CPU Usage

[msommers]

Lately I've been noticeing that my CPU usage will get really high, even 100% a large percentage of the time Its not even that old, has a 3.4 w/ HT, 1 gig of ram as well. Of the programs that I know running are some ipod stuff, norton security, MSN. When I get the ol' ctrl+alt+delete, I notice that explorer.exe is taking up most of the memory. Like right now, I'm at 52% just sitting ont he internet without anything else running, 44 programs running apparently and 50% of the 52% is from the one program. I won't even have the internet running and still explorer seems to have high usage. Anyone know what causes this and how to fix it, the fan will run for ages and drive me insane, probably isn't good for the fan motor either. Thanks in advance!

[FivE.SeveN]

Uninstall norton. Then run a spyware check. Probably you picked up something from all the porno sites. :D

Anyway explorer.exe is part of the OS, you can't just shut it off. But its probably that active cause, again, there's some kind of BS spyware stealing your visa #'s in the background or something.

KILL IT!

[dragonone]

well usually it's an external program that causes explorer to act all funny
in the mean time, you can open up task manager, shut down explorer, then type 'explorer' in the run menu again to start it

[msommers]

I figured using Limeware I'd have a chance of getting spyware but I thought Norton had a spyware detector or something. I get this winfixer 2006 pop-up garbage sometimes too. Problem is I don't have disks so I won't be able to re-install it. What spyware programs would you recommend then?

Funny thing happened between when I started the thread to now. I was putting CD's onto my iTunes library, the god damn CD driver was spinnin like a mother, crashed, gave me a white letter blue background screen about it. Now it computer runs great! I don't understand it. But it is a Dell, it is what I expected when I found it in our home...complete garbage

[dragonone]

while it could be because it's a 'dell'
it is more likely that you have virus/spyware and a whole slew of junk in your comp (since dell offers stupid trials oem on their machine)

a clean install will most likely fix everything, pick something w/ sp2 or sp3 on it, and remember to find the drivers on dell's website before attempting to do so

this time use kaspersky and/or opera/mozilla instead of norton+IE

[frostyda9]

Originally posted by dragonone
it is more likely that you have virus

It is explorer.exe right? explore.exe is a cleverly named process that looks like explorer.exe at first glance.

[Unknown303]

For the love of god use Firefox for internet surfing. And i would second that reinstalling without all the shitty dell crap. I have a dell laptop and the day after i recieved it i hadn't done anything to it and i already had a fond incounter with the blue screen of death. Thanks microsoft and dell.

[msommers]

Yeah it is actually Iexplore.exe I didn't even notice it at first glance. Apparently when my mom ordered the computer on the net, we didn't get a windows disk so I can't even re-format it. Guess it's time to send it in.......... thanks for the help guys

[FivE.SeveN]

Nnnoooo dell will probably rape you on "repairs"! Look you've already *got* a WinXP key, you just need to figure out what it is (there's probably a sticker on the PC somewhere). Then get ahold of the correct install CD - Pro or Home from work, a friend, anywhere... :thumbsup:

Reformatting isn't as hard as people think, just save all your stuff to a DVD first. OH and download your network card drivers BEFORE you reinstall -- you may end up with a computer that has no network drivers, that needs to connect to the internet to download said drivers. :banghead:

[frostyda9]

Originally posted by FivE.SeveN
Nnnoooo dell will probably rape you on "repairs"! Look you've already *got* a WinXP key, you just need to figure out what it is (there's probably a sticker on the PC somewhere). Then get ahold of the correct install CD - Pro or Home from work, a friend, anywhere... :thumbsup:

Reformatting isn't as hard as people think, just save all your stuff to a DVD first. OH and download your network card drivers BEFORE you reinstall -- you may end up with a computer that has no network drivers, that needs to connect to the internet to download said drivers. :banghead:

If the sticker *isn't* there for some reason, download AIDA32, look under operating system, and your product key will be listed.

[GTS Jeff]

What's wrong with Norton and IE? I've been using this combo for years and my computers are always rock solid, spyware free, and fast.

Norton Antivirus is currently using 22 megs and IE is using 44 megs...not a big deal unless your computer has less than 256 megs of ram.

[dragonone]

well if that works for you then continue using it
it's just that a large number of users have had problems with this combination and hence the various recommendations, not to mention that other programs do use much less ram
ie. my opera, 5 tabs open, 28,xxxK
kaspersky using combined (i think) of 5,xxxK (about 11-15,xxxK when scanning actively in the background)
and i love how i can open up 10 windows at a time in opera, and new ones open up in a flash, even continuously

and also a lot of users aren't smart about what sites to browse and what activeX controls to allow or deny; maybe you kno

the recommendations are almost a fool-proof and fast method, and many of those alternatives are free as well, unlike norton

[msommers]

Wow I didn't even notice that sticker!! Yes I have one, now I'll just have to borrow someone's window's installer disk.

For saving information does it matter if I burn it to a CD or DVD? I don't have that much stuff, some school things, music and some pictures. There are some software like the burning programs and DVD things as well. I'm not sure what I should and shouldn't save if the virus/spyware has infected those files.

For the network driver situation I'm a little confused. I have the Intel Network ProSet driver. Can I burn this onto the disk or do I need to download the installer and if so, where can I get this?

What about the other driver's, like my video card and if the sound card needs one?

Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it!

[saiyajin]

Originally posted by msommers
I figured using Limeware I'd have a chance of getting spyware but I thought Norton had a spyware detector or something. I get this winfixer 2006 pop-up garbage sometimes too. Problem is I don't have disks so I won't be able to re-install it. What spyware programs would you recommend then?

Funny thing happened between when I started the thread to now. I was putting CD's onto my iTunes library, the god damn CD driver was spinnin like a mother, crashed, gave me a white letter blue background screen about it. Now it computer runs great! I don't understand it. But it is a Dell, it is what I expected when I found it in our home...complete garbage


holy shit i had that "winantivirus2006" bullshit too and in 1 night i lost 1gb of hard-drive space and all i did was free up space on my HD and i went to sleep and checked when i woke up and bam 1 gb gone and was slowly constantly declining :guns:

[FivE.SeveN]

The "Support" site of dell.ca has a place where you can download drivers -- just select your laptop model and it'll show you a list of everything your computer uses. Just burn the network adapter install .exe onto your backup disc (CD or DVD, either works 'cause you'll just be copying stuff from it back to your harddrive).

When you have network again after a reinstall you can download the rest of the drivers. Or you can grab them all beforehand, either way works. ;) If you're worried about viruses inside your documents, just do a scan of your backup CD/DVD before you start copying things to C:

I really think everyone should have to reformat their PC at least once, just for a learning experience if nothing else. Computers are too damn 'easy' to use these days, the problem is now your average user doesnt how to fix them. And we all know the best way to fix something is to FUCKIN' DESTROY IT and build it again! ;)