CPU always at 100% when I ctrl-alt-del!

Is this a concern? its always at 1000%, what is causing this? Im not running anything heavy in the back at all. Tons of ram free, no viruses, spyware, as I just reformatted this morning. I dont need my cpu frying.

Thanks

 

It shouldn't be that high. What are your specs?

When you are in the task manager, what programs are taking up the most CPU (click on the CPU column to organize from least to most usage).

SG

 

Also, you said you formatted earlier. Make sure you install all of the neccessary chipset and other drivers for your dell. That's a pretty important step in the formatting process.

 

Ok got my specs in the signature.

Im mainly running firefox, web, email, msn, thats it. Firefox, msn, email, are the tops for usage.

I installed everything off the cds this morning. I also did RMclock and undervolted it.

 

hmm, that shouldn't be maxing out your system. I have almost the same specs, and right now, i'm listening to Winamp, typing up homework, and have outlook and firefox up with several tabs, and i'm at 65%.

It might be MSN, but i haven't known it to cause any problems. There is an XP service that might run which takes up alot of CPU. I can't remember the exact name of it, but is there any tasks that are using 50% or more of your CPU?

SG

 

Does it stay at 100% or falls to around 4-5% instantly?

 

I am really worried something is going to fry or something.

Svchost.exe, ashserv, firefox is over 20MB.

I dont get it, is it a service that is running?

 

100% all the time, but when i look at my RMclock icon in the taskbar it shows around 9-20% cause i undervolted it

 

Pic - Sorry, youll have to save it and zoom in...im running dual monitors.

http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y255/smszs/?action=view&current=untit666led.jpg

 

If i read that right, it is the RMclock that is causing the problems. If you look in the 3rd column, that is your CPU usuage column. In the image, it looks like it is at 97% which would explain why you are running at 100% all the time. I don't know if you could create any damage by leaving it at 100%, but your system is going to run very slow as long as it is at 100%.

Shut down the RMclock and see if your CPU usage goes down. This will tell you if it is the RM clock or not.

Everything else looks normal. You have a low amount of processes running, so your memory should be low and your CPU usuage should be at 0 or around 0 as long as you aren't running RMClock.

Also, just an extra tidbit of information, you can hit ctrl+shift+esc to bring up the task manager so you don't have to use two hands. I found that out by accident.

SG

 

Wow thanks SG. You're a genius. That did it! Now, why would RMclock cause that? I have used it on other laptops before to undervolt and it didnt have this problem. Is it my settings?

 

Hmm it might be RM clock setting, so you may try this:
Open RM Clock's window, go to Management Tab,then at Miscellaneous Options make sure you uncheck 'Run HLT command when OS is idle(restart required). I only check option 'Use OS load-based management'
Hope it works for you, cheers.

 

^ Yip that was already done, sky.

I think what caused it was my RMclock wasnt loading up at bootup, so I didnt know how to add it to the registry so I just created a shortcut into the startup folder. Now, I would like to re-install it, but its wierd because its not showing up in my control panel. Odd...how can that be when its installed and runs?

Unless any of you know how I can add RMclock to my reg. to bootup. at startup.

 

It might not be fully installed, or has a self-uninstaller. You should be able to add it in start-->run-->msconfig-->startup tab. You should see a listing for RMClock. I'm not really familiar with that software, so i'm not sure if starting it up on boot up will solve the problem. If you can find the uninstaller, I would uninstall it, and try reinstalling it.

 

SG,

I found out how to remove it, but that didnt seem to do anything. Its still causing the CPU to run at 100%. I dont get it...why does this happen with my Dell and not others?

I really need to undervolt this baby, but RMclock is the best utility for that.

 

is it still listed in your task manager?

 

yip, RMclock.exe and RMclockHLT.exe Both under 5MB combined.

 

right click on them, and choose end task. Once we figure out if that is causing the problem, then we can take it from there.

 

Did that. How are we going to figure out whats causing it? Cause as of right now, I cant use it on my machine. Poor RMclock

 

first, did your CPU go down? If it did, then you've narrowed the problem to RMClock. Like I said, I don't know much about RMclock, so you might create a thread in the Software forum, asking if anyone else has had this problem or if there is a solution. I can also move the thread to software if you want.

You might be forced to find another underclocking utility or you'll have to live with your CPU at 100% all the time.

 

Have you enabled in RM Clock the check box for "Run HLT command when OS is idle". If so, that is what is causing the 100% cpu usage. It is not really using 100% of the resources, but is infact sending halt command to the cpu which puts the cpu in sort of a sleep mode instead of the cpu just idling waiting for any input. This way it consumes less power and produces less heat.


You can uncheck it in RM and you should be fine.

 

Yes I did, cause I was told that is what brings the cpu load down. I just checked with my other laptop and it seems to be doing the same thing. So it is forsure my settings.

 

Uncheck the box in RM and you will se that the 100% cpu usage will go down. I suppose you are using RM to undervolt the cpu, if so then there is very little battery or heat output saved by checking that box.

Which version of RM are you using, RM is not an "installed" but rather is an executable, so you wont see it in Add/Remove list. All you have to remove RM is to uninstall the folder containing the executable and you are done. I dont think there are any registry entries for RM.

You dont need to do any of that, RM has another check box in the Advanced CPU settings to apply these options at startup. Just check that and click Apply and restart RM. Next time you restart RM should start automatically with Windows.

 

this is quite off the subject but does anyone know why when i try to do msconfig it does not work on my laptop i'm running win2000 pro and desktop is running 98 second ed it does work??

 

Ok done and done. I have the newest version off their website.

I unchecked the HLT option and it seemed to have taken the load off the cpu, but if I scroll over the RM clock icon in the taskbar it shows it 90% or so. Im guessing its ok? Wierd, cause both are contradicting each other lol.

 

Is the computer running slow or does it behave as if 90% of the cpu resources is being used up?? If so then it might be some other problem. If not then it might just be that RM Clock is not able to correctly interpret the readings.