posted by: enwar3
I just don't know what else to do. It happened a month before for a couple days but disappeared before I figured out what was wrong. Now it's been happening for the last week and a half.

What happens is I start my computer up and it's fine, but then 5-10 minutes in it gets really laggy. Task manager says CPU usage is at 100% even when I have nothing really running, but the program that is using it all up ranges from Opera to Firefox to Skype to NMUserIndex something something (Nero program I think). I've run the full scan on Avira (free version) as well as Spybot (nothing) and Malwarebytes (nothing). I also regularly update using Secunia PSI and use a non-admin account for my everyday uses.

So what should I try now? Take it in to Best Buy? Re-install windows? Maybe it's an overheating problem? The first time it happened, the weather was really really hot, and it got better when the weather got cooler. Maybe the cpu scales down in high temperatures?

This is really frustrating =[

Run CPU-Z & Core temp (with the correct TJMax) - the CPU could be thermal throttling.

If it isn't showing the correct stock speed and 'reasonable' temps (for your cooling), try re-seating the HSF on the CPU.

 

[somethingsketchy]

What kind of CPU are you running? That could help us figure out if you just have a really hot processor (such as a Pentium 4 EE) or if the heatsink could be loose. Just a thought.

 

[rasczak]

1. buy canned air
2. point canned air at heatsink fins
3. depress trigger
4. get all of the crap out of the fins using the canned air.
5. if this fails, go to 6.
6. reseat hsf
7. if this fails got to 8
8. take sledgehammer and threaten pc with abuse.

 

[enwar3]

Originally posted by: somethingsketchy
What kind of CPU are you running? That could help us figure out if you just have a really hot processor (such as a Pentium 4 EE) or if the heatsink could be loose. Just a thought.

I have an intel centrino duo.

I forgot to mention that this is on a laptop, so I don't have a heatsink or anything.

I reinstalled windows, did all the updates, and still have the problem! Typically, the computer wil idle at 1-5% cpu usage, which is fine, but the minute I do something in firefox or opera (like open a new tab or scroll down a page) the usage for that app jumps up to something crazy like 60% and my computer gets really laggy. This didn't start happening until a month ago.

Also, the computer seems to be fine when I start up with my battery in, but if I plug the power cord in at any time I get this problem. Baffling. =X

 

[cparker]

Try disconnecting your laptop from the internet totally. Then boot up and run some applications and see if you still have the problem. It could be you have a problem with your network adapter. If everything works fine without plugging it into the internet (either by cable or by wireless) then you should try a plug in adapter card and see if that works. I had a similar problem with a thinkpad and it was the internal network adapter. When I replaced it by using a card adapter everything worked fine.