Is this a known Windows XP problem or virus: after boot, wscript.exe hogs the CPU (100%)?

Question

This only happens sometimes. Right after I boot up my laptop, I will notice that everything is running extremely slowly. So I bring up TaskManager and look at the CPU utilization monitor and it is pegged at 100%. Then I check the process list and see that wscript.exe is using 99%. It is a standard part of XP. According to the XP book I have, it runs some kind of scripts. I really have 3 questions. Feel free to answer as many as you know answers to:
(1) Is this a known problem and, if so, what's the fix?
(2) Is there a way to find out what script wscript.exe is running and look at it?
(3) Are you having this problem?

Answer 1

Well, I will answer your questions in reverse order.

3. I have never experienced or heard about this error.

2. There are two resources I turn to when I don't recognize the file
a) Process Library (http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/wscript/index.html)

b.) Castlecops Startup List (http://www.castlecops.com/StartupList.html)
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Here is what Process library had to say:

Description:

wscript.exe is a process relating to Microsoft Windows operating system which allows additional functions to scripting. This program is a non-essential system process, but should not be terminated unless suspected to be causing problems.
For More Info About wscript.exe - Get WinTasks 5 Pro Now!

Recommendation:

Not a critical component, but see the information above before disabling it.
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Here's what Castlecop had to say:

wscript.exe: Sneaky way to start any VBS script. Many viruses use VBS files

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1. As to how to fix the problem? I don't think you are infected with a virus or any other malicious file. Castlecop mentioned that wscript.exe can start VBS scripts and many virus exploit this script. However, not all VBS scripts are inherently bad. VBS scripts are commonly used to create Macros (e.g. Microsoft Word uses VBS scripts.) I believe the problem lies with a startup program. Someone mentioned going to msconfig, this is a good idea. Go to Start menu > Run > type in "msconfig" (without the quotation marks) > [Enter] > Startup Programs. Uncheck any program you don't need to start at startup > [Apply] > [O.K.] > reboot. See if this solves the problem. If not then you probably have to kill the process. Go to [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Delete], scroll down the process manager and highlight the process > click [End process].

BTW, you should scan your computer regulary with a antivirus software program regardless.

Answer 2

It's more than likely a trojan, worm, or the result of a horrible installer gone wrong that uses wscript to hack its way into being installed. Anyway, it shouldn't be there if it's taking more than 3-5 seconds of 100% CPU.
(1) Run msconfig->startup tab->uncheck wscript.exe and reboot
(2) Yes, from the msconfig program, you can find out WHERE on your hard drive it is....then browse to it, right-click it, and select edit to view the contents in notepad
(3) No. Even if a system administrator was using wscript to install stuff... it should never peg 100% CPU (shame on that guy)

Good luck dude.

Answer 3

Well, when your computer starts up, you can't just run everthing. Wait for the hard-drive light to stop flashing before you try and do stuff.

Also, I'm sure the Windows Script Process isn't malicious. (Not a virus, spyware, etc. probably just something an app uses when you start up your computer.)

Answer 4

Your running an app when you boot up. Go to your start button and click on run and type in msconfig and go to startup programs and click off what you don;t want to boot up. and then restart your computer.

Answer 5

Say whaaaaaa?