Low CPU usage.

Question

No matter what I am running on my XP version my cpu usage is always between 0% and 5%.  My system is slow.  How can I change my system so it will use a much higher CPU usage?   Also, we are using a very low amount of disk space. I have run the following but they did not help: CCleaner, Defrag, Anti-Malware,

Free Avast, Autologics Disk Defrag,Mcaffe Security and Automatic Updates Microsoft updates, I am not tech savvy so I would appreciate any help anyone can give me.  Thank You!

Answer 1

How are you gauging the 'slowness'?  In comparison to . . .?

Unfortunately - you seem to be running a fairly OLD system (if it has Windows XP on it) and without more details (make & model of the system, amount of system memory, etc.) it will be a shot in the dark to troubleshoot your issue, if it is not just a perception based off other systems that are newer/faster/supported.

Your system not using much CPU just means you are doing nothing that needs to use much CPU power.  You cannot *make it faster* by using more CPU power - because if you aren't doing anything to use it in the first place - adding things to use the CPU would make little to no difference (might even make things slower.)  The CPU power is there *if* you stat doing something that needs it (obviously) - but it is not your slowness issue nor can it be used to remedy it.

Given the age of the system (based off it having Windows XP), it likely has a slower hard drive, slower memory, less video card power and such than most modern systems.  When compared to them running similar software - it *will* be slow.

Also - I have found in the years of doing this - most people's perception of their computer speed is not a true measure of the actual speed.  Over time applications and such that the user wants to use have been upgraded and - for the most part - gotten larger and consume more memory and hard drive space and may even require more processor power to run as the upgrades occur.  This contributes greatly to the feeling of a sluggish computer.

So . . .

What is the make & model of the computer in question?

How much system memory does it have?

Answer 2

CPU performance,or lack of it,usually gets determined by number of services,

& applications running.Task mgr,gives data on it.Also,try updating the pc

hardware software/drivers,if intel,go to intel.com/support/software/drivers/

downloads.Locate the intel update utility,it'll scan any intel-based pc for updates.

Also,if you'd like to verify pc performance,open WMP,audio/video require alot

of pc resources.

Also,go to run,type: %Temp%  in the new window,go to edit,select all,delete all,

exit when thru.Run disk cleanup after,+ defrag

For pc learning,try this link.

http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/sampchap/6559.aspx#SampleChapter

Answer 3

On Tue, 14 Apr 2015 16:45:20 +0000, MarySchwind wrote:

No matter what I am running on my XP version my cpu usage is always between 0% and 5%.  My system is slow.  How can I change my system so it will use a much higher CPU usage?   Also, we are using a very low amount of disk space. I have run the following but they did not help: CCleaner, Defrag, Anti-Malware,

Free Avast, Autologics Disk Defrag,Mcaffe Security and Automatic Updates Microsoft updates, I am not tech savvy so I would appreciate any help anyone can give me.  Thank You!

Low CPU usage is not a sign that your system is slow. High CPU usage
means a slow system. Low usage is good, not bad.

If you are running Avast and McAfee, that is likely to be the cause
of your problem. You should never run two anti-virus programs; doing
so can slow down the computer and cause problems as hey conflict with
each other. Dump McAfee (see
https://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS101331); Avast is
much better.

Answer 4

On Wed, 15 Apr 2015 03:33:53 +0000, MarySchwind wrote:

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond.  I am going to uninstall via the link you provided. 

You're welcome. Glad to help. But note that I said it's likely to be
the problem; there's no guarantee. Let us know how it works out.

Answer 5

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond.  I am going to uninstall via the link you provided.