Computer slowing & freezing - Help!

anna1976

Recently, my computer has begun to run slower and slower until it finally freezes and shuts down. I have discovered that it begins to happen once I have visited Quidco or have been using my computer for 15-20 minutes. I have monitored it with Task Manager and discovered that 100% of the CPU is being used even when there are no programs in use! I have cleaned my computer with System Mechanic and have a Virus Checker and Firewalls and have cleaned out the cookies but as soon as I visit Quidco or used my computer for a little while the problem starts again. I know that there are a lot of knowedgeable MSE'rs, any technical help would be gratefully received. Many thanks.

albertross_2

which process is running at 90-100%

anna1976

Hi, Thanks. How do I find out which process is using the CPU? I have looked at the applications and the main user is my browser, Firefox.
Task Manager shows that the processes and amount of memory being used by each is fairly constant and does not vary greatly whether the CPU is showing 10% or 100%
I have saved a screen dump of the application information but don't know how to attach it.
All help gratefully received. Anna

bookduck

anna1976 wrote: »

Hi, Thanks. How do I find out which process is using the CPU?

google Process Explorer - it is a free product. While your at it you might as well get hijackthis too.

Google all the processes that your are unsure of that are listed in process explorer.

skintmostofthetime

Can I add my question here please - we keep being told to clear out what we don't need/use - but is there anywhere that we idiots can go to find out just what some of the programmes are that we don't need? I know what I've downloaded/installed myself but will Windows STOP me deleting something that I shouldn't be? - You can tell I haven't ( Dared ! ) tried to do much but too frightened. MY XP system is getting slower & slower and like most I've treid the defrag route but getting nowhere - slowley !! It's now taking nearly 5 full minutes to get from log in to having a screen with icons on it and then another 5 to go from logon to Talktalk to actually being able to get to AOL homescreen. Hope that makes sense.
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

albertross_2

how much ram?

mech_2

Are you using Firefox? I think it could be its Flash plugin.

On my machine, Flash-based adverts on commercial sites sometimes start taking up more and more CPU time until Firefox just becomes unresponsive and I have to kill it and start again. It's very annoying.

bookduck

skintmostofthetime wrote: »

Can I add my question here please - we keep being told to clear out what we don't need/use - but is there anywhere that we idiots can go to find out just what some of the programmes are that we don't need? I know what I've downloaded/installed myself but will Windows STOP me deleting something that I shouldn't be? - You can tell I haven't ( Dared ! ) tried to do much but too frightened. MY XP system is getting slower & slower and like most I've treid the defrag route but getting nowhere - slowley !! It's now taking nearly 5 full minutes to get from log in to having a screen with icons on it and then another 5 to go from logon to Talktalk to actually being able to get to AOL homescreen. Hope that makes sense.
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

process explorer will tell you what is running and will stop it, but only until you restart or activate the prog again. unlocker 1.8.5 will delete. If you do not know what it is, google it like

"svchost.exe -k LocalService" xp

include the "" marks too and also find out how and where to stop it via google. To remove legit progs, add/remove in the control panel are the best place to do it. If you are not sure what the prog is - then google it. Hijackthis helps too.

***"svchost.exe -k LocalService"*** this is a legit file and is just in the txt as an example, but if it were to take up 5% or more constant processor time, then I'd be a bit suspicious and then google some more. here is where the obvious and common sense kick in as in nothing running = very little processor usage = a lot of system idle process