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mocquery

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BIOS - XP OS ? CPU Spike causing intermittent hang - continuous


Hardware: HP Pavilion ZE4258 [laptop]
Processor: AMD Athlon XP 1.05 GHz [2200+]
OS: MS Windows XP Pro 5.1.2600 SP2
BIOS Version: KA.M1.34  [17.12.2002]  SMBIOS 2.3
Memory: 512MB
HD: 40GB

Other software installed: None [clean XP Pro install]

The Symptoms:
Whilst typing in wordpad for example, every 3 seconds or so, the system freezes, then continues.  So if you're typing, every few words will have missing letters.
If you move the mouse around, again every 3 seconds or so, it freezes, then continues.

Task manager shows a periodic CPU spike every few seconds, going from approx. 2% to 19-23%.  I had a look at processes running but could not detect anything unusual placing demands on CPU.

The machine belongs to a friend and came with XP home installed.  In an effort to remedy, I did a clean install of Windows XP Pro, full NTFS format etc, replaced memory [new memory I know to be good] and tested.  Problem is still there.  

I can't find any resource conflicts I/O, IRQ or memory.  

The only thing I can think of is a BIOS issue??  If anyone can help, I would be most grateful.

Thanks

Mocquery.



Avatar of rajeev_nice
rajeev_nice

r u using Broadcom Netowrk adaptor anyway in ur machine..??? Similar behaviour is observed with one IP monitoring program resident when u install Broadcomm Network adpator.

Another culprit cud be the Anti VIrus software u may have installedor an antispyware agent or something like that.

Open taskmanager and sort the list on CPU usage in descending order. Then closely monitor the top 2-3 images... 1 wud surely be "System Idle PRocess".. not down any other process taking anything more than 2-3% usage. if you dont see any suspecious program.. then click Performance Tab on TaskMAn and select View-> Show Kernel Times. Nowu will see added Rad Band which shows Kernel Usage. If u see Kernel and Actual CPU Usage movin in tandem then surely something is wrong with ur Drivers and/Or OS... otherwise there must be something running in stealth mode eating ur CPU.... cannot rule out a Virus/Trojan or a KeyLogger.

Gud Luck.
Avatar of mocquery

ASKER

Frustrated at all other attempts to resolve, I carried out BIOS update [located on HP's site] and this has resolved all issues.  Phew....

Thanks anyway Rajeez.

Please close this question.

Thanks

gr8 that u got everything working.

Cheers.!!
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of modulo
modulo

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