My computer is grinding to a halt...

[crubbles]

For some reason, all the sudden my computer has slowed down. Programs dont load quickly and my hard drive is constantly clicking/cranking. :confused: Even when i'm not doing anything but typing on this webpage.

The XP task manager has my CPU usage at 40% even when I have almost nothing running.

I have 320 MB of RAM in my box and even went into the windows startup folder and unchecked all the programs that load at startup.

I defrag nearly once a week. Run ad-aware occasionally...keep my virus scanner up to date...all the things a good computer user should do...

Still no change.

I have used 8 of 15 GB on my hard drive (I actually formatted this baby only a few months ago)...I really don't know why this is happening.

Anyone have any ideas? The only thing I can come up with is a trojan or something...?

[oracleguy]

In task manager, there is a "processes" tab that lists all the processes running on your computer. There should be a column that has like "CPU Usage" and tells how much cpu usage each process it taking, could you tell us what is taking 40% or whatever up?

It could be some spyware type thing that slipped past ad-aware.

[Morgoth]

Generally, as a computer Tech helper... a problem like this is easily fixed by a single format, and controll of what is installed on the system later..

Do not install un named programs, do not download and install programs you want to look at for a bit then remove. (Just doesn't matter, does it?)

Please keep the amount of applications you have running at a single time very low, which will prevent any issues you have with lack of ram, or CPU power.

My honest suggest for everyone is to not install anything that you can live without...

[Morgoth]

Originally posted by crubbles
The XP task manager has my CPU usage at 40% even when I have almost nothing running.


Can you display a complete and exact list of what you have running on an average startup, with all the information about it?

That will help us figure out what's wrong..

[Jason]

there was a program that was shipped with win 98 and has thus been compatible to 2000 that I know of called msconfig. It would tell you what programs are booting up in the background of your computer, and its all the stuff beyond that little folder in the start menu. You might want to google for that file and get it to see what is going on. You could also go to the Norton AntiVirus page and use their online scanner to detect if you have a trojan horse, their scanners check for viruses, worms and trojan horses. So there is another idea. Other then that, use the task manager and specify what is on the list as far as what is chewing up so much memory and CPU.


Jason

[crubbles]

qttask.exe is taking some 30-45% of the system...

and yes, I did run msconfig and unselected everything from startup...

[scroots]

if i ever want to know what the file running bleongs to i useually google it.

a google search revealed
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/qttask/

you must have a big issue.

Process File: qttask or qttask.exe
Process Name: Quick Time Tray Icon
Description: The Quick Time Tray Icon enables you to start Quick Time from the System Tray
Common Errors: N/A
System Process: No

scroots

[oracleguy]

Using msconfig, I'd prevent qttask.exe from running at startup and that should clear up the problem. I've had that program do the samething before on other computers. It is strange.

[SYP}{ER]

I had a similar problem with dllHost.exe. After downloading the .Net Framework from Microsoft's windowsupdate site, dllHost.exe started to boot simultaneously with IE. This DLL would suck up to 100% of the CPU resources when doing things like mousing over CSS links or visiting any sites with flash.

So now I've simply installed the latest XP Service Pack and (after a format) and haven't installed any other updates because I'm not 100% sure that it's the .Net Framework that did it (though I'm pretty sure it was)