Weird: T42 w/winxp-CPU usage runs at 100% and hot (1 Pic)

[esquire]

Hi,

Ok strange problem. A few days ago my thinkpad inexplicably began running 100% CPU usage all the time, and the processor hits 90 degrees. I googled this problem and first thought was a trojan of couse, however I have run up to date spybot S & Destroy on safe start up and it finds nothing. The only thing I can think of that I did was that I optimized my hard drive. The problem also seems to crop up when running Firefox, though even after I force quite all running applications the CPU usage is still 100%.

I should add that in Task Manager it lists "System" as the culprit using 100% of CPU, so of course you can't force quite System. Oh and the thinkpad most definitely has the GPU problem, as it quickly over heats when using anything 3D and freezes easily when the laptop is moved around. I would say the average running temp ranges from 65-85 degrees...which probably isn't too healthy all by itself.


Any ideas? Assuming I don't have a virus or a trojan, is this a hardware problem?

Thankfully I have my data fully backed up and am currently using a newish Toshiba Satellite for my daily work, but I would still like to find out whats wrong with my T42. She is a workhorse. She just has to last until February until I upgrade to a new thinkpad or perhaps to OSX macbook nirvana

Thanks

[esquire]

Oh almost forgot to mention.....


When I shutdown it takes a long time, stalls, some tasks freeze and I get the 'end task' box, then

BSoD! - every time I shut down. I get some error message then it automatically restarts, then problems (as described in my first post) resume. Max CPU usage, high temp, ect... (I actually took a picture of the BSoD with my digital camera and can get the error code if needed)

--- Its probably hardware, I would just like to know if doing a clean install of windows or some other relatively simple remedy might work.

--
edit: for sake of being thorough here is a screenshot of the BSoD --->>>

[ZaZ]

Might want to go through MSCONFIG to see if anything unwanted is turning on with Windows. Are you running Virus software besides Spybot? If it's a software issue, then a clean install should fix it.

[RealBlackStuff]

You should put a stop to the auto-restart first!

Click on Start, Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance, System.
Click the Advanced tab on the System properties and then click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
Under System Failure click the check mark next to Automatically Restart to turn it off, then OK out of the Advanced Settings and the System properties.
Next time it BSODs, it'll stop and show you the exact error.
Write down the entire error message, especially - the 0x00 error number and the parameters after the error in the brackets.

Then go to http://aumha.org/a/stop.htm and look up the error.

[krauser]

The T42 is an excellent laptop. It's a hardware issue, with the CPU. You need to dismantle the heatsink fan, apply Artic Silver 5 on it, and be careful with ESD. The first at all, read the Service Manual first, it has complete instructions. Good Luck.

[RealBlackStuff]

You should also check with better anti-spyware programs: Spybot S&D is rather old and no longer 'with it'.
Try www.superantispyware.com and www.malwarebytes.org

[poshgeordie]

I saw something like this recently, and as RBS suggested I ran Malwarebytes.

What you will need to do is download it on another PC / laptop and then install it from a memory stick or CD. This is because some virus's / trojans prevent such programs from being downloaded on the infected machine (I think unlikely in this case if this is the problem but thought I'd mention it).

You may also wish to download and run the demo version of Eset Nod32 smart security which I consider to be one of the best antivirus programs around.

Another thing you could try is to boot into safe mode and do a restore to an earlier date via system restore. Note that this will remove any programs (but not data) you installed after the restore date.

[esquire]

Wow thanks for the quick replies.
So I fired up msconfig and found an odd startup item.... it had no name or command reference (just blank!), location : software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run ... so I turned it off and restarted. Low and behold the system usage seems to be back to normal. Maybe some kind of trojan or virus? I haven't downloaded those other virus scanners yet, will do that tomorrow. Of course, there is still the possibility it could be a hardware problem, this computer is getting a bit ancient now. At least for the moment the temp is back to 52 degrees, which is still high but better than 90!

---

poshgeordie: I'll try that program out to see if it finds anything

[esquire]

So.... did a quick scan with malwarebytes and I have at least 6 trojans!!!!!!

I think I'll boot into safe mode and do a full scan to see what else there is. Oh man.

Thanks for help again.

(I agree spybot is useless)