Computer won't stop pulsing

[EK]

I recently installed XP on my computer, since I did, when
a user is logged in the computer pulses non-stop. (you
know when the computer grinds away, when it is performing
a calculation or a task, it does that but very quickly on
and off about every second)

The yellow 'thinking' light on the CPU keeps flashing on
and off. When users are logged off, the computer idles
normally.

I would appreciate any insight and especially remedies,
its really annoying.

E

[Shenan T. Stanley]

"EK" <> wrote in message :
> I recently installed XP on my computer, since I did, when
> a user is logged in the computer pulses non-stop. (you
> know when the computer grinds away, when it is performing
> a calculation or a task, it does that but very quickly on
> and off about every second)
>
> The yellow 'thinking' light on the CPU keeps flashing on
> and off. When users are logged off, the computer idles
> normally.

1. How much memory do you have?
2. Is Indexing turned on? Is office installed and it's "Fast Find" installed
and starting up?
3. Do you have an up-to-date virus scanner installed?
4. Have you scanned your machine for spyware/adware lately?
5. Do you have a hardware firewall or have a software one or the Windows ICF
turned on?

If 1. is less than 256MB, you may be seeing the Virtual Memory caching
things in order to give you enough RAM to actually run much. Buy more
memory - It's not too expensive. (Refer to your computer motherboard
manual or if something like Dell, Compaq, HP, IBM, etc - refer to the
computer specs to know what RAM you need to buy.)

If 2. is true, turn them off, take them out of startup. ICK. They will
randomly try to catalog the contents of your hard drives. (You can likely
find stuff about this in the Start -> Help & Support or Google for them.)

If 3. is No - GET ONE! Now! Install it, update it and keep it updated.
Run a full scan on your PC and hope it finds nothing - follow directions if
it does. (Google for AntiVirus or just get Symantec AntiVirus.)

If 4. is No - you really should do this. Get Lavasoft's AdAware and
install/update/run it and erase anything it finds. (Just google for
Lavasoft AdAware)

If 5. is no - it is suggested you get one if you are connected by anything
other than dial-up. At least turn on the Windows ICF. This will provide
you some protection from outside attacks. (Just go to Start -> Help &
Support and search for ICF or Google and search for Free Firewall Software.)

If you tried everything above and still notice the problem - reply back!
Please post in Newsgroups, for one question can benefit many people.

[EK]

Thanks for the quick reply. I have 256 MG , I have just
fully scanned for viruses, I regularly use lavasoft to
sweep for Spyware, and I use a software firewall.

Regarding #2 - I don't know how to do this. I did check
my startup files and couldn't see anything that looked
like it in there, but I really don't know how to find out
if the indexing is turned on.

I searched help and support and also a book on XP and
haven't been able to find out how to go about checking
#2.

Also, even if you have the indexing turned on, shouldn't
the reorganisation stop after a few hours? This has been
going on for days.

regards,

e

>-----Original Message-----
>"EK" <> wrote in message :
>> I recently installed XP on my computer, since I did,
when
>> a user is logged in the computer pulses non-stop. (you
>> know when the computer grinds away, when it is
performing
>> a calculation or a task, it does that but very quickly
on
>> and off about every second)
>>
>> The yellow 'thinking' light on the CPU keeps flashing
on
>> and off. When users are logged off, the computer idles
>> normally.
>
>1. How much memory do you have?
>2. Is Indexing turned on? Is office installed and
it's "Fast Find" installed
>and starting up?
>3. Do you have an up-to-date virus scanner installed?
>4. Have you scanned your machine for spyware/adware
lately?
>5. Do you have a hardware firewall or have a software
one or the Windows ICF
>turned on?
>
>If 1. is less than 256MB, you may be seeing the Virtual
Memory caching
>things in order to give you enough RAM to actually run
much. Buy more
>memory - It's not too expensive. (Refer to your
computer motherboard
>manual or if something like Dell, Compaq, HP, IBM, etc -
refer to the
>computer specs to know what RAM you need to buy.)
>
>If 2. is true, turn them off, take them out of startup.
ICK. They will
>randomly try to catalog the contents of your hard
drives. (You can likely
>find stuff about this in the Start -> Help & Support or
Google for them.)
>
>If 3. is No - GET ONE! Now! Install it, update it and
keep it updated.
>Run a full scan on your PC and hope it finds nothing -
follow directions if
>it does. (Google for AntiVirus or just get Symantec
AntiVirus.)
>
>If 4. is No - you really should do this. Get Lavasoft's
AdAware and
>install/update/run it and erase anything it finds.
(Just google for
>Lavasoft AdAware)
>
>If 5. is no - it is suggested you get one if you are
connected by anything
>other than dial-up. At least turn on the Windows ICF.
This will provide
>you some protection from outside attacks. (Just go to
Start -> Help &
>Support and search for ICF or Google and search for Free
Firewall Software.)
>
>If you tried everything above and still notice the
problem - reply back!
>Please post in Newsgroups, for one question can benefit
many people.
>
>
>.
>