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Looking for sticking point of high CPU utilization
We have an XP desktop with an application which has previously run with no problems. Recently, the application, when started, hangs with CPU usage at 100% as seen with Task Manager. We know the application is showing the high cpu but we need to understand where exactly is the conflict.
If we boot the PC into safe mode then the application runs as expected. I’m guessing that perhaps a windows component which runs at normal boot up and not during a safe boot is conflicting with application. Did a Windows dll get updated?
I thought I might be able to use a SysInternals tool to locate the source of conflict but I am not familiar enough with the tools to understand the steps required.
Any ideas on how I can locate the sticking point using SysInternals or any other method you can recommend?
If we boot the PC into safe mode then the application runs as expected. I’m guessing that perhaps a windows component which runs at normal boot up and not during a safe boot is conflicting with application. Did a Windows dll get updated?
I thought I might be able to use a SysInternals tool to locate the source of conflict but I am not familiar enough with the tools to understand the steps required.
Any ideas on how I can locate the sticking point using SysInternals or any other method you can recommend?
If you haven't installed or changed any settings between the time of the program working and freezing, you could also try to use system restore to roll back to a point before you were experiencing the problem. It could be a windows update that is incompatible with the software that you are running. However, windows xp is out of the support period so there shouldn't be any updates but it could also undo any changes that were made that you were not aware of.
While these aren't tutorials as such, you'll get a good idea of the capabilities of the Sysinternals tools and how they can be used to troubleshoot real-world cases here: http://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/
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We were trying to avoid the rebuild but in the end it was the only viable solution.
I've seen Antivirus Software do this by scanning a file during the operation and the program hangs up because of it. You could go in and white list the program folder so your AV doesn't scan it. Those are just some ideas being I don't know what software you're working with.