"System" using 100% CPU

Hi guys..can anyone tell me why the 'system' in the task manager is using more than 95% of CPU every few seconds.

Here is the log file from HijackThis.exe:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.3
Scan saved at 8:44:23 PM, on 10/19/2003
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXBCES.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXPPS.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\inetsrv\inetinfo.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
D:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\Tmntsrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\MS\SMS\CLICOMP\RemCtrl\Wuser32.exe
D:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\tmproxy.exe
D:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\PccPfw.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\MS\SMS\CORE\BIN\LAUNCH32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\LXSUPMON.EXE
D:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\pccguide.exe
D:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\PCCClient.exe
D:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\Pop3trap.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\administrator\Application Data\iuea.exe
D:\Program Files\EditPlus 2\editplus.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\administrator\Desktop\putty.exe
C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\YPager.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
F:\Sharat\Downloads\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://rd.yahoo.com/customize/ymsgr...rch/search.html[/url]
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\windows\googletoolbar.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\windows\googletoolbar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SMS Application Launcher] C:\WINDOWS\MS\SMS\CORE\BIN\LAUNCH32.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroCheck] C:\WINDOWS\System32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Gtwatch] C:\WINDOWS\gtwatch.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LXSUPMON] C:\WINDOWS\System32\LXSUPMON.EXE RUN
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [pccguide.exe] "D:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\pccguide.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCCClient.exe] "D:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\PCCClient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Pop3trap.exe] "D:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\Pop3trap.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SysService32] C:\WINDOWS\systask32l.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\RunOnce: [SysService32] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ln32k.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\WINDOWS\GoogleToolbar.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward &Links - res://C:\WINDOWS\GoogleToolbar.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cac&hed Snapshot of Page - res://C:\WINDOWS\GoogleToolbar.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Si&milar Pages - res://C:\WINDOWS\GoogleToolbar.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate Page - res://C:\WINDOWS\GoogleToolbar.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger (HKLM)
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O16 - DPF: {0246ECA8-996F-11D1-BE2F-00A0C9037DFE} (TDServer Control) - http://www.truedoc.com/activex/tdserver.cab
O16 - DPF: {02BF25D5-8C17-4B23-BC80-D3488ABDDC6B} (QuickTime Object) - http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab
O16 - DPF: {0837121A-6472-43BD-8A40-D9221FF1C4CE} - http://download.sidestep.com/get/k00719/sb01f.cab
O16 - DPF: {166B1BCA-3F9C-11CF-8075-444553540000} (Shockwave ActiveX Control) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/...director/sw.cab
O16 - DPF: {19E28AFC-EAE3-4CE5-AC83-2407B42F57C9} (MSSecurityAdvisor Class) - http://protect.microsoft.com/securi...b?1065798899849
O16 - DPF: {31B7EB4E-8B4B-11D1-A789-00A0CC6651A8} (Cult3D ActiveX Player) - http://www.cult3d.com/download/cult.cab
O16 - DPF: {41F17733-B041-4099-A042-B518BB6A408C} - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52...meInstaller.exe
O16 - DPF: {56336BCB-3D8A-11D6-A00B-0050DA18DE71} (RdxIE Class) - http://207.188.7.150/13856becc2305c...ip/RdxIE601.cab
O16 - DPF: {74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (HouseCall Control) - http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/...all/xscan53.cab
O16 - DPF: {8EDAD21C-3584-4E66-A8AB-EB0E5584767D} - http://toolbar.google.com/data/GoogleActivate.cab
O16 - DPF: {9DBAFCCF-592F-FFFF-FFFF-00608CEC297C} - http://download.weatherbug.com/mini...uginstaller.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.c...7788.8460069444
O16 - DPF: {A45F39DC-3608-4237-8F0E-139F1BC49464} - http://www.thebestplugin.com/diallerfiles/003804.exe
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/...ash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {F0230524-9D39-4E84-8452-41C592961EA7} - http://www.exchangeexit.com/Config.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: SearchList = pacbell.net,ca.nortel.com,us.nortel.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Any help woulr be appreciated...

Thanks
SJ

Are you doing anything at all at the time? Typing in a browser window, moving the mouse, copying a CD, playing an mp3, etc.

just applications like telnet and a text editor...even as i type, the CPU is more than 90% busy.

it is switching on for every 10 sec even without any applications running..

SJ

check the processes tab and see which process is using so much cpu.
some of the last few windows updates have been known to cause these symtoms, not to mention viruses.

I have already mentioned this in the inital message.....but here it is again...

The 'System' process is causing the problem.


SJ

I don't know what to say. I've seen people a couple years back whose machines would "idle" at 100% CPU usage (don't remember what was taking it up) but if they were moving the mouse (like around in a circle) it would drop to expected idle levels. Didn't affect the system any, was just really strange to watch. Does your system noticably lag when the process peaks usage?

I had this problem and just solved it. Now, the problem I was having is the 'system' process was running near 100% only when I was gamming. I just put a clean install on this machine. One thing that I used was my video driver that works well with this card (nVidia ti 4200) yet it isn't certified by MS so it doesn't work well with XP. I downloaded the video drivers off the MS website and the problem is solved.

I have googled till I am blue and found that this is a common problem and thats why I dug this thread out. All I can suggest is you may have a bad driver that is causing system (the process) to go haywire. My problem was relatively easy because I just had the problem when gamming and was able to pinpoint the video.
Hope this helps some folks out.

Gary

Thank you thank you thank you! I've been struggling with this for a while and decided that it wouldn't hurt to install a driver if I got it from the manufacturer's site. I did and viola! no more slooooooooow computer!
Many thanks for taking the time to look up this thread, it is the thread that google finds when you search on "system using 100% cpu" or similar.
Anne

Crap dudes, I just started this. I can barely visit this website. I get lagged out to prcitcal no return everytime i scroll the mouse, open a new window, or do basically anything anywhere on my computer (except teh start menu, it runs well)

Everytime i do somthing like that my System process juts up to 80-99 and camps on my processor.

I haven't installed ANYTHING lately except NIS but it has been working for weeks without trouble.

email response will be easier to get to if possible
thepcnerd@thepcnerd.net

I feel stupid. I thought I would post this anyway.

It was my browser. I use it for everything (shell image viewing, etc) so it seemed like the whole computer.

Reverted to IE and im fine now, i think.

Ok. This is happening to me.

Only happens when I game. Pissed me off so I tried formatting again.

So...
fresh install (xp sp1a)
chipset drivers
direct x (9b)
video drivers
sound drivers
windows update

Install Doom 3 and bam 15 minutes later the game gets horrible(laggy and choppy) I exit the game, check the task maanger "System" using anywhere from 69 to 100% of the CPU(varies wildly) I can reboot the system and its fine. Start the game(Doom 3, Desert Combat(Battlefield 1942) and viola choppy again. Check task manager System using all the CPU again. BTW ... if I just use the PC for anything but gaming it never happens. Oh yeah, and I can play Need For Speed Underground with out it messing up(these are really the only three games I play)

First thing I thought as well was video subsytem. New drivers. Made sure my directx install was clean.

I've got no freaking clue. New-ish system BTW. It started once I built it.(Yes I have tested every individual piece of hardware)

About to throw the damn thing in the river.

i had the same problem an just solved it... are you using a nvidia video card .. if you are download the drivers from the nvidia homepage rather than installing the drivers from the disk.. when you install nvidia drivers from the disk it puts a program in your task manager call Rscmpt.exe which uses up to 99% of your cpu at any given time.. after installing the drivers from the web page kill the Rscmpt.exe in your task manager and disable it from startup by going to start then to run .. type msconfig then go to the startup tab uncheck the Rscmpt.exe and click apply... reboot an voila..

also it is not uncommon for sytem idle process to use high amounts of your cpu when you are idling... thats what it is meant to do or altleast from the information ive gathered anyway

I do have an nvidia card. I am using the drivers from the page(I always do) Im using the detnator 61.77 drivers. I dont have the rscmpt.exe on my pc nor is it running. Its the System process thats using the processor not system idle.

Thanks for your help though

61.77 is not a certified driver. Try this driver:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_61.76.html

Thanks to you guys I found the solution to this problem on my machine - running W2K professional on a dell Inspiron 4000.

I noticed the 100% CPU load in System occured always after putting the notebook to sleep. I had recently installed the fax driver. So - I went into Services and stopped the Fax Service. Voila - everything back to normal. I can restart the service and everything is fine. I suspect the built-in fax modem somehow doesn't respond the way Windows is looking for after waking up and then the system kills itself trying to contact the modem or soemthing.

Thanks again
Arnd