Processor at 100%, no obvious cause

Don't think its wmiprvse.exe causing the problem - I've confirmed its in the
correct location, has the correct Windows signatures and besides after 30
minutes the processor is still hanging around 80+%.

I do have some information from Process Explorer, though (great suggestion,
thanks). The first two lines immediately tell me the problem (but not the
cause):

Process PID CPU Description Company Name
System Idle Process 0 18.18
Interrupts n/a 80.30 Hardware Interrupts

For some reason my system is spending a HUGE amount on time on "Hardware
Interrupts". I've checked Device Manager and everything looks kosher. Also,
this system is just one of many which are (supposed to be) identical,
hardware and software-wise.

Any idea how I find out what is causing the "Hardware Interrupts"?

Thanks,
Alain

"Bob Harris" wrote in message
...
This file is part of XP itself, so in some sense the slowdown is a
"feature" of XP.

I had a similar problem about a year and a half ago. The best I could do
was drop the priority of the task using "process explorer", which is free
from Microsoft at
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb896653.aspx From the
main window, right-click on any process to get a menu, which includes set
priority.

However, some time in the last year or so, this problem fixed itself.
That might have been due to installing SP-3 and/or some associate update
via windows update.

Searching the web for "wmiprvse.exe" also suggests that updating device
drivers might help. Windows update will show some newer drivers, if they
are available. But, not all drivers are available via windows update.
So, check the support website of your motherboard, video card, etc.


"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have a PC running Windows XP, SP3. When the computer starts, I load
Task
manager, and get about 2 minutes of the process:
wmiprvse.exe
running at 100% CPU usage.

After about 2 minutes, that process goes to 0% and the only visible task
with a non-zero number (apart from occasionally rising to a few percent)
is:
System Idle Process
which is what you expect, except that "CPU Usage" at the bottom of Task
Manager shows in the range of 80-90%. The CPU graph shows the same thing.

I have not attached JPG images of both, but have cpatured them showing
the above. Can email if it might clarify.

I don't know whats' going on here. Since no process is running at more
than
a few percent, the overall CPU Usage should only be a few percent, but
its
almost maxing the CPU. I figured it must be one of the several bits of
hardware I have attached (COM, Parallel ports, etc). I've tried disabling
several devices in Device Manager and rebooting, and still get the same
problem.

Any ideas, please?

Thanks,
Alain

Even though the computer is not Internet connected could this activity
be related to Windows/Microsoft Update ? It generally tries to run at
boot to check for new updates. I might try disabling the service and
boot and compare times.

"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
The computer isn't connected now, but might be in future.

This doesn't appear to be the problem because even after 30 minutes after
bootup, the processor is STILL running at 80%-ish...

Regards,
Alain


"R. McCarty" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the updated info. If the PC is not on a network is it
connected
to the Internet at all ? If not then I'd either disabled the Ethernet NIC
or
unbind the Protocols/Services from it. Part of your bootup issue is going
to be the time lag for NIC initialization. That's why it eventually
obtains the
"Autoconfiguration" address starting with 169.x.x.x

"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
OK, I've done what you suggested. Nothing too radical to report. These
are the 3 "Warning" events I get in the System log - nothing of interest
to report in the Application or other logs:

ID=20169, 15:14:17
Unable to contact a DHCP server. The Automatic Private IP Address
169.254.104.213 will be assigned to dial-in clients. Clients may be
unable to access resources on the network.

ID=20169, 15:14:17
Unable to contact a DHCP server. The Automatic Private IP Address
169.254.134.244 will be assigned to dial-in clients. Clients may be
unable to access resources on the network.

ID=20192, 15:14:23
A certificate could not be found. Connections that use the L2TP protocol
over IPSec require the installation of a machine certificate, also
known as a computer certificate. No L2TP calls will be accepted.

As the computer is not connected to the network (and therefore not to a
DHCP server) I don't find anything too surprising except that two
private IP addresses are mentioned. Note I don't that this is just a
boot issue...after booting up, the processor continues to run at ~80%.

Thanks,
Alain

"R. McCarty" wrote in message
...
The proper diagnostic on boot issues is Event Viewer. Services are
highly interdependent. Some start only after others have completed.
The way Windows is designed a Service Start can wait as long as 30
seconds.

I would use EventVwr.Msc [Enter] and clear both System & App
logs and reboot. Then reopen EventVwr and examine both logs for
Red and Yellow icons that denote Errors and Warnings. This way
you are working with a single/complete boot sequence.

From your description it appears you have a case of incorrect Service
start modes.

"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have a PC running Windows XP, SP3. When the computer starts, I load
Task
manager, and get about 2 minutes of the process:
wmiprvse.exe
running at 100% CPU usage.

After about 2 minutes, that process goes to 0% and the only visible
task
with a non-zero number (apart from occasionally rising to a few
percent) is:
System Idle Process
which is what you expect, except that "CPU Usage" at the bottom of
Task
Manager shows in the range of 80-90%. The CPU graph shows the same
thing.

I have not attached JPG images of both, but have cpatured them showing
the above. Can email if it might clarify.

I don't know whats' going on here. Since no process is running at more
than
a few percent, the overall CPU Usage should only be a few percent, but
its
almost maxing the CPU. I figured it must be one of the several bits of
hardware I have attached (COM, Parallel ports, etc). I've tried
disabling
several devices in Device Manager and rebooting, and still get the
same
problem.

Any ideas, please?

Thanks,
Alain

Even though the computer is not Internet connected could this activity
be related to Windows/Microsoft Update ? It generally tries to run at
boot to check for new updates. I might try disabling the service and
boot and compare times.

"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
The computer isn't connected now, but might be in future.

This doesn't appear to be the problem because even after 30 minutes after
bootup, the processor is STILL running at 80%-ish...

Regards,
Alain


"R. McCarty" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the updated info. If the PC is not on a network is it
connected
to the Internet at all ? If not then I'd either disabled the Ethernet NIC
or
unbind the Protocols/Services from it. Part of your bootup issue is going
to be the time lag for NIC initialization. That's why it eventually
obtains the
"Autoconfiguration" address starting with 169.x.x.x

"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
OK, I've done what you suggested. Nothing too radical to report. These
are the 3 "Warning" events I get in the System log - nothing of interest
to report in the Application or other logs:

ID=20169, 15:14:17
Unable to contact a DHCP server. The Automatic Private IP Address
169.254.104.213 will be assigned to dial-in clients. Clients may be
unable to access resources on the network.

ID=20169, 15:14:17
Unable to contact a DHCP server. The Automatic Private IP Address
169.254.134.244 will be assigned to dial-in clients. Clients may be
unable to access resources on the network.

ID=20192, 15:14:23
A certificate could not be found. Connections that use the L2TP protocol
over IPSec require the installation of a machine certificate, also
known as a computer certificate. No L2TP calls will be accepted.

As the computer is not connected to the network (and therefore not to a
DHCP server) I don't find anything too surprising except that two
private IP addresses are mentioned. Note I don't that this is just a
boot issue...after booting up, the processor continues to run at ~80%.

Thanks,
Alain

"R. McCarty" wrote in message
...
The proper diagnostic on boot issues is Event Viewer. Services are
highly interdependent. Some start only after others have completed.
The way Windows is designed a Service Start can wait as long as 30
seconds.

I would use EventVwr.Msc [Enter] and clear both System & App
logs and reboot. Then reopen EventVwr and examine both logs for
Red and Yellow icons that denote Errors and Warnings. This way
you are working with a single/complete boot sequence.

From your description it appears you have a case of incorrect Service
start modes.

"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have a PC running Windows XP, SP3. When the computer starts, I load
Task
manager, and get about 2 minutes of the process:
wmiprvse.exe
running at 100% CPU usage.

After about 2 minutes, that process goes to 0% and the only visible
task
with a non-zero number (apart from occasionally rising to a few
percent) is:
System Idle Process
which is what you expect, except that "CPU Usage" at the bottom of
Task
Manager shows in the range of 80-90%. The CPU graph shows the same
thing.

I have not attached JPG images of both, but have cpatured them showing
the above. Can email if it might clarify.

I don't know whats' going on here. Since no process is running at more
than
a few percent, the overall CPU Usage should only be a few percent, but
its
almost maxing the CPU. I figured it must be one of the several bits of
hardware I have attached (COM, Parallel ports, etc). I've tried
disabling
several devices in Device Manager and rebooting, and still get the
same
problem.

Any ideas, please?

Thanks,
Alain

Thats an excellent suggestion, thanks. Process Explorer has shown me this
something called "Hardware Interrupts" is chewing the processor. Could
MSConfig find the culprit?

Thanks,
Alain

"Unknown" wrote in message
...
Why not run msconfig and shut down items till you find the cause?
"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
Right have checked this, and there's absolutely no change in what Task
Manager shows me when I check the "Show processes from all users" box.

Another thing I will note that is that the current Thread count and I/O
Read/Write count for all active processes hardly changes, yet the CPU
usage is varying constantly between about 65% to about 95%.

Thanks,
Alain

"John McGaw" wrote in message
...
Alain Dekker wrote:
Hi,

I have a PC running Windows XP, SP3. When the computer starts, I load
Task
manager, and get about 2 minutes of the process:
wmiprvse.exe
running at 100% CPU usage.
snip...

Do you have "Show processes from all users" checked? It might well be
that some other user is eating CPU cycles.

Thats an excellent suggestion, thanks. Process Explorer has shown me this
something called "Hardware Interrupts" is chewing the processor. Could
MSConfig find the culprit?

Thanks,
Alain

"Unknown" wrote in message
...
Why not run msconfig and shut down items till you find the cause?
"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
Right have checked this, and there's absolutely no change in what Task
Manager shows me when I check the "Show processes from all users" box.

Another thing I will note that is that the current Thread count and I/O
Read/Write count for all active processes hardly changes, yet the CPU
usage is varying constantly between about 65% to about 95%.

Thanks,
Alain

"John McGaw" wrote in message
...
Alain Dekker wrote:
Hi,

I have a PC running Windows XP, SP3. When the computer starts, I load
Task
manager, and get about 2 minutes of the process:
wmiprvse.exe
running at 100% CPU usage.
snip...

Do you have "Show processes from all users" checked? It might well be
that some other user is eating CPU cycles.

"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
Don't think its wmiprvse.exe causing the problem - I've confirmed its in
the correct location, has the correct Windows signatures and besides after
30 minutes the processor is still hanging around 80+%.

I do have some information from Process Explorer, though (great
suggestion, thanks). The first two lines immediately tell me the problem
(but not the cause):

Process PID CPU Description Company Name
System Idle Process 0 18.18
Interrupts n/a 80.30 Hardware Interrupts

For some reason my system is spending a HUGE amount on time on "Hardware
Interrupts". I've checked Device Manager and everything looks kosher.
Also, this system is just one of many which are (supposed to be)
identical, hardware and software-wise.

Any idea how I find out what is causing the "Hardware Interrupts"?

Thanks,
Alain

"Bob Harris" wrote in message
...
This file is part of XP itself, so in some sense the slowdown is a
"feature" of XP.

I had a similar problem about a year and a half ago. The best I could do
was drop the priority of the task using "process explorer", which is free
from Microsoft at
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb896653.aspx From the
main window, right-click on any process to get a menu, which includes set
priority.

However, some time in the last year or so, this problem fixed itself.
That might have been due to installing SP-3 and/or some associate update
via windows update.

Searching the web for "wmiprvse.exe" also suggests that updating device
drivers might help. Windows update will show some newer drivers, if they
are available. But, not all drivers are available via windows update.
So, check the support website of your motherboard, video card, etc.


"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have a PC running Windows XP, SP3. When the computer starts, I load
Task
manager, and get about 2 minutes of the process:
wmiprvse.exe
running at 100% CPU usage.

After about 2 minutes, that process goes to 0% and the only visible task
with a non-zero number (apart from occasionally rising to a few percent)
is:
System Idle Process
which is what you expect, except that "CPU Usage" at the bottom of Task
Manager shows in the range of 80-90%. The CPU graph shows the same
thing.

I have not attached JPG images of both, but have cpatured them showing
the above. Can email if it might clarify.

I don't know whats' going on here. Since no process is running at more
than
a few percent, the overall CPU Usage should only be a few percent, but
its
almost maxing the CPU. I figured it must be one of the several bits of
hardware I have attached (COM, Parallel ports, etc). I've tried
disabling
several devices in Device Manager and rebooting, and still get the same
problem.

Any ideas, please?

Thanks,
Alain







There is a problem somewhere with one or more of your drivers. Finding out
which one can be time consuming, even then the real cause of the trouble may
not be obvious.
There might not be anything wrong with the drivers; instead, you might have
a hardware problem that the system is trying mightly to resolve.
What I would do is to remove all devices that are not needed to run the
computer. That is, everything except the mouse, the keyboard, the system
drive, and the monitor.
Then check again for interrupt service time.
What you do next depends on what the interrupt service time reveals.
Jim

"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
Don't think its wmiprvse.exe causing the problem - I've confirmed its in
the correct location, has the correct Windows signatures and besides after
30 minutes the processor is still hanging around 80+%.

I do have some information from Process Explorer, though (great
suggestion, thanks). The first two lines immediately tell me the problem
(but not the cause):

Process PID CPU Description Company Name
System Idle Process 0 18.18
Interrupts n/a 80.30 Hardware Interrupts

For some reason my system is spending a HUGE amount on time on "Hardware
Interrupts". I've checked Device Manager and everything looks kosher.
Also, this system is just one of many which are (supposed to be)
identical, hardware and software-wise.

Any idea how I find out what is causing the "Hardware Interrupts"?

Thanks,
Alain

"Bob Harris" wrote in message
...
This file is part of XP itself, so in some sense the slowdown is a
"feature" of XP.

I had a similar problem about a year and a half ago. The best I could do
was drop the priority of the task using "process explorer", which is free
from Microsoft at
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb896653.aspx From the
main window, right-click on any process to get a menu, which includes set
priority.

However, some time in the last year or so, this problem fixed itself.
That might have been due to installing SP-3 and/or some associate update
via windows update.

Searching the web for "wmiprvse.exe" also suggests that updating device
drivers might help. Windows update will show some newer drivers, if they
are available. But, not all drivers are available via windows update.
So, check the support website of your motherboard, video card, etc.


"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have a PC running Windows XP, SP3. When the computer starts, I load
Task
manager, and get about 2 minutes of the process:
wmiprvse.exe
running at 100% CPU usage.

After about 2 minutes, that process goes to 0% and the only visible task
with a non-zero number (apart from occasionally rising to a few percent)
is:
System Idle Process
which is what you expect, except that "CPU Usage" at the bottom of Task
Manager shows in the range of 80-90%. The CPU graph shows the same
thing.

I have not attached JPG images of both, but have cpatured them showing
the above. Can email if it might clarify.

I don't know whats' going on here. Since no process is running at more
than
a few percent, the overall CPU Usage should only be a few percent, but
its
almost maxing the CPU. I figured it must be one of the several bits of
hardware I have attached (COM, Parallel ports, etc). I've tried
disabling
several devices in Device Manager and rebooting, and still get the same
problem.

Any ideas, please?

Thanks,
Alain







There is a problem somewhere with one or more of your drivers. Finding out
which one can be time consuming, even then the real cause of the trouble may
not be obvious.
There might not be anything wrong with the drivers; instead, you might have
a hardware problem that the system is trying mightly to resolve.
What I would do is to remove all devices that are not needed to run the
computer. That is, everything except the mouse, the keyboard, the system
drive, and the monitor.
Then check again for interrupt service time.
What you do next depends on what the interrupt service time reveals.
Jim

Alain

Did you restart the computer after changing the setting. On rebooting
had the service started?

Did you disable Automatic Update?

Hardware interupts are not something I have explored previously.
http://forum.sysinternals.com/printe...s.asp?TID=7775

This forum might prove helpful

You have started to try to isolate the device by disabling through
Device Manager and observing for affect? That seems sensible.

Have you disconnected all peripherals except keyboard, mouse and
monitor?

What transfer modes are your drives. I would normally use HD Tune to
check drives

Try HD Tune only gives information and does not fix any
problems.

Download and run it and see what it turns up. You want HD Tune
(freeware) version 2.55 not HD Tune Pro (not Freeware) version 3.00.
http://www.hdtune.com/

Select the Info tabs and place the cursor on the drive under Drive
letter and then double click the two page icon ( copy to Clipboard )
and copy into a further message.

Select the Health tab and then double click the two page icon ( copy to
Clipboard ) and copy into a further message. Make sure you do a full
surface scan with HD Tune.


--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Alain Dekker wrote:
OK, tried putting WMI to Manual (I'm a software developer do I know
how to change that), no help.

I do have some information from Process Explorer, though (great
suggestion, thanks). The first two lines immediately tell me the
problem (but not the cause):

Process PID CPU Description Company Name
System Idle Process 0 18.18
Interrupts n/a 80.30 Hardware Interrupts

For some reason my system is spending a HUGE amount on time on
"Hardware Interrupts". I've checked Device Manager and everything
looks kosher. Also, this system is just one of many which are
(supposed to be) identical, hardware and software-wise.

Any idea how I find out what is causing the "Hardware Interrupts"?

Thanks,
Alain

"Gerry" wrote in message
...
Alain

The service Windows Management Instrumentation has the Security
Center and the Windows Firewall dependent on the service. You might
try changing the startup type to manual. I am not sure affect it
will have. Select Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools,
Services and right
click on Windows Management Instrumentation and select Properties.
The StartUp type
should be Automatic. Changing to Manual using the scroll bar to the
right of Automatic may help.

The problem with no internet connection is most applications expect
to connect to the internet to update and regularly check to see what
updates are available. The most obvious is Windows Automatic
updates. It may be preferable to disable Automatic Updates first
before making the change to Windows Management Instrumentation .
Start, Control Panel, Automatic Updates.

JS has suggested Process Explorer. This is my standard response for
Process Explorer. Given no internet access you will need to download
to another computer and transfer the programme.

Download Process Explorer.
For further information about Process Explorer see he
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys...sExplorer.mspx

It would be helpful if you could post the Command Line of the process
generating the excessive CPU usage. In Process Explorer place
cursor on Process and select Properties, Image.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Alain Dekker wrote:
Thanks for that answer.

The PC is a dedicated touchscreen going into a machine not intended
to be connected to the internet. Its straight "out-of-the-box" from
our supplier (ie. brand new). We replaced the PC with another in
stock (which should in theory be exactly the same - same hardware,
same XP clone, same services, etc) and that one worked perfectly.

There is therefore no anti-virus/spamware installed (at this stage -
might be later on).

Thanks,
Alain

"Gerry" wrote in message
...
Alain

It could be associated with software checking for updates or
malware. What are your anti-virus and anti-spyware arrangements?

First CCleaner. This will help your system and reduce the time
running scans with Spybot S & D and Malwarebytes

An alternative to Disk CleanUp is cCleaner. It would be interesting
to know whether this has the same problem with central. dll? If it
does there is a feature, which I have not used, to excludes files
which would presumably enanable the process to complete.

cCleaner (freeware) which does a more thorough job than Disk
CleanUp. Disk CleanUp has to be run for each user profile, whereas
cCleaner only needs to be run once.
http://www.ccleaner.com/ccdownload.asp
http://www.ccleaner.com/

With any cleaner you need to proceed with caution. To be safe you
should create a restore point before using cCleaner. cCleaner also
offers backup before removal.

When using cCleaner think twice before checking Autocomplete Form
History under Internet Explorer. You do get a warning but this one
has irritating consequences. You may need to restore your system's
recollection of passwords after use so keep a record off computer
so that they can easily be re-entered.

I suggest you download and run Spybot S & D (freeware version).
There is a freeware version buried in this link:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
1.36 -freeware (if you upgrade you pay).
http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes...-10804572.html

Run Malwarebytes' in safe mode and turn off your current anti-virus
before you do to avoid a conflict. Disregard the invitation on the
web site regarding the Registry Optimiser -a Registry Optimiser is
not a helpful utility.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Alain Dekker wrote:
Hi,

I have a PC running Windows XP, SP3. When the computer starts, I
load Task manager, and get about 2 minutes of the process:
wmiprvse.exe
running at 100% CPU usage.

After about 2 minutes, that process goes to 0% and the only
visible task with a non-zero number (apart from occasionally
rising to a few percent) is: System Idle Process
which is what you expect, except that "CPU Usage" at the bottom of
Task Manager shows in the range of 80-90%. The CPU graph shows the
same thing.
I have not attached JPG images of both, but have cpatured them
showing the above. Can email if it might clarify.

I don't know whats' going on here. Since no process is running at
more than a few percent, the overall CPU Usage should only be a
few percent, but its almost maxing the CPU. I figured it must be
one of the several bits of hardware I have attached (COM,
Parallel ports, etc). I've tried disabling several devices in
Device Manager and rebooting, and still get the same problem.

Any ideas, please?

Thanks,
Alain

Alain

Did you restart the computer after changing the setting. On rebooting
had the service started?

Did you disable Automatic Update?

Hardware interupts are not something I have explored previously.
http://forum.sysinternals.com/printe...s.asp?TID=7775

This forum might prove helpful

You have started to try to isolate the device by disabling through
Device Manager and observing for affect? That seems sensible.

Have you disconnected all peripherals except keyboard, mouse and
monitor?

What transfer modes are your drives. I would normally use HD Tune to
check drives

Try HD Tune only gives information and does not fix any
problems.

Download and run it and see what it turns up. You want HD Tune
(freeware) version 2.55 not HD Tune Pro (not Freeware) version 3.00.
http://www.hdtune.com/

Select the Info tabs and place the cursor on the drive under Drive
letter and then double click the two page icon ( copy to Clipboard )
and copy into a further message.

Select the Health tab and then double click the two page icon ( copy to
Clipboard ) and copy into a further message. Make sure you do a full
surface scan with HD Tune.


--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Alain Dekker wrote:
OK, tried putting WMI to Manual (I'm a software developer do I know
how to change that), no help.

I do have some information from Process Explorer, though (great
suggestion, thanks). The first two lines immediately tell me the
problem (but not the cause):

Process PID CPU Description Company Name
System Idle Process 0 18.18
Interrupts n/a 80.30 Hardware Interrupts

For some reason my system is spending a HUGE amount on time on
"Hardware Interrupts". I've checked Device Manager and everything
looks kosher. Also, this system is just one of many which are
(supposed to be) identical, hardware and software-wise.

Any idea how I find out what is causing the "Hardware Interrupts"?

Thanks,
Alain

"Gerry" wrote in message
...
Alain

The service Windows Management Instrumentation has the Security
Center and the Windows Firewall dependent on the service. You might
try changing the startup type to manual. I am not sure affect it
will have. Select Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools,
Services and right
click on Windows Management Instrumentation and select Properties.
The StartUp type
should be Automatic. Changing to Manual using the scroll bar to the
right of Automatic may help.

The problem with no internet connection is most applications expect
to connect to the internet to update and regularly check to see what
updates are available. The most obvious is Windows Automatic
updates. It may be preferable to disable Automatic Updates first
before making the change to Windows Management Instrumentation .
Start, Control Panel, Automatic Updates.

JS has suggested Process Explorer. This is my standard response for
Process Explorer. Given no internet access you will need to download
to another computer and transfer the programme.

Download Process Explorer.
For further information about Process Explorer see he
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys...sExplorer.mspx

It would be helpful if you could post the Command Line of the process
generating the excessive CPU usage. In Process Explorer place
cursor on Process and select Properties, Image.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Alain Dekker wrote:
Thanks for that answer.

The PC is a dedicated touchscreen going into a machine not intended
to be connected to the internet. Its straight "out-of-the-box" from
our supplier (ie. brand new). We replaced the PC with another in
stock (which should in theory be exactly the same - same hardware,
same XP clone, same services, etc) and that one worked perfectly.

There is therefore no anti-virus/spamware installed (at this stage -
might be later on).

Thanks,
Alain

"Gerry" wrote in message
...
Alain

It could be associated with software checking for updates or
malware. What are your anti-virus and anti-spyware arrangements?

First CCleaner. This will help your system and reduce the time
running scans with Spybot S & D and Malwarebytes

An alternative to Disk CleanUp is cCleaner. It would be interesting
to know whether this has the same problem with central. dll? If it
does there is a feature, which I have not used, to excludes files
which would presumably enanable the process to complete.

cCleaner (freeware) which does a more thorough job than Disk
CleanUp. Disk CleanUp has to be run for each user profile, whereas
cCleaner only needs to be run once.
http://www.ccleaner.com/ccdownload.asp
http://www.ccleaner.com/

With any cleaner you need to proceed with caution. To be safe you
should create a restore point before using cCleaner. cCleaner also
offers backup before removal.

When using cCleaner think twice before checking Autocomplete Form
History under Internet Explorer. You do get a warning but this one
has irritating consequences. You may need to restore your system's
recollection of passwords after use so keep a record off computer
so that they can easily be re-entered.

I suggest you download and run Spybot S & D (freeware version).
There is a freeware version buried in this link:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
1.36 -freeware (if you upgrade you pay).
http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes...-10804572.html

Run Malwarebytes' in safe mode and turn off your current anti-virus
before you do to avoid a conflict. Disregard the invitation on the
web site regarding the Registry Optimiser -a Registry Optimiser is
not a helpful utility.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Alain Dekker wrote:
Hi,

I have a PC running Windows XP, SP3. When the computer starts, I
load Task manager, and get about 2 minutes of the process:
wmiprvse.exe
running at 100% CPU usage.

After about 2 minutes, that process goes to 0% and the only
visible task with a non-zero number (apart from occasionally
rising to a few percent) is: System Idle Process
which is what you expect, except that "CPU Usage" at the bottom of
Task Manager shows in the range of 80-90%. The CPU graph shows the
same thing.
I have not attached JPG images of both, but have cpatured them
showing the above. Can email if it might clarify.

I don't know whats' going on here. Since no process is running at
more than a few percent, the overall CPU Usage should only be a
few percent, but its almost maxing the CPU. I figured it must be
one of the several bits of hardware I have attached (COM,
Parallel ports, etc). I've tried disabling several devices in
Device Manager and rebooting, and still get the same problem.

Any ideas, please?

Thanks,
Alain

Yep!
"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
Thats an excellent suggestion, thanks. Process Explorer has shown me this
something called "Hardware Interrupts" is chewing the processor. Could
MSConfig find the culprit?

Thanks,
Alain

"Unknown" wrote in message
...
Why not run msconfig and shut down items till you find the cause?
"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
Right have checked this, and there's absolutely no change in what Task
Manager shows me when I check the "Show processes from all users" box.

Another thing I will note that is that the current Thread count and I/O
Read/Write count for all active processes hardly changes, yet the CPU
usage is varying constantly between about 65% to about 95%.

Thanks,
Alain

"John McGaw" wrote in message
...
Alain Dekker wrote:
Hi,

I have a PC running Windows XP, SP3. When the computer starts, I load
Task
manager, and get about 2 minutes of the process:
wmiprvse.exe
running at 100% CPU usage.
snip...

Do you have "Show processes from all users" checked? It might well be
that some other user is eating CPU cycles.

Yep!
"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
Thats an excellent suggestion, thanks. Process Explorer has shown me this
something called "Hardware Interrupts" is chewing the processor. Could
MSConfig find the culprit?

Thanks,
Alain

"Unknown" wrote in message
...
Why not run msconfig and shut down items till you find the cause?
"Alain Dekker" wrote in message
...
Right have checked this, and there's absolutely no change in what Task
Manager shows me when I check the "Show processes from all users" box.

Another thing I will note that is that the current Thread count and I/O
Read/Write count for all active processes hardly changes, yet the CPU
usage is varying constantly between about 65% to about 95%.

Thanks,
Alain

"John McGaw" wrote in message
...
Alain Dekker wrote:
Hi,

I have a PC running Windows XP, SP3. When the computer starts, I load
Task
manager, and get about 2 minutes of the process:
wmiprvse.exe
running at 100% CPU usage.
snip...

Do you have "Show processes from all users" checked? It might well be
that some other user is eating CPU cycles.

Alain Dekker formulated the question :
I have a PC running Windows XP, SP3. When the computer starts, I load Task
manager, and get about 2 minutes of the process:
wmiprvse.exe
running at 100% CPU usage.

Have a look in Device Manager & make sure PIO mode is not being used.

Alain Dekker formulated the question :
I have a PC running Windows XP, SP3. When the computer starts, I load Task
manager, and get about 2 minutes of the process:
wmiprvse.exe
running at 100% CPU usage.

Have a look in Device Manager & make sure PIO mode is not being used.