CPU CPU at 100%

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by Pookeyhead, 20 Dec 2019.

  1. Pookeyhead

    Pookeyhead It's big, and it's clever.

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    When I first boot, after several seconds, the fans spool up and CPU use is at 100%. However, as soon as I launch task manager to see what process is causing this, it stops! It's driving me mental... help!!
     
    Pookeyhead, 20 Dec 2019
    #1
  2. Gareth Halfacree

    Gareth Halfacree WIIGII! Lover of bit-tech Administrator Super Moderator Moderator

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    Does the CPU return to normal if you wait and don't load Task Manager? 'cos if not, I know of several malware strains - in particular cryptocurrency miners - that watch for taskman.exe (or whatever it's called now) and go to sleep if it's loaded, as a means of making it harder to spot. Maybe worth doing a malware scan?
     
    Gareth Halfacree, 20 Dec 2019
    #2
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  3. Pookeyhead

    Pookeyhead It's big, and it's clever.

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    I'e waiting for quite a long time... 10 minutes plus... it seems to remain in this state until I run task manager, yes. I'll do a scan and see if anything turn up and get back to you.
     
    Pookeyhead, 20 Dec 2019
    #3
  4. Pookeyhead

    Pookeyhead It's big, and it's clever.

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    Yep!.. you were right. Norton was not even running, and when I tried to re-install it failed. I never noticed Norton was no longer running... you kind of take it for granted after a while. Something is killing Norton on start up, and hitting the CPU hard. Launching task manager kills it. Run a Norton root kit scanner at start up and it found several things... nuked 'em... all seems normal now. Gonna restore from a clean back up file, to make sure. Thanks!
     
    Pookeyhead, 20 Dec 2019
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  5. yuusou

    yuusou Multimodder

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    You can also boot into safe mode and try Malwarebytes.
     
    yuusou, 20 Dec 2019
    #5
  6. Spraduke

    Spraduke Lurker

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    That's a sneaky one I've not heard of before. Thieving buggers!
     
    Spraduke, 20 Dec 2019
    #6
  7. Vault-Tec

    Vault-Tec Green Plastic Watering Can

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    Sounds like a mining virus. I got one once. Was easy to get rid of though.

    I didn't even realise until I smelled my CPU rad getting hot lol.
     
    Vault-Tec, 20 Dec 2019
    #7
  8. Corky42

    Corky42 Where's walle?

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    Smelled? You're meant to use it for cooling your CPU not cooking your dinner on. ;)
     
    Corky42, 20 Dec 2019
    #8
  9. Vault-Tec

    Vault-Tec Green Plastic Watering Can

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    That smell of warm dust flavored with Yankee candle. My CPU hadn't run at 100% for ages lol.
     
    Vault-Tec, 20 Dec 2019
    #9
  10. edzieba

    edzieba Virtual Realist

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    CPU-melted wax: technically phase-change cooling!
     
    edzieba, 20 Dec 2019
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  11. nikiti

    nikiti What's a Dremel?

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    yeah probably a mining script...be careful when you visit websites, and they are asking to allow notifications...
     
    nikiti, 24 Dec 2019
    #11
  12. Pookeyhead

    Pookeyhead It's big, and it's clever.

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    Oh I'm far too old and experienced to allow anyone, anything LOL. I very much doubt it came from a website. I have a suspicion of where it came from. All sorted now. I keep a clean windows install, with all essential software I need as a back up. I nuked it from orbit, and re-installed from a back up. Squeaky clean. Thanks.
     
    Pookeyhead, 25 Dec 2019
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  13. nikiti

    nikiti What's a Dremel?

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    good to hear that you resolved your problem
     
    nikiti, 26 Dec 2019
    #13
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