The idle process does not take CPU cycles. It is what runs if there is nothing else to do. So idle process at 100% means your CPU is utilized 0%.

Are you saying your machine is sluggish even when the System Idle Process is at 85% or higher? Or is there something else running at that time?

Peter

Yes in a way. I wont have any processes running and it will lag really badly there wont be one thing running under the programs list besides the IE explorer im on to post this message the computer isnt locking up as so much is everything is laggy and delayed i really dont no what to do. The cpu is fuctuating up and down all the way and i have nothing running i could multi task the C*** out of this thing before these problems started no reason this thing should be locking up and i have already unchecked everything under startup list. I also tryed clearing my bios as well in hopes it might help.

Don't look in the Applications tab, look at the Processes tab. Do you see any processes taking CPU cycles besides the System Idle?

You can have processes running that will slow your machine down without corresponding to a user application.

Peter

Sorry, I don't have anything like aim.

Did you look to see which processes are running when it acting strangely?

Have you run the Dell diagnostics?

Peter

Peter do you have aim or anything fast we can chat on this takes a while? I really dont understand this computer It acts weird as heck and i dont do anythug wrong to screw it up. i run defrag every 2 days and spyware checks consintly the stupid thing will be fine one minute and next minute it will be better.. like its to the point its fast and the next the thing is locking up and i cant get anywhere on it...

No i have not run the check how do i do this? and yeah the only process using up time is the system idle process and system process...

Press F12 at boot and select the Dell Diagnostics (at least this is how it works on my machines).

What system processes are using CPU time? Right now (as I type this) task manager shows my machine at 0 CPU utilization (task manager icon). If I look at the processes it show system idle at 98% and task manager at 2%. That is normal.

Look there are two possibilities:

1. Your machine has some sort of hardware problem. For example, the CPU is running at wrong speed.

2. Your hardware is OK, but you have software that is slowing it down. These can be
"system" processes, your applications, spyware, viruses, etc. Spyware and viruses often disguise themselves as system processes so you think they are ok.

When you say "high cpu usage" it implies that something is running.

Peter

Yes i did run the diagnostics before you had asked above. It came up with nada. and yes you are right about the system using up like 98% but last night it miraculously got better. But i dont think i see the light yet cause its done this before... I dont think i have a virus... I run norton but idk if the scan will pick up a virus... But it was wierd my system would be whining pretty high and it would lag a bit with only IE exp. up. It was wierd like nothing was open to stress the cpu.... But it was jumping up and down like crazy.