W2v - Cpu @ 100%

Hi all, I wonder if any of you can help me.

I have a W2V, which for some reason shows 100% CPU usage all the time. Also, and I don't know if this is normal, the cooling fan stays on permanently as my machine gets very hot (too hot to touch on the top right hand corner).

This CPU problem started a few months ago and someone advised me that it might be because of a virus. I deleted all files that might have been harmful and this did work for a while, but now I think that was just a fluke as the problem is back even though I reinstalled XP Pro at the weekend. I do think it strange that the problem has reappeared after my Notebook was loaded with Office 2003 and had the server connection put back up, could there be a connection?

I'm afraid that I'm not very technically minded so I am a bit stuck.

Can anyone suggest anything?

David

 

I suggest looking at the processes list, from the Task Manager (CtrlAltDel, Task Manager, Processes tab) and see which is taking up CPU. Trace the process back to the application (it might trivially result from the name of the process, or you might need to google for it) and then, if the app is buggy and has a fix or an update, update it, otherwise, remove it. Another option is, if the app can run without the process (e.g. it's an autoupdater or whatever) just configure the app such that it doesn't use the process. A fourth option is to change the config of the app such that the bug is not activated, but without knowing the app I have no idea which might be the problem.

Hope this helps.

As a first step, just report the name of the process that's eating up CPU time on this thread.

 

I tried to monitor the problem by rebooting and opeing the task manager before doing anything else. The CPU usage went straight up to 100% as soon as I opened explorer, and then stayed at that level even when I closed the explorer window, does this suggest anything in particular?

The Processes list shows these taking up the most mem usage:

explorer.exe 20,420K
Rtvscan.exe 13,132K
WINWORD.EXE 11,548K
VPTray 8,832K
ccApp.exe 7,400K
ALCWZRD.EXE 7,064K
wuauclt.exe 5,484K

Could the problem be with any other processes taking up less memory?

 

The CPU usage of the processes is interesting, not the memory usage. Most of the time one or a few related processes should take 99% of the CPU. Those are the names that I want.

 

Nonetheless, it shouldn't get that hot. I own a W2V too, but even under heavy load (e.g. when playing a game) the laptop isn't too hot to handle. I use Noteboook hardware control to measure the cpu temperature, which is around 40 degrees Celcius idle and around 60 degrees under full load. If yours gets much hotter than that, you could have a problem with your cooling (I've removed a pile of dust twice which was blocking the airflow).

 

Sorry, I thought you meant Mem Usage.

CPU Usage shows 99% "System" almost all of the time. Is this normal?

I have also noted a huge temp difference (only done this by touch) between have the power cable connected and when running on battery, it's much cooler with the latter.

 

If you mean "System Idle' - it's normal, that means that during 99% of the time the CPU is not used.
If the name of the process is only "System' - that's trouble. That should take less than 1% CPU most of the time. If this is not the case, then there are problems (hardware /driver conflicts, who knows). Please confirm which of these two processes you meant.

"I have also noted a huge temp difference (only done this by touch) between have the power cable connected and when running on battery, it's much cooler with the latter."

This is probably due to some power management settings which clock the CPU at maximum when notebook is plugged in. If you're using Power4Gear, don't set it at max performance, set it to office mode or something similar.

 

The name is only "System". I looked at another notebook in my office and saw the System Idle Process at 99%, with the machine working perfectly, so I know that's not happening to mine.

I am trying an experiment as I have noticed some correllation to the problem starting when the notebook gets hot. This morning the problem started again, CPU @ 100%, with the System Process at 99%. I unplugged the power lead and within a few minutes everything returned to normal. Once the battery starts to lose power I will plug the lead back in again and see what happens. I'll let you know later ...... if my laptop hasn't melted by then.

 

Then it's clear, you have a problem. Try checking for hardware conflicts (you should see them I think in Device Manager, never had any so I don't know exactly how you should look for them).

I'm guessing it's related to ACPI/power management if you only get the problem when plugged in.

Do you also get System using 99% CPU when you're unplugged from the wall (on battery)? I think not, but it might be that you do and that the notebook doesn't get hot because the CPU frequency is limited.

If you don't i.e. problem appears only on AC power, try reinstalling the ACPI drivers and hotfixes from the drivers CD.

Also disable all 3rd party or ASUS power management utilities, such as Power4Gear, NHC, RMClock. Just leave Windows to do it using Intel Speedstep.

See if this solves your problem.

But don't skip checking for hardware conflicts.

 

It is now clear that I have a power problem. I plugged the mains power cable in and used the machine as I normally would, it worked for an hour or so before slowing right down and showing 100% CPU usage. I unplugged the mains power and almost immediately everything returned to normal.

Before I try anything you mentioned above I should ask this ......

I bought the notebook in the UK but I live in Turkey, these countries use different power supply arrangements. Although I bought quite a few electrical goods to Turkey from the UK, without any problems, could it be that my notebook is suffering from this difference?

 

The notebook adapters nowadays can take any power supply specification worldwide as long as they have the right physical connection.

It might be a problem due to the electrical power being "bad" (i.e. voltage / frequency not correct) but the adapter should probably "take the heat" under such circumstances.

Anyway, you should make sure that the electrical power you supply to the notebook is OK. First thing to check, do you have a good ground connection, and is the power socket grounded? Otherwise it might be because of that. Connect the notebook to a power socket with a good ground connection.

 

I use the notebook in several locations, having the same problem at all of them, so I don't think it's a power problem.

I did a hardware conflict check and the only thing that shows up with any problem is the Network Controller. I tried to reinstall the driver for this but I don't know which of the three CD's, supplied by Asus, I should use. I don't want to mess anything else up so I'll deal with this once the power problem is solved.


“Also disable all 3rd party or ASUS power management utilities, such as Power4Gear, NHC, RMClock. Just leave Windows to do it using Intel Speedstep.

See if this solves your problem.”

I didn’t have any power management utilities running, so I assume Intel Speedstep was automatically on.

On this forum, and several others, people talk about changing clock speeds and other methods of controlling temperature, can you direct me to somewhere where this is explained in fairly simple terms?

 

Ok, then solve the following first:

"I did a hardware conflict check and the only thing that shows up with any problem is the Network Controller.'

" I tried to reinstall the driver for this but I don't know which of the three CD's, supplied by Asus, I should use. I don't want to mess anything else up so I'll deal with this once the power problem is solved."

It's on the "drivers" CD, not on the two rescue CDs. Remove device from device manager, reboot, insert drivers CD, choose option to install device from the autorun menu. Check if problem solved.

Correct.

"On this forum, and several others, people talk about changing clock speeds and other methods of controlling temperature, can you direct me to somewhere where this is explained in fairly simple terms?"

Check the "Guides" top-level subforum. But what is happenning to your notebook is not normal so those things won't help you much. You need to get to the root of your particular problem and take care of it...

 

OK, I have now sorted this problem out and I thought I'd pass in my solution.

What did I do? After contacting Asus and speaking to many many other technical people, who gave lots and lots of advice, a friend of mine actually gave me the solution.

Blow into the vent.

I Did.

It worked.


There was a dust build up that needed clearing!

 

Huh? [dumb/cretin/idiotic smilie]

So why would the System process take 100% then? Was it working hard pushing the fan?

Are you sure you didn't only solve the temperature problem, and the System process is still eating up 100% of the CPU?

 

That's what I said a while ago... But just blowing the dust IN the laptop will not solve the problem on the long term. You need to remove the entire heatsink from the laptop and use a vacuum cleaner to get it entirely dust free. However, this doesn't solve the problem that your cpu usage is 99% all the time, this is not normal...

 

Indeed you did, but I think that at the time I was sure the solution would be more technical ..... lesson learned. I will take the time to do as you suggest and clean it properly. Oddly enough, as soon as the over heating problem was solved the CPU usage dropped to normal and I've not experienced any of the symptoms from before. Everything was being caused by a dust build-up.

I've never experienced this on any other notebook I've owned, nor has there been a problem with the other 6 notebooks I have in my office (Toshiba's), could it be that Asus are more prone to collecting dust than others?

 

All I can say is extremely weird.