Widow 10 - Power Plan / CPU Usage Stuck @ 100%

Question

Hi Folks;

Clean install of Windows 10 Pro w/all drivers.

The problem is that under the high performance power plan the CPU usage stays at 100% and battery life shows just a few hours. I then modified the advanced settings so that the minimum CPU usage on that plan is 5%. 

Even with nothing running the CPU stays pretty much pegged at the top. Battery life indicates it is being eaten alive due to CPU usage

On the Balanced plan CPU usage will range from very little to max depending on what's running - which is correct.

So the problem is that the High Performance plan keeps the CPU pegged at nearly maximum, even though it's set to lower to 5% and there is nothing using the CPU.

BTW, I'd appreciate it if I could get an answer from someone knowledgeable as opposed to someone in India that thinks the answer is to set defaults or the like.

Answer 1

Hi Dave

My name is Andre Da Costa; an Independent Consultant, Windows Insider MVP and Windows & Devices for IT MVP. I'm here to help you with your problem.

Please keep in mind this is a peer to peer support forum, so, the help here is from fellow users like you.

You mentioned you just performed a clean install of Windows 10. We have been noticing this trend with high CPU after a fresh install. Normally, Windows Defender is the culprit, in addition, Windows 10 Update applying updates and like Defender definitions.

I would first check Windows Update and make sure any pending cumulative updates are actually being installed succesfully.

Go to Start -> Settings -> Update & security, then Check for updates and install any available updates.

Other things you can also check include:

Look for blank icons on the desktop and delete them.

Open File Explorer

Open This PC

Right click your local drive where Windows 10 is install (you will see the Windows logo on it)

Click Properties

Click the Hardware tab

What is the name of the drive listed?

Is it an SSD?

If it is, you might need to update the firmware.

Open Start > Settings > Privacy > Background apps

Disable all Background apps.

Disabling Windows Update:

Press Windows key + R

Type: services.msc

Hit Enter

Scroll down to Windows Update

Select it then right click it

Click Properties

Under the General tab, choose Startup type to Disabled

Click Stop

Click Apply then OK

Also, check whats starting up with Windows.

Press Windows key + X

Click Task Manager

Click Startup tab

Disable all except Windows Defender.

---

Press Windows key + R

Type: msconfig

Hit Enter

Go to the services tab

Check the box,

hide all Microsoft services

Disable the remaining services

Click Apply then OK

Restart if prompted

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Open Start, type: problem reports

Hit Enter

Delete any failed or pending reports.

Go to Start > Settings > System > Notifications and actions > Turn off "Show me tips about Windows."

If you have Chrome installed, uninstall then reinstall it.

Open Start, type: CMD

Right click CMD

Click Run as administrator

Type: powercfg -restoredefaultschemes

Hit Enter

Exit

Press Windows key + X

Click Power Options

Click Additional power settings

Click Change plan settings -> change advanced power settings > processor power management -> processor idle disable -> Enable idle.

Create an entirely new account and delete the current one.

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/create-manage-...

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Disable Telemetry

Click Start > Settings > Privacy > Feedback and diagnostics.

Set it to basic

Click Start

Type: regedit

Right click regedit

Click Run as administrator

Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection.

Right click and create a DWORD value named AllowTelemetry then set

Since you are on Windows 10 Pro, you can disable it through Group Policy:

Press Windows key + R

Type gpedit.msc then hit Enter

Expand Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components

In the Windows Components dialog, find and right-click on Data Collection and Preview Builds

Then double-click Allow Telemetry in the right pane

Choose Disabled and choose 3-Full from the drop-down menu.

Then click OK to save settings

Click Apply and ok > reboot computer