100% CPU Usage in Process Explorer

The problem does not exist in any form of safe mode. In an entirely clean boot of regular mode, CPU usage now varies from 55% to 100%.

The processes using all the CPU vary. In a clean boot of regular mode, sometimes it's just System. Sometimes it is Interrupts. Sometimes it is Process Explorer itself.

In a regular boot of regular mode, it can also be consumed by other things, like avast or Spybot or Malwarebytes.

The only constant thing is that the entire CPU usage graph in Process Explorer is red, no matter what program is using a large chunk of the CPU. Even in safe mode, the entirety of CPU usage shows up as red on that graph - it just never exceeds 5% in safe mode.

I am proceeding with Chkdsk now.

I am also trying to prepare for a repair install of windows, as reccomended earlier in this thread. The directions for the repair install listed above ask me what kind of OEM disk I have, and I am not sure what kind of OEM disk I have. This computer is a computer I built myself, so the OEM disk I have isn't from Dell or any sort of company that makes computers for people. However, the OEM disk sold to me when the computer was built is listed as "Licensed for Distribution only with a new PC", with a tag noting it can't be delivered unless accompanied by specific hardware.

Hi,

Does Process Explorer show what is using all the CPU?

What happens in Safe Mode (repeatedly tap F8 as you boot the computer).

Start a Clean Boot in Safe Mode to regular mode (as clean as you can get).

Rob - SpiritX

All scans complete. Nothing but a few easily eliminated tracking cookies and one win32 inurface bho. All now removed. 

I've also followed the directions at https://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/threat/encyclopedia/entry.aspx?Name=Adware:Win32/BHO.A - because of the bho detected.

The problem remains.

SFC reports no problems.

Chkdsk is next.

Hi,

Does Process Explorer show what is using all the CPU?

What happens in Safe Mode (repeatedly tap F8 as you boot the computer).

Start a Clean Boot in Safe Mode to regular mode (as clean as you can get).

Even though you changed antivirus it could be malware so check very thoroughly (if

Safe Mode if needed).

That is probably the result of malware so do an extremely thorough check and when the

system is clean see the next message to remove that error.

If you need to check for malware here are my recommendations - these will allow you to do

a thorough check and removal without ending up with a load of spyware programs running

resident which can cause as many issues as the malware and maybe harder to detect as the

cause.

No one program can be relied upon to detect and remove all malware. Added that often easy

to detect malware is often accompanied by a much harder to detect and remove payload. So

its better to be overly thorough now than to pay the high price later. Check with these to an

extreme overkill point and then run the cleanup only when you are very sure the system is clean.

These can be done in Safe Mode - repeatedly tap F8 as you boot however you should also run 

them in regular Windows when you can.

TDSSKiller.exe. - Download to the Desktop - then go to it and Right Click on it - RUN AS ADMIN

it will show any infections in the report after running - if it will not run change the name from

tdsskiller.exe to tdsskiller.com. Whether it finds anything or not does not mean you should not

check with the other methods below.

http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/solutions?qid=208280684

Download malwarebytes and scan with it, run MRT, and use the on-line scanners and other methods.

Download - SAVE - go to where you put it - Right Click on it - RUN AS ADMIN

Malwarebytes - free

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

SuperAntiSpyware Portable Scanner - Free

http://www.superantispyware.com/portablescanner.html?tag=SAS_HOMEPAGE

Run the Microsoft Malicious Removal Tool

Start - type in Search box -> MRT  find at top of list - Right Click on it - RUN AS ADMIN.

You should be getting this tool and its updates via Windows Updates - if needed you can

download it here.

Download - SAVE - go to where you put it - Right Click on it - RUN AS ADMIN

(Then run MRT as above.)

Microsoft Malicious Removal Tool - 32 bit

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=AD724AE0-E72D-4F54-9AB3-75B8EB148356&displaylang=en

Microsoft Malicious Removal Tool - 64 bit

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=585D2BDE-367F-495E-94E7-6349F4EFFC74&displaylang=en

Try the trial version of Hitman Pro :

Hitman Pro is a second opinion scanner, designed to rescue your computer from malware

(viruses, trojans, rootkits, etc.) that have infected your computer despite all the security

measures you have taken (such as anti virus software, firewalls, etc.).

http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro

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If needed here are some online free scanners to help

Microsoft Safety Scanner

http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx

Eset on-line scanner

http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/

Kaspersky on-line scanner

http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner

Other Free online scans

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=antivirus+free+online+scan&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g1

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After removing any malware :

Also do these to cleanup general corruption and repair/replace damaged/missingsystem files.

Start - type this in Search Box ->  COMMAND   find at top and RIGHT CLICK  -  RUN AS ADMIN

Enter this at the prompt - sfc /scannow

How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

How to analyze the log file entries that the Microsoft Windows Resource Checker (SFC.exe) program

generates in Windows Vista cbs.log

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228

Also run CheckDisk so we can rule out corruption as much as possible.

How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

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If needed AFTER you are sure the machine is clean of all malware.

How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

Hope this helps.

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Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.