CPU Usage Always TOTALS 100%

Hi all,

I've been on 8.1 for some time now and just noticed that my CPU usage is always showing up in Task Manager as 100%, no matter what combination of programs are using it. No single program seems to be the culprit for hogging it. The usage values bounce around like crazy, but the column total is stuck at 100%.

I don't notice any lag or slowness as a result like I should if the CPU WERE at 100% load. It's an older Core i7 Quad in a Dell Precision M6500 laptop.

I am quite OCD about things running in the background unnecessarily and have disabled a lot of startup items.

I put a screen cap here, but it isn't perhaps a great example since SnagIt APPEARS to be hogging the CPU to do the capture, but I can assure you, it is not this intensive. If I quit that, some other random process just takes 30%+ and others keep filling in the gaps so that the total is always 99-100%. Very strange. If NOTHING else is going on, Task Manager will shoot up to near 100%.

Is Windows 8 supposed to have a System Idle Process?

The other thing is that this machine's fans are NOT running full blast to keep heat down like they would if it were under full load. Is something just not reporting right?

Try this:

If you think task manager is incorrect download Process Explorer and see what it shows. There should be a system idle process, yes.

adamf said:

If you think task manager is incorrect download Process Explorer and see what it shows. There should be a system idle process, yes.

Click to expand...

Good call. Checked that. Everything looks normal. System Idle Process sits around 98%. But System Idle Process is MISSING from Windows 8 Task Manager. How is this possible or how do I get it back?

Have a look in Details tab - should be there. I don't see it on the processes tab either.

adamf said:

Have a look in Details tab - should be there. I don't see it on the processes tab.

Click to expand...

And so it is... so what is wrong with my Processes and Performance tabs?

dunno. I expect is was left out so people didn't complain about System idle using all their CPU

You could try these two commands from an elevated command prompt as it certainly doesn't look right. They take a while to run.

sfc /scannow
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/3047-sfc-scannow-command-run-windows-8-a.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/26512-dism-fixing-component-store-corruption-windows-8-a.html

adamf said:

dunno. I expect is was left out so people didn't complain about System idle using all their CPU

You could try these two commands from an elevated command prompt as it certainly doesn't look right. They take a while to run.

sfc /scannow
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/3047-sfc-scannow-command-run-windows-8-a.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/26512-dism-fixing-component-store-corruption-windows-8-a.html

Click to expand...

Well, ran sfc and then did a reboot.. and after the normal boot screen, I get a black screen, a cursor, and nothing else. I think I see "US ENG" flash at the bottom right of the screen and the LAN network icon flash towards the left, but that's it. I think this install is botched.

I can do a clean install and get everything back in a couple hours. I also have some backup Acronis images of this SSD. Really curious what happened.

Are there any new methods for being able to clean install Windows 8.1 from ISO with a Windows 8 key? Or do I HAVE to do the Windows 8 install then the free 8.1 Update?

I think it depends on your key. It worked for me though. You clean install 8.1 with a generic key and then activate it with your Windows 8 key.


These may help

http://www.eightforums.com/installa...retail-windows-8-1-windows-8-product-key.html
http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/35003-embedded-product-key-8-0-8-1-install-2.html