• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Potential Virus - first CPU maxed all the time- Bios Virus?

I

imported_boe

Senior member
Hello,

I have a core 2 processor 6700, the first CPU is almost always at about 100% even when first booting. I couldn't figure out what caused it, I tried killing off just about every process and service possible and it still was maxed out. I reformatted the drive when I reinstalled windows from scratch - even before I had installed any drivers or software the first CPU was maxed. I installed the latest firmware from Intel - still maxed out on D975BX motherboard. I've tried downloading all the latest everything from MS - latest drivers from Intel, Silicon Image, ATI, Creative, Epson, Xerox - you name it, it is still maxed out.

Under Task manager the only thing that is showing heavy activity is system idle and to a lesser degree system.

I ran a full virus scan using the latest Symantec with all definitions updated but still nothing.


Are there any good virus scanners for the BIOS?
 
1) what version and service pack of Windows is that (e.g. Vista Home Premium 32-bit, WinXP Home SP2, or whatever)? It's legit, not bootleg, right? 😱

2) list of components in the computer?

3) if Task Manager shows the CPU almost completely idle, then how are you determining that one core is maxed out?
 
Good questions,

1 I'm currently running WIndows XP 32 Pro SP2 with all the latest patches however this happened with a clean install of XP Pro 32 (even before the network drivers or any others were installed)- patches didn't help. - This is a legit corporate copy - I use it on other PCs with no issue.

2- components
D975BX motherboard
6700 core 2 processor
2 GIGs of RAM
SBXFI sound card
ATI x1900 PCIe video

3 - task manager shows first processor maxed out (under performance) - second processor around 20% under perofrmance
If I list processes under task manager, system idle process and system show the most cpu utilization as system idle covers both processors, it could max out the first processor and it would only show 50% CPU utilization under processes while being 100% under performance utilization - of course I could be mistaken. There are no unusual programs listed under task manager - showing all users.

This is a recent development - The first CPU was not at 100% when I built my machine about 9 months ago. I reformatted it about 3 months ago and it didn't have this issue either.
 
1) Does the problem persist if you boot into Safe Mode?

2) How about if you remove the sound card and uninstall the CL software & drivers?

3) in the event that your Windows installation disc doesn't have Service Pack 2 integrated into it, was the computer given firewall protection (such as a router that has no other computers on it) while it was getting updated? Not that you'd be likely to pick up something over the network that current antivirus would not detect...

 
Thanks

1 - I'll know in a bit - I'm running a full scan with system restore turned off at the moment - trying to figure out if it is an MBR virus. Tried Spybot and Symantec - not sure what is the best option for MBR or Bios viruses.

2. I'm guessing that won't help since it happened even on a clean install of windows with NO drivers for anything including the video, sound, integrated raid controller etc. Utilization maxed on first processor before it had drivers for any products installed - sound was an unknown device until I installed the drivers for it.

3. The disc is SP2 integrated. The utilization was maxed on the first processor before it even had any patches and before the network card was even recognized - unknown until I installed the drivers for it. The vanilla install of XP SP2 with NO driver and my peripherals including video, sound, network, raid all just listed as unknown drivers still had first processor pegged at 100%.

Processor maxed on a fresh install of Windows - with no drivers, no software, no patches, no updates of any kind. This was not the case when I first set up my PC so it wouldn't be any new drivers or software causing the issue however a hardware issue or an MBR or Bios virus might cause the issue.
 
Hmmm 😕 I'm guessing you've got a SATA hard drive; what mode is the motherboard's SATA controller in (compatible/IDE, or AHCI, or RAID)?

I read lots of malware descriptions and haven't seen any that would be able to get into your BIOS and reside there, so that seems unlikely to me. If you wanted to get rigorous, you could make a DBAN CD and wipe the HDD with the fast method, then reinstall Windows and see what happens. Wish I had better insights into what the issue might be 😱
 
If you want to take care of CMOS or MBR virus:

1. boot to a win98 boot disk and run "fdisk /mbr"
2. power off computer
3. unplug power from computer
4. pull the CMOS battery or move the reset jumper, whichever your motherboard uses
5. Power on and reinstall Windows, be sure to delete and recreate any partitions.
 
Thanks - I'm wondering if that will remove and bios viruses as the new motherboards all make backups of the firmware everytime you flash them.
 
Originally posted by: boe
Thanks - I'm wondering if that will remove and bios viruses as the new motherboards all make backups of the firmware everytime you flash them.
Click to expand...

have you updated the bios?
 
OK, I pulled out an old hard drive I had with Vista on it - wasn't in my PC for the last month or so - so it couldn't have any virus on it. It also has the same issue, so it is a problem with the bios or a hardware issue.
 
Originally posted by: boe
OK, I pulled out an old hard drive I had with Vista on it - wasn't in my PC for the last month or so - so it couldn't have any virus on it. It also has the same issue, so it is a problem with the bios or a hardware issue.
Click to expand...

bios is just software for a piece of hardware ...tried testing the cpu in another mobo yet..? if does same ..the chip probably has an rma'able issue if not most likely the mobo and/or bios chip.. gl
 
Thanks everyone for your help - turns out you were right - the simplest solution is the often the right solution. I spent absurd amount of time scanning my computer, reinstalling windows, switching hardware - turns out as mentione above - removing the button cell and power reset the BIOS and the issue went away.
 
Originally posted by: boe
Thanks everyone for your help - turns out you were right - the simplest solution is the often the right solution. I spent absurd amount of time scanning my computer, reinstalling windows, switching hardware - turns out as mentione above - removing the button cell and power reset the BIOS and the issue went away.
Click to expand...

thanks for reporting back 🙂
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top