Excessive CPU Usage??

[hellfreeze]

Ok...I am running WinXP and at some point my computer becomes a little slow. All I am doing on the computer right now is typing this message and downloading something using FlashFXP...so my CPU usage shouldn't be that big (I have a p3 667 mhz...i know, it's old. also, it's 256 pc133 ram)

I checked the task manager and the cpu usage jumps up from 2% to 4% to 30% and at times 96%. I checked the running tasks and the item that is taking up the most CPU is the "System Idle Process"

This is not the first time this happens...it's the second time it has.

Does anyone know why it's doing this? It doesn't make sense. I'm not using the CPU heavily. I ran Norton WinDoctor and Norton SpeedDisk about 2-3 hours ago and my computer was fine after that. But now all of a sudden it's doing this

Anyone know why? Thanks

 

[freebsddude]

When do you notice the slowness ? When the system idle is high ?
System idle process is time that the processor is not being used.

When the usage jumps 30% what process is consuming that usage ?

 

[hellfreeze]

<< When the usage jumps 30% what process is consuming that usage ? >>


The System Idle Process

I notice it when I click the button to show the hidden tray items...it expands slowly. So naturally I check the CPU usage then, and sure enough, it's high

 

[Danman]

That's wierd, do you have any kind of programs that aren't system files running that you've never seen before? It may just XP, have you tried to go Windows 2k Pro and see if it does the samething?

 

[hellfreeze]

win2k would just crash. and no, i dont' have any other progs running

i think it's just the current install of XP. Guess i gotta format again. lol

 

[Ryan]

Excessive posting in the wrong forum?!?!?! You should have posted this in the GENERAL HARDWARE forum, or the OPERATING SYSTEMS forum?