I'm in need of help. Recently my computer has been getting random cpu usage spikes on the Windows XP half of my computer. This is annoying in that whenever this occurs, my computer lags. This is especially noticeable when playing games or listening to music. At first thought it was my computer's internal speakers, but after testing with headphones I still occasionally hear static.
I've tried virus scans, but my virus scanners didn't pick up anything.
Anyone know of a fix for this?
Note: The Mac side of my computer is fine and never gets these spikes, so it's most likely a software issue.
Another Note: The spikes occur even when I'm doing absolutely nothing.
Quote from: 11clock on June 30, 2011, 05:20:39 PM
I'm in need of help. Recently my computer has been getting random cpu usage spikes on the Windows XP half of my computer. This is annoying in that whenever this occurs, my computer lags. This is especially noticeable when playing games or listening to music. At first thought it was my computer's internal speakers, but after testing with headphones I still occasionally hear static.
I've tried virus scans, but my virus scanners didn't pick up anything.
Anyone know of a fix for this?
Note: The Mac side of my computer is fine and never gets these spikes, so it's most likely a software issue.
Another Note: The spikes occur even when I'm doing absolutely nothing.
Open up a task manager and observe what's taking up the CPU power.
Quote from: EpicPhailure on June 30, 2011, 05:28:54 PM
Quote from: 11clock on June 30, 2011, 05:20:39 PM
I'm in need of help. Recently my computer has been getting random cpu usage spikes on the Windows XP half of my computer. This is annoying in that whenever this occurs, my computer lags. This is especially noticeable when playing games or listening to music. At first thought it was my computer's internal speakers, but after testing with headphones I still occasionally hear static.
I've tried virus scans, but my virus scanners didn't pick up anything.
Anyone know of a fix for this?
Note: The Mac side of my computer is fine and never gets these spikes, so it's most likely a software issue.
Another Note: The spikes occur even when I'm doing absolutely nothing.
Open up a task manager and observe what's taking up the CPU power.
I am, but I don't really much going on. During the spikes, however, the total commit charge goes up.
This might help you out. In task manager you can click on the box labeled CPU in the process tab. This will sort by CPU use. That way you can more easily see what's doing it.
Quote from: RainbowDash on June 30, 2011, 06:15:35 PM
This might help you out. In task manager you can click on the box labeled CPU in the process tab. This will sort by CPU use. That way you can more easily see what's doing it.
All of the processes are at 0, expect for one called System Idle Process. System Idle Process's CPU usage is most of the time at 99.
EDIT: There is also one called avgcsrvx.exe that shoots up to 15 CPU usage at the time of the lag spikes.
That one is ok. I can't really help now. I don't know what's going on. I would just leave it open and take a look when things start getting slow.
Quote from: RainbowDash on June 30, 2011, 06:49:23 PM
That one is ok. I can't really help now. I don't know what's going on. I would just leave it open and take a look when things start getting slow.
Edited last post. Noticed one of the programs goes up the charts at the time of the lag spikes. I think the issue is AVG.
That's definitely AVG. What version are you running? Is it the newest? Did you by chance notice the CPU spikes WHILE running your virus scan?
As everyone else has recommended, Avast is known for not being too interfering and less hungry on the CPU if you're looking for a replacement.
Quote from: Scotty on June 30, 2011, 06:55:58 PM
That's definitely AVG. What version are you running? Is it the newest? Did you by chance notice the CPU spikes WHILE running your virus scan?
As everyone else has recommended, Avast is known for not being too interfering and less hungry on the CPU if you're looking for a replacement.
I've heard good things about Avast.
At the moment I'm working on uninstalling AVG. I can't remove it using Add/Remove Programs due to some error, so I'm using a third party program to uninstall it (it can even uninstall AVG by force if it still doesn't work).
EDIT: Uninstalled AVG. The lag spikes went away. Thanks!
Yeah good move. AVG caused me so many problems..
AVG is a bit outdated (or perhaps has been). Avast is also what I use personally (because of this forum :P)
AVG and Norton will lag the hell out of your computer. I use Norton on here only because it came with my ISP for free, but I am going to replace it.
:o Dang, my laptop has had AVG on it forever. I was wondering why the heck my computer is so slow. *Facepalm* :-\
The problem returns. This time a program called SearchSettings.exe is creating the spikes. It looks like a magnifying glass in the toolbar. Don't know where it came from, so I'm removing it.
Quote from: Scotty on June 30, 2011, 06:55:58 PM
Did you by chance notice the CPU spikes WHILE running your virus scan?
That. Plus, keep in mind AVG automatically schedules your scans. It can be disabled, but is quite annoying.
Also, call it it being ignorant, but my machine runs at it's full potential for a year already without having anti-virus software installed. No stupid software is ever going to tell me what I can and what I can't do on my machine =P
Looks like SearchSettings is an adware or something.
Happen to download toolbars or free mouse cursors from IE lately?
Quote from: EpicPhailure on July 05, 2011, 02:33:46 PM
Looks like SearchSettings is an adware or something.
Happen to download toolbars or free mouse cursors from IE lately?
I don't use IE, I use Google Chrome. And I think the file came from Advanced SystemCare.
The spikes are still happening, but not as frequent. I am looking at the processes and nothing suspicious is showing up during the spikes. AVG and SearchSettings no longer exist on my computer, so I don't know what to do now. :-X
I tried disk defragmentation, but that didn't do anything.
Just to clear all bases, download and install Spybot: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html
Update it, scan it, then immunize.
Also probably irrelevant, but extremely useful, download, install, and run Crap Cleaner (ccleaner for short): http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER
Just finished disk cleanup. Didn't help at all, but I gained 2 GB of space.
Quote from: Scotty on July 05, 2011, 06:27:37 PM
Just to clear all bases, download and install Spybot: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html
Update it, scan it, then immunize.
Also probably irrelevant, but extremely useful, download, install, and run Crap Cleaner (ccleaner for short): http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER
I'll try these now.
Quote from: Scotty on July 05, 2011, 06:27:37 PM
Also probably irrelevant, but extremely useful, download, install, and run Crap Cleaner (ccleaner for short): http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER
=O I use that! It works great.
I scanned using Spybot. It detected and removed 25 tracking cookies. I also immunized. Guess what? Now the problem is even worse. :(
Check if that Search Settings thing is still on your computer. Adware likes to plant itself where ever it can, and rebuild itself over time.
Run (download, if you don't have it) Malwarebytes in safe mode.
Run Spybot in safe mode.
I closed Advanced SystemCare Free. Now the lag spikes are completely gone. However, there actually is a problem with my speakers. The lag spikes are gone, but I need to find some external speakers.
Lag spikes are still there, but they only occur when playing games. I get a massive fps drop, and the sound messes up.
I had these.
I fixed it though.
In my task manager, I had several processes named svchost.exe running. One of them was named svchost.exe*32, which was a virus causing the spikes. (Or atleast when I ended it's service, the spikes stopped.)
Service name was Akamai Netsession. Once I ended the service, svchost.exe*32 disappeared and I didn't have the lag spikes anymore. Hope that helps.
If that doesn't fix it, or if you didn't have that problem, maybe try a system restore to a time where it wasn't doing that?
A basic way to check for a fraud svchost in your process manager is to look at the publisher. If one of them isn't published under Windows, you found your virus. Just be aware that you SHOULD have multiple svchosts, so don't go ending all of them.
Quote from: EpicPhailure on July 09, 2011, 12:02:07 PM
A basic way to check for a fraud svchost in your process manager is to look at the publisher. If one of them isn't published under Windows, you found your virus. Just be aware that you SHOULD have multiple svchosts, so don't go ending all of them.
I know, but why would it be running *32 when I have a 64bit system? Is it a virus?
EDIT: When I mean that I had spikes, I mean that games will not run smoothly. Games play at 60 FPS, then every second or two, it will drop to about 15, then go back to playing at 60.
Quote from: EpicPhailure on July 09, 2011, 12:02:07 PM
A basic way to check for a fraud svchost in your process manager is to look at the publisher. If one of them isn't published under Windows, you found your virus. Just be aware that you SHOULD have multiple svchosts, so don't go ending all of them.
How do I check the publisher?
I tested out CCleaner. I'n not going to be using it. It wants to uninstall Steam, Gimp, Paint.NET, Adobe Flash Player, even Windows Media Player! <.<
Quote from: 11clock on July 09, 2011, 01:38:31 PM
I tested out CCleaner. I'n not going to be using it. It wants to uninstall Steam, Gimp, Paint.NET, Adobe Flash Player, even Windows Media Player! <.<
...
...
Then don't use the uninstall tool that it comes with...
Quote from: 11clock on July 09, 2011, 01:38:31 PM
I tested out CCleaner. I'n not going to be using it. It wants to uninstall Steam, Gimp, Paint.NET, Adobe Flash Player, even Windows Media Player! <.<
CCleaner doesn't remove programs unless you tell it to (tools >> uninstall). I think what you're referring to is clearing cache or removing the programs from start up. Both help speed up your computer.
I take back what I said earlier. If you don't understand the concept of uninstalling versus cleaning up your computer, both of which are completely separate in CCleaner, yes, uninstall it. You're going to do more harm than good if you can't understand the difference.
Ran CCleaner. The spikes come less frequently, but they still occur.
How do I check for fraud svchost.exe?
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/what-is-svchostexe-and-why-is-it-running/
After doing a lot of tweaking and stuff, the lag spikes are completely gone...with one exception.
The lag spikes only occur when I'm playing Terraria. I looked at the RAM with it running and it reached almost 100% RAM usage. This problem is now game related.
Quote from: 11clock on July 31, 2011, 04:37:02 PM
After doing a lot of tweaking and stuff, the lag spikes are completely gone...with one exception.
The lag spikes only occur when I'm playing Terraria. I looked at the RAM with it running and it reached almost 100% RAM usage. This problem is now game related.
When I play Terraria, I always have that problem. When I run my Minecraft server and play Minecraft at the same time, it reaches nearly 80% usage of my RAM. :/