Computer CPU fluctuates even when it should be idle

[John Damian]

Hi,

My computer has Windows XP, 256Mb RAM and a 1.4
Intel M processor. When I look at task manager
on the performance, I see that even when no
application is running, the computer's CPU
usage indicator fluctuates between 17%-25%.

I wouldn't have bothered about this, but this
fact seems to interrupt the smoothness of the
movement of the mouse pointer, and is evidently
interfering with the computer's normal behavior.

Does anyone have an Idea how to solve this problem?

Thanks,
John