Windows 7 system CPU usage 450 days after Hybernation

Question

Hi,

We are observing high CPU usage followed by high RAM usage 450 days after HORM. Notably, three services running under svchost—Windows Firewall, Diagnostic Policy Service, and Base Filtering Engine—are consuming system resources for the first 4 minutes after startup. Can someone explain the relationship between HORM and the number of days after HORM in this scenario?Thank you!

Answer 1

Hello,

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

The issue you've described suggests that these services might be encountering operational problems due to the extended period of time that the system has been in the hibernated state. There are a few potential reasons for this behavior:

1. System Updates and Configuration Changes: Over an extended period like 450 days, the system might require updates or reconfiguration that can't be efficiently handled after resuming from a hibernation state repeatedly. Services like the Windows Firewall, Diagnostic Policy Service, and Base Filtering Engine may need to sync with current policies, check for updates, or perform maintenance tasks that can cause high CPU and RAM usage.
2. Memory Fragmentation and Resource Handling: Long-term use without a clean boot may lead to memory fragmentation and resource mismanagement. Hibernation does not fully clear out memory or system states, which can accumulate inefficiencies over time.
3. Service Initialization: These services are crucial for maintaining system security and diagnostics. Upon resuming from hibernation, they might perform integrity checks or diagnostics to ensure the system's security and stability, which can temporarily spike CPU and RAM usage.
4. System Clock and Timers: The system clock and various timers can get out of sync after extensive periods of hibernation. Services may need to reconcile time-dependent operations, which can be resource-intensive.
5. Log File Size and System State Assessment: Diagnostic services may need to review extensive logs or system state data accumulated over a long period. This assessment can cause significant CPU and RAM usage if the logs are large or the state data is complex.

Given these points, the high resource usage you're observing is likely due to the services trying to catch up with the operations and maintenance they should have been performing over the last 450 days. To mitigate this, consider:

1. Periodic Reboots: Schedule regular reboots to allow the system to apply updates and clear out memory, which can help maintain performance.
2. Update and Patch Management: Ensure that the system is up to date with the latest patches and updates, which might contain fixes for long-term performance issues.
3. System Monitoring: Use monitoring tools to track resource usage over time and identify any patterns or specific processes that may contribute to the problem.
4. Resource Cleanup: Periodically clean up system caches, temporary files, and logs to prevent them from growing excessively large.

If the issue persists despite these measures, you may want to look into a more thorough system maintenance or even consider upgrading the operating system for improved performance and stability benefits.

I hope the information above is helpful.

Best Regards,

Yanhong Liu

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Answer 2

Hi Yanhong,

Thank you for your response!

This system is not connected to the internet, and because of which we do not need system updates. Do you think there will be any adverse effect of disabling services Windows Firewall, Diagnostic Policy Service, and Base Filtering Engine completely?

Thank you in advance!