is something running in the background ?

pennymakespounds

hp pavilion g6 laptop windows 7 , running IE & aol ......every now and then i notice the browser is really slow , and i can hear the fan / ? running faster .. as if there's a scan or update going on .


Is there a way i can check at any time if there is ?


i've tried control/alt/del .. start task manager .. but only shows aol .


?
thanks

smssms

Ctrl + Alt + Del then select Task Manager. You can see all the processes running, but look at the Processes too, not just Programs.

Probably Windows or AV updates running...

GunJack

..or disk defragmenter, or system creating a restore point, or windows search indexer, or....

the point is it can be many things that windows is set to do by default (which can usually be tweaked not to), and/or aol background activity. First thing I do with a new install of whichever version of windows is set it up with as few of these "on by default" processes active as possible

pennymakespounds

checked "processes" as well and whilst there are many .. don't see anything that should be an issue .


But this really is an issue now ... mid evening .. for about 30 minutes , fan whirring away ... somethings working hard ! ... renders the laptop useless , so slow .


Have checked through everything i can to double check that there are no automatic checks / updates / scans etc .


What can it be ?


thanks

GunJack

pennymakespounds wrote: »

checked "processes" as well and whilst there are many .. don't see anything that should be an issue .

the processes may all be legit, but how much CPU are they using when the fan spins up? In task manager's process list one of the columns shows how much cpu each process is taking up. That should tell you what is causing it....

...and don't forget to tick the box to "show processes from all users"

Leave the task manager open all the time, then it will be easier to check what's going on quickly

WTFH

How long has the computer been switched on for when the fan starts to whir?

Do you use the computer with it sitting on a hard surface or is it on a soft one (such as on clothes, on a chair/cushion/bed)?

pennymakespounds

thanks .


will check the CPU use today


laptop on all day , albeit often in standby .. on a hard desk.

bob_a_builder

the processes may all be legit, but how much CPU are they using when the fan spins up?

Click on CPU column header text to sort in order of % will make it easier to spot

kwikbreaks

It's probably just the NSA checking over your emails....

WTFH

kwikbreaks wrote: »

It's probably just the NSA checking over your emails....

[STRIKE]A strong possibility.[/STRIKE]

Unlikely

grumpycrab

pennymakespounds wrote: »

checked "processes" as well and whilst there are many .. don't see anything that should be an issue .

Did you click the "CPU" column header to see the processes in cpu usage order? (also worth looking at memory usage). Uninstall Trusteer Rapport if its installed.