Yet another CPU Usage at 100% thread.... :(

Question

Hey guys, I have a 8100 cpu w/ xp pro installed and just recently my harddrive crashed badly after installing software that was incompatible.  I recently went to best buy and bought two new Western Digital 120 HDs.  I took out my old hard drive and replaced it with the two new ones and reformatted them using the software that came with the harddrives.  I tried to install windows xp home instead of pro, and it took almost 8 hours to install from start to finish.  I didn't understand what was going on so, i tried to install the OS again, and another 8 hours.  Now it's like two days trying to install.  OK, I finally got the OS to install and now my cpu is running dog slow I tried everything, closing services, emptying task manager and start up,  emptying my prefetch folder and I still get 100% cpu usage.  Taskmanager.exe and Explorer.exe are the hogs. When i try closing some of the services i keep getting rundll32 errors. This is too weird.  I haven't connected to the internet, i unpluged my cable modem, I haven't even tried to download anything.  I can't update drivers because the cd's take forever to load.  As of yesterday, it took three hours to load Sound blaster audigy drivers.  Nothing is plugged into my pc except the monitor, usb keyboard and mouse.  There is no way i can have a virsus because i haven't installed anything or connected to the internet furthermore, my hard drives are BRAND NEW.  Below are the following devices I have installe on my pc, .....   Sound blaster Audigy 2 platinum Nvidia 5950 256 graphics card 1024 mb ram Ethernet card 2 120 WD hard drives nec Cd-rw drive sony dvd Powerleap 1.5 - 2.6  Processor BIOS revision XP02   I don't understand what is going on.  Is it my BIOS settings?  I originally had Window ME OS on my system and everything on the dell resource cd is incompatible.  Everything was working fine before I installed the incompatible software that killed my harddrive.  Now I have two new harddrives and things are still bad.  I am tired of loading and reloading Windows because it takes FOREVER!    I am so fustrated with my system that I just purchased a Dimension XPS.  I haven't played Call of Duty or Starwars in about two weeks and this is major pain for me!  Please can you guys help me!  Message Edited by dredboy on 10-28-2004 12:55 PM Message Edited by dredboy on 10-28-2004 12:56 PM Message Edited by dredboy on 10-28-2004 12:58 PM

ejn63 · Answer

Boot the Dell diagnostics and test your RAM - I'll bet you're going to find a memory error in one or more of the RIMMs.

dredboy · Answer

ejn63 , thanks for replying. I will try that when i get home. Why would it be my memory? I haven't done anything with the memory since two years ago. I still have the dell system memory @1024 and i never added or replaced any. The only thing I can think of is the BIOS revision that I did after I powerleaped to 2.6ghz Even so, i replaced a hard drive before with a maxtor and i never had any problems before. This is so wierd.

What cd is the dell diagnostic tools located on? Remember my system is dog slow and it takes along time for my pc to read a cd. i.e. (Sound blaster audigy installation CD took 15 minutes to load just trying to get past the intro screen.) Is there another test I can try?

ejn63 · Answer

Memory modules can and do go bad.

Another thing to make sure of is that your system is free of large accumulations of dust and that then fans -- both the chassis fan and the one in the power supply - are doing their jobs effectively.

Midnight Star · Answer

dredboy, Did you configure one as the master drive, and the other as the slave? Mike.

alevasseur14 · Answer

Check your BIOS and make sure your CPU speed is set to 'Normal' instead of 'Compatible'.

PinkxKiss · Answer

My CPU usually goes to 99% when I have sndconfig16.exe running, when that is terminated everything goes fine. Whats using your CPU on windows task manager?

dredboy · Answer

Midnight Star -  I only have one hard drive in at the moment.  I didn't even think about putting another hard drive in my cpu until i get one of them working at least.  The pins in the back of the hard drive where you put the little connector is empty.  Western Digital on their instructions said to take the plug out if you want to keep the drive a master drive or put it to the far left..........   Example this is my hard drive  now.        Dell wants you to do this to make one a master. ____________________________     ___________________________________ I:::::::::::::::::::::::::: I:::::::::::::::I oooooI     I::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::I: {}:::::::::::::::::::::::IoooooI   Is it ok to leave the connector thing off? {}  Message Edited by dredboy on 10-29-2004 10:00 AM

dredboy · Answer

alevasseur14 , ok! I will do that this evening, I never bothered to even look at the BIOS settings.

dredboy · Answer

Pinkxkiss - I have the normal things running in my taskmanager.  When you look to see what is using most of the memory, it shows taskmanager.exe and explorer.exe  both of these are my problems.  Taskmanager doesn't seem to be a problem because when you open TM i noticed the cpu usage jumps straight to 100%.  The usage jumps from 46-77.  Explorer.exe always stays at 50 something.  Really strange.

dredboy · Answer

Message Edited by dredboy on 10-29-2004 10:40 AM

dredboy · Answer

Well guys i don't know what to do. I downloaded instructions on how to tweak my system and i used all of the freeware that was asked to be installed from my job. I burned them on a cd and went home yesterday and tried to fix my pc. My pc is running a little better but it is still really slow.

I got fed up yesterday morning and called dell and ordered a new XPS system loaded with everything. I still want to keep my 8100 and it give it to the wife, so I called a Geek team. They are coming to my house this evening to fix my pc. I hope this works, this is my last try. These people are expensive but i have invested about 4 grand into my pc since it's purchase to upgrades. I can't have it die on me. I have three 120 WD hard drives laying around. :(

Thanks

alevasseur14 · Answer

I know the Geek Squad is pretty expensive. You may be able to save yourself a tidy sum if you just try checking what your CPU type is set at...

alevasseur14 · Answer

AH HA! Glad you got everything sorted out!

dredboy · Answer

Hey guys, I FOUND THE PROBLEM! If you guys only know the stupid mistake i did. I can't believe I had the jumper connector off of my hard drive. My dell is configured in a way that it is looking for the jumper connector in the second set of pins. What an idiot I am. I also changed my CPU speed from compatible to Normal. My hard drive is working and everything is back to normal. Thanks for the help guys!

l8r

dredboy · Answer

Man thanks again guys!  I feel so much better now, I was able to get on Call of Duty UO this weekend and was glued.  I cancelled my order for the new XPS and in it's place, I bought the Ultra Sharp 2001 20.1 FP LCD monitor and wireless keyboard w/mouse combo!  WOOT! WOOT!  Can't wait to play Star Wars BF and COD UO :smileyvery-happy:

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