CPU to 100% - no problem without network/internet

[Charlotte_h]

This is the situation. We have two computers. Both computers are sharing internet via a router (both are behind it). We also share files and a printer (printer is connected to computer A). The network is secured. Computer B (my computer) is a brand new pc. Both are running Windows XP.
 
[size=16]This problem has evolved into something much bigger. Please read this edit![/size]

As I mentioned somewhere in this thread, my CPU was being eaten away. This was an understatement - it's eating my CPU (Computer B's) to crashing point (> 100%). The same occurs with Computer A. I've checked all my running processes using the ctrl-alt-del and a Startup Manager program and none found were harmful. The CPU is not ALWAYS at 100% - just now it was at 10% and suddenly jumped to 60%, back to 40%, up to 100%, etc. It's average is at 50% right now.

When I pulled the routerplug, disabling my internet and network, CPU usage dropped to below 10% on Computer A, possibily and most likely also on Computer B (which I will check in a minute). CHECKED: It made very little difference on Computer B.

Additionally (which was my original thread's topic), on Computer A, the software LimeWire, iTunes and Winamp will not load. On Computer B, the system tray icon for Networkstatus (the one that shows the connection speed etc.) would not load. My theory on this however is now: the lack of CPU prevents them from being loaded.

No viruses or worms were found on Computer A using Panda Antivirus - No viruses or worms were found using McAfee on Computer B. Hijack This proved to be clean. I have manually checked the pc for several worms as well (svchost etc. acting weird), but this turned out clean as well.

After resetting the modem and router, things seem to be a little bit more stable, but it still far from perfect.



Computer A:
Windows XP Home
Pentium 4 3.0 Ghz
1 GB RAM
Panda Platinum
Main browser: Internet Explorer (newest version whatever it is)

Computer B:
Windows XP Home
Dual Core 2.8 Ghz
1 GB RAM
McAfee InternetSecurity McAfee was removed and am now running Panda Internet Security 2007
Main browser: Firefox 2.0

Cable internet!


Any help? *sobs*

[patio]

Will they load/run on either machine with the firewall disabled ? ?

[Charlotte_h]

I haven't been able to check on computer A since my sister is doing homework on it, but I will in a second on here (computer B) as soon as it's done scanning. But I don't understand why any firewall would, from one day to another, suddenly conflict with seemingly random programs.

iTunes, Winamp and Limewire have only one thing in common, and that's their ability to play media (or music? I'm not sure what Limewire and iTunes can do exactly, not very familiar). I just don't understand why, or what my Netwerkconnection Status has to do with it.

Also, my CPU is being EATEN by something(s). 65-90% of my 2,8 ghz dual core, which is quite unusual...

[patio]

Well all the apps you mentioned do phone home to check for updates etc...

[Charlotte_h]

Closing down McAfee made no difference..

[patio]

What browser are you running ? ?

[Charlotte_h]

Firefox.

Please read my original post, I have editted it now and the problem lies not specifically with the software not loading, but with lack of CPU capacities, or so my theory goes. Anyway, the CPU problem is of much more importance than iTunes and co not working.

[2k_dummy]

Have you stopped any unnecessary services and programs from loading at startup? Indexing service is a primary culprit. It is a CPU and memory hog. Go into msconfig and disable as many programs as possible from loading at startup. If you don't use them immediately or often, start them when needed and close them when finished. All those programs loading at startup are also extremely hoggish. All programmers want their crap loaded at startup, and if you allow all of them, they will crap your machine.

[Calum]

Even a load of crap running at startup shouldn't do that to either of those machines, especially the dual-core.
Disable unnecessary services and programs as suggested by 2k_dummy.
I personally think this is a virus problem, possibly contracted through Limewire.
Try loading in safe mode - does your CPU still get "eaten"?

[Charlotte_h]

Sorry I didn't reply before, was unable to due to heavy workload.

I did all that. Disabling startup items made no difference. I cleaned up my entire pc. Since my last post somehow stopped jumping to 100%, but can still easily jump to 70% at random times.

I uninstalled McAfee (fully, deleted everything it left behind as well including registry keys), made no difference (but I was sick of McAfee anyway so it's okay).

I of course checked with virusscanning, Spybot, AdAware, HijackThis. Nothing was found.

What I do notice now is that whenever I hit ctrl alt delete to check my CPU usage, I can see the CPU being abnormally high, like 80% as it was just now, but it immediatly jumps back to 1 - 15% after that, as if it's hiding its excessive CPU usage for me.

The only eating processes I have running is Azureus, Firefox and Explorer and I hardly think they can do this to a 2.8 ghz dual core. I've checked my running processes countless of times and nothing weird is in it. The total amount of running processes cannot do what happens to my CPU.

So something weird is going on. Could it be my LAN, something wrong with configuration? I'm attempting to virusscan with Panda now.

The other pc is doing fairly well, I think, it still has some CPU usage but that somehow kinda solved itself. It still is very slow

[patio]

Post a screenshot of your running processes....

Next in line would be a Hijack This log.

patio.   8-)

[GX1_Man]

And it's always better to keep with the posts as they progress, rather than edit the original. Despite the [size=18] LARGE LETTERS[/size], people are confused by trying to follow along this way.