Topic: Computer locks up / freezes

[Michelle]

Okay I've been running this freemen for a while now, and it all seems fine.

What I don't understand is alot of the time my CPU usage is upto 100% ?  Why is that, and should be be like that, it seems that this is what slows up my puter?  

I've looked around on the boards and I saw something about it could be spyware, so I ran and updated all the programmes and I found one thing, but it seems to still go up to 100% sometimes.

Is this a need for concern?

Don't be too techie about a reply cos you know what a fiko I am!



 

[Simon]

I've noticed on occasions that one application or another seems to be responsible for 100% CPU usage.  Not sure why that would happen, but closing and restarting the program usually cures it.  It's happened once or twice with Mozilla.exe, and I've also noticed it while on Messenger at times.  Next time it happens, have a look at the task manager, and make a note of the prog that's doing it, Shell.

[Sandra]

If you are doing any cd burning or using a graphic intensive program such as Swish or a paint program then I wouldnt be worried about 100% cpu usage Michelle.
If its doing it while just surfing or on a simple program then it would seem that something needs checking out.
As Simon said, see what progs are running when its showing at 100%  

[Michelle]

Okay I shall do that, thanks Guys  

It keeps popping up to 100 now and then at the moment - I guess thats when its checking for email or to do with Zone alarm.

I'm just using mozilla and AOL messenger at the moment but of course my scans and stuff are running.

[Simon]

It wouldn't surprise me if Zone Alarm was throwing the occasional wobbler.  Quite a few people have had problems with it recently.

[Tony]

Well I have never had a problem with ZoneAlarm, so there.  

[Michelle]

It seems fine now most of the time, I had one problem the other day when I hardly had anything running and it said 100% CPU usage - then when I went to ctrl/alt/delete it crashed! So I restarted and it was fine?

Updated spyware blaster and ran spybot again and found some dodgy stuff.

No problems to report since then really.  

P.S ........ One more day to go then two weeks holidays