PC processor run at 100% its capability at all times. does it hace a virus?

Question

i have a dell computer (pentium III, 850mhz 256Mb), it use to work fine,but, after working in the internet it sen that it got a virus.. Now the processor runs at 100% its capability... making the computer very slow..

that is has a virus??


jafeth

Answer 1

It is certainly possible.

Open the Task Manager (right-click in the Taskbar and select Task Manager). Click on the CPU column twice to get tasks sorted into descending order of CPU consumption. The task at the top of the list is the one taking all the CPU.

Answer 2

It is possible the cause is a virus, but it also could be that your processor is very slow. The average today for a new computer is around 2.5GHz, and you only have a 850MHz (about 0.9GHz) processor. It does not help, either, that you only have 256MB of RAM. Most computers have, at the minimum, 512MB, and the standard is becoming 1GB. Systems that have 2GB of RAM are even starting to become more common, especially as Windows Vista is released.

If you are running any new applications that need a high amount of processing power, or are running anything in the background while browsing the Internet, your computer will slow down quite a bit.

However, if you do have a virus, the next step would be to download a free antivirus program. My suggestion would be AVG Antivirus (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1), as it is does not take much of your computer's resources to run, and is very reliable.

If no virus is to be found, it may be time for a new computer, with at least 2Ghz processor and at -least- 512MB of RAM.

Answer 3

I have several machines running including an older Piii 450MHz with 256MB RAM and it runs pretty fast considering it's age. Runs faster than my father's p4 1GHz (not because it is, but because tuning is a major factor).

My explanation is lengthy as there are several possible issues and solutions. If you want to really try to mess around, email me and I will be glad to troubleshoot with you.

Odds are it is either a virus or similar annoyance, but I find that as a Windows install gets older, it leaves more and more junk and other garbage in the registry or Temp folders that cause performance to degrade. I often find a fresh install on a newly formatted drive is the best solution to recover disk space and performance. Granted, I have often lost some files due to careless backups or thinking I had it elsewhere.

If you have the ability (skills, patience and most importantly, the essential drivers and programs), I would backup all your files, make sure you have all programs and do a complete reinstall. Be very careful regarding the drivers for your ethernet or modem so you can get online to retrieve other hardware drivers you may have lost install CDs for. Burn or backup to a second disk all the important stuff you might need to move back and MAKE SURE YOU CAN BOOT A WINDOWS INSTALL CD. When installing choose the options that repartition the hard drive and format it.

If you are using Win XP most drivers should work. Make sure you have plenty of time available as I have sometimes goofed around for the better part of a day trying to get all my programs reinstalled and working. This is not for the faint of heart so if you just want to try to clean up the machine try this to be spyware/virus and adware free.

AVG Free is awesome for Antivirus, make sure you automatically update, it outperforms MCAfee on most reviews.

http://free.grisoft.com/softw/70free/setup/avg75free_432a861.exe

Spybot Search and Destroy for Spy/Adware
After installing, I like the TeaTimer app with it because it prevents reg changes and Browser Hijacking. It can be annoying when installing or using SW that makes registry changes because it won't allow them without your permission so occasionally you have turn it off.

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index... - info

Download here:
http://www.download.com/spybot-search-de...

Microsoft Defender (info on their site)

Download here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...

LAvasoft's Ad-Aware SE (Free version)

www.lavasoft.com - info only

Free Download here:
http://www.download.com/ad-aware-se-pers...


The only issue is this will ad to your running processes so if it is not a virus etc and just that you have too many processes running all the time, you will need to start fresh or reconfigure your start up settings.

Answer 4

Try switching to a different hard drive. If another hard drive works on the computer no problem, then you know it has to do with the hard drive, and not the computer itself.

It could be a virus, it could be a glitch in the OS, it could be spyware/adware, it could be a lot of things.

Try running virus software on your computer. If your computer is too slow (ie you wouldn't be able to run virus software), make that hard drive a slave, and put in a new master. It'd be best if it were a blank hard drive with just the virus software, otherwise you may lose that hard drive to the virus, maybe.

If all else fails take it in to the shop.

Good luck.

Answer 5

there is obviously something running int he back ground. Do an ctrl alt delete will bring up the windows task manager. look at the tab called Applications. See what is up and running. If things look ok there then got to Processes. Check and see what processes are running in the back ground. Yes sometimes spy ware will really drag your system down. Run spy bot search and destroy . you can get this at www.download.com It's a safe place to download software and its free.

Answer 6

Probably that or Spyware. You can start in safe mode with net working and go to TrendMicro Housecall-run the virus scan. Get Lavasoft Adaware, Spybot S&D, and Ewido. Then run themin that order. You may have to turn off sytem restore to delete any baddies in the system memory.

Answer 7

virus, spamware, spy ware is most likely the issue.

but also its an old machine, small, under powered for almost all programs of today. most programs alone take 512mb RAM just to handle them without anything else running.

so since your machine is old and under powered, from processor to RAM, anything you open, run, operate is gonna use up most of its resources. then you try to surf several sites, play music, or download something all at the same time, you have maxed the machine out past its limits...hence the 100% processor speed.

Most computers today are Pentium 4 with a minimum of 1.5 GIG processor, at least twice your speed, and a minimum of 512 RAM.

To handle normal sites, business programs, basic art programs, etc I would recommend at least a 2.0 GIG processor, at least 1 GIG of RAM.

Answer 8

properly-ventilated laptop's do no longer could desire to be shutdown after each use, besides the undeniable fact that it is not a stable thought to maintain it working for greater effective than an afternoon at a time, for here motives: a million) The enemy of electronics is warmth. in the journey that your laptop isn't very properly ventilated or cooled, its aspects can start to accrue warmth injury. that's uncommon, besides the undeniable fact that, except your husband is consistently working warmth-generating courses, like complicated 3-d video games. 2) Your laptop is almost a static carry close gadget, and consequently will entice interior reach airborne dirt and dust bunnies. Leaving it on unnecessarily will reason airborne dirt and dust to construct up in its vents and aspects, inflicting even greater effective opportunities for warmth injury - or, a minimum of, a grimy laptop. 3) they are not enormous power hogs, yet laptop's nevertheless do use electrical energy. Shutting it down will for sure save you a pair greenbacks a month. 4) working platforms decide on their sleep. Shutting down or restarting your laptop after long classes will liberate gadget supplies, and strengthen overall performance. opposite to an age-old delusion, shutting down your laptop would not cut back its existence-span. That grow to be for the time of a time while working platforms did no longer contain a secure-shutdown cycle. in the journey that your husband insists on protecting it 'on', a minimum of make him use the Stand-by utilising function of the laptop's OS.

Answer 9

I am assuming you are running Windows. You might pull up Task Manager and go to the "processes" tab. Sort the items by the CPU column so that the highest values are on top. You can generally tell what process are sapping your resources this way.

Answer 10

Dude,

Sounds nasty,

Try this web site

http://housecall.trendmicro.com

Scan your computer. It may take a few hours or days.

Do a CTRL+ALT+DEL and select Task Manager. Goto Processes and sort by CPU. See which process is taking it all up. See if you can and want to stop it.

Tom