I am at a loss

mstruhs · 07-09-2009, 10:04 AM

My computer seems to be having problems starting applications and ending them. Shutting down seems to take as long as starting.

My computer is clean of viruses. i did a complete reinstall, I run PC tools spyware, zone alamr for email and just recently ran spybot and everything is clean.

The cpu seems to run ok. I ran a stress test on it and it seems to hold up.

I thought I might have video card issues. When running games like, 'WOW" the system lags--sometimes. Minimizing the game is very time consuming, once it minimizes, it comes back very quickly. Shutting the game down is also time consuming.

Other applications are alos slow to shut down, e.g. excel, outlook.

If I run task manager, it seems I almost always am running below 100% cpu usage (right now it is clipping along about 50%)

PF usage is around 729 MB ( I have o idea what this means)

I am not sure if these problems are related--but---

I have issues with the flashing amber light of death, My computer is Dell e510

cpu 2.66 ghz
1 GB ram

If I shut the computer down, I get the flashing amber light. to start I have to unplug power, remove battery, wait--then plug power back in.

In reading--I wonder if I just need a new power supply?
Any other thoughts?

**manic** · 07-09-2009, 11:44 AM

Dells are famous for underpowering there machines from the start.
Not sure that would cure your cpu usage...Do you have alot of things
running in the backround, all of the time?
A good quality psu would not hurt you a bit...

mstruhs · 07-09-2009, 12:49 PM

Good question

<<<.Do you have alot of things
running in the backround, all of the time?>>>

When I run task manager lots of processes pop up.
I wish I could figure out how to copy and past them. right now
I count 20 that are using mem only a couple that use CPU

top mem usage:

firefox.exe 69,000k
pctsSvc.exe 25,000k (Virus program)
vsmon.exe 11,000K (not sure what this is)
svchost.exe 9,000k
explorer.exe 8,000k

The only one that shows cpu usage is occasionally pctssvc--sometimes hitting around 50

**wrench97** · 07-09-2009, 01:12 PM

vsmon.exe is a Zone Alarm process.
pctssvc is high, is PC Tools running a scan?

mstruhs · 07-09-2009, 02:00 PM

No it is not running a scan.
i double checked settings to make sure

I even turn off "computer immunization" it is still using 50% of my cpu

Hmmm

**wrench97** · 07-09-2009, 02:37 PM

I assume you don't have another PSU to test with?
The blinking power light is a good sign it's failing, try disconnecting from the internet and uninstalling PC tools see if the apps open and close faster.

mstruhs · 07-09-2009, 02:48 PM

While the computer is running the light is steady green. I shut off intellegaurd, and usage is now '0" I have emailed pctools asking them if it is normal for their software program to be taking up some much CPU usage--while running in the back ground. i started a scan --just to check things out--it jumped usage up to about 83-86%. Intellegaurd is set to come back one in 15 minutes--I'll wait and see what happens--it could be day or so before I here back from the company about how much cpu usage to expect

**wrench97** · 07-09-2009, 03:29 PM

Let us know.

**grimx133** · 07-09-2009, 09:17 PM

Might be worth reinstalling. My ram usage is about the same at 25ish, with 0 cpu. Intelliguard is on here, as well.

07-09-2009, 10:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
mstruhs Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 9 OS: xp	I am at a loss My computer seems to be having problems starting applications and ending them. Shutting down seems to take as long as starting. My computer is clean of viruses. i did a complete reinstall, I run PC tools spyware, zone alamr for email and just recently ran spybot and everything is clean. The cpu seems to run ok. I ran a stress test on it and it seems to hold up. I thought I might have video card issues. When running games like, 'WOW" the system lags--sometimes. Minimizing the game is very time consuming, once it minimizes, it comes back very quickly. Shutting the game down is also time consuming. Other applications are alos slow to shut down, e.g. excel, outlook. If I run task manager, it seems I almost always am running below 100% cpu usage (right now it is clipping along about 50%) PF usage is around 729 MB ( I have o idea what this means) I am not sure if these problems are related--but--- I have issues with the flashing amber light of death, My computer is Dell e510 cpu 2.66 ghz 1 GB ram If I shut the computer down, I get the flashing amber light. to start I have to unplug power, remove battery, wait--then plug power back in. In reading--I wonder if I just need a new power supply? Any other thoughts?

07-09-2009, 11:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,238 OS: xp	Re: I am at a loss Dells are famous for underpowering there machines from the start. Not sure that would cure your cpu usage...Do you have alot of things running in the backround, all of the time? A good quality psu would not hurt you a bit... __________________

07-09-2009, 12:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
mstruhs Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 9 OS: xp	Re: I am at a loss Good question <<<.Do you have alot of things running in the backround, all of the time?>>> When I run task manager lots of processes pop up. I wish I could figure out how to copy and past them. right now I count 20 that are using mem only a couple that use CPU top mem usage: firefox.exe 69,000k pctsSvc.exe 25,000k (Virus program) vsmon.exe 11,000K (not sure what this is) svchost.exe 9,000k explorer.exe 8,000k The only one that shows cpu usage is occasionally pctssvc--sometimes hitting around 50

07-09-2009, 01:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,444 OS: Win7	Re: I am at a loss vsmon.exe is a Zone Alarm process. pctssvc is high, is PC Tools running a scan? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

07-09-2009, 02:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
mstruhs Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 9 OS: xp	Re: I am at a loss No it is not running a scan. i double checked settings to make sure I even turn off "computer immunization" it is still using 50% of my cpu Hmmm

07-09-2009, 02:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,444 OS: Win7	Re: I am at a loss I assume you don't have another PSU to test with? The blinking power light is a good sign it's failing, try disconnecting from the internet and uninstalling PC tools see if the apps open and close faster. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

07-09-2009, 02:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
mstruhs Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 9 OS: xp	Re: I am at a loss While the computer is running the light is steady green. I shut off intellegaurd, and usage is now '0" I have emailed pctools asking them if it is normal for their software program to be taking up some much CPU usage--while running in the back ground. i started a scan --just to check things out--it jumped usage up to about 83-86%. Intellegaurd is set to come back one in 15 minutes--I'll wait and see what happens--it could be day or so before I here back from the company about how much cpu usage to expect

07-09-2009, 03:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,444 OS: Win7	Re: I am at a loss Let us know. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

07-09-2009, 09:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,133 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: I am at a loss Might be worth reinstalling. My ram usage is about the same at 25ish, with 0 cpu. Intelliguard is on here, as well. __________________