Flash causing 100% cpu utilization in WinXP

[lostatlantis]

I've always wondered why the heck does a flash ad on a page use 100% (or close to) of my CPU. It's easy to notice because my fan would kick into high gear and won't stop until I close the page. The latest example is weather.com, but basically any webpage with flash ad on there will do.

Is this normal?

 

[mgob]

have you looked into your running processes to see what exactly is running @ 100%? that may lead to some answers... and no thats not normal

 

[lostatlantis]

oh yeah, I've tracked this problem for a while now. When it happens, whatever has the flash open is using the max CPU utilization. This can be IE or Firefox. And everything goes back to normal the second I close the offending window.

I always thought this was the norm.

And the system is spywayre/malware/virus free. I don't visit sketchy sites at all, and I got norton antivirus running. I run ad aware and spy bot search and destroy regularly. And firewall is up and running.

 

[skisteven1]

Definetly not the norm. Maybe try uninstalling and reinstalling flash.

 

[lostatlantis]

I forgot to mention I have Macromedia MX 2004 suite installed. Also, when this incident takes place, I can make CPU utilization drop significantly if I scroll the IE/Firefox window so that the flash ad/animation is hidden. It'll go back up to near or at 100% if I scroll back so the flash thingy is showing.

weird huh?

 

[RBBRMADE]

I repaired this recently by deleting the shockwave flash in windows/downloaded program files folder.
Revisit the Flash page and let it reinstall Flash.
Worked for me.
Ron

 

[lostatlantis]

do you mean C:\Program Files? I have the MX 2004 suite, and I don't see a folder for shockwave.

I never was clear on the difference between flash and shockwave. Anyone care to clear this up for me?

 

[RBBRMADE]

No, the folder is :

windows/downloaded program files

The entry is:

shockwave flash

It is not a folder.

It is in XP, anyway....can;t remember if it is the same as other Windows OS.....

 

[lostatlantis]

Thanks for the tip. I went over to Macromedia's site and installed every update available for Flash player, shockwave player, and Studio MX 2004 suite. I didn't delete shockwave file though, mainly because I did all this before I read your reply. So far, the problem seems to be fixed! At least, visitng weather.com hasn't trigger an episode yet.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

I've had this issue with Swish as well. I'll try the fix.

 

[lostatlantis]

what's Swish?

anyway, unfortunately i experienced this problem again today. It was Firefox with two tabs, one to weather.com. I closed it and reloaded the site, getting a different ad and killing the problem. Anything else I can do short of a format/reinstall?