Windows 7 has High CPU Usage and slow performance

Anonymous
2009-11-18T04:59:29+00:00

Hello all,

I've searched the forums, but was unable to find anything relevant.  I recently upgraded to Windows 7 from Vista.  It was running fine for about a week then all of a sudden everything started running very slow.  I checked the the processes tab in task manager and I am constantly running at 70-80% CPU usage.  I think this is very high considering the computer is only a few months old.  It seems like others are having this problem as well, but no real solutions.

I have turned off file indexing as well as disabled the HD audio device. 

Please help!

Here are my hardware specs:

AMD 9550 Quad-Core

64-bit

6GB Ram

Thank you in advance for your help.  I am ready to toss this thing from my second story window.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2010-01-02T19:29:42+00:00

I think the answer might be the Windows Media Player and Windows Media Network Sharing Services as zxypher suggested.  The fix for that is to adjust were the Windows Media Player services search for media files. 

It seems to be a bad problem for me as well upgrading from Vista to Windows 7.  The default search location for media is set to C:\Users\ instead of down in the My Music folders.

Go into Media Player.  From the menu -> File -> Manage libraries -> select each library (music, video, pictures, recorded tv [if you have]) and check the paths that it is managing and make sure it is not too close to the root of the C: drive.  For example, it should be something like c:\users\Jim\Music and c:\users\Public\Music BUT NOT **** c:\users as they will cause the whole directory tree to be re-indexed over and over (when you surf the web or change any files in your profile).

If you have multiple users who login to the computer, you may need to repeat the process for each user if all users have added managed folders which are actively changing on a regular basis.

If this is your issue and you do it correctly, then the high CPU should drop in minutes (or seconds down to nothing).

This is the CORRECT way to adjust the WMNSS/WMPNetwk.exe process issues.

A little more information can be found here:

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7performance/thread/2fe4901b-2eaf-4a99-b487-e6a6213b10b3/

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-07-07T19:42:29+00:00

    Andre, your guide is not an answer.  I've done it 20 times, and it's always ACPI.sys that's the largest by far, but, if you insist, where should I upload it?

    I have made some progress, but still not solved it.  So, I have been keeping Device Manager open until the CPU usage spikes to 50, and right around the time the CPU usage spikes to 50, my network adapter "Realtek RTL8101E Family PCI-E Fast Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20)" disappears from device manager.  Once it has disappeared, I try scanning for hardware changes, showing hidden devices, etc. and can't find it.  I restart and go instantly to device manager to catch it before it vanishes, and leave device manager open and the problem goes away for 3-5 sleep cycles, until it disappears again with Device Manager still open.  I then restart and do it over for a temporary fix.  I've tried installing countless updates, uninstalling, disabling, combinations, and nothing works.  I was even going to disassemble my computer and remove it, but realized I have no fricken clue how to disassemble a laptop. 

    I think my computer tries to wake my disappearing Network Adapter after sleep and can't so it just continues to try.  This is why DPC & Interrupts and NT Kernel & System processes are pegged at about 25% a piece. ACPI.sys is just a front for the computer trying to sleep/unsleep my network adaptor.

    Anybody got any ideas?

    TEMPORARY FIX:  Look for disappearing devices in Device Manager to peg the culprit.  Keep Device Manager open to prolong low CPU usage for several sleep cycles.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-06-29T10:06:27+00:00

    Have you followed my guide? Can you please uplaod the etl file?

    "A programmer is just a tool which converts caffeine into code" CLIP- Stellvertreter http://www.winvistaside.de/

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-06-29T05:56:27+00:00

    I noticed one thing. I am using a HP dv6-1123tx and one BIOS setup item is "Fan Always On". When I turned this on, the problem is gone whille if turned off, the problem will happen. To me, it looks quite like when CPU is kind of over-heating( or  reaching some temp threshold), the cpu will be forced slow down to a very very low freq. My understanding is that Win 7 has a power setting to slow down computer like this (http://az09.net/pic/up/6885c11f68ae8f5ef724e4cd.jpg.png ) - sorry I don't have an English version but it's probably translated as  "control panel"->"hardware and sound" -> "power options" -> "configure/edit power settings" -> "change advanced power settings" - notice "the minimum processor " is 5%. Does this mean if the processor is over heating, it will be froced to run as max frequency * 0.05?

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-06-29T03:14:38+00:00

    Nevermind. The problem persists. 50%+ idle CPU Usage. It seems to be triggered by sleeping the computer. ACPI.sys seems to be the culprit. I've updated ALL drivers, individually disabled ALL devices, tried disabling most services, but still can't seem to find the solution. I need help if anyone has an idea how to solve this. DOES ANYONE HAVE A SOLUTION? I'm getting tired of Windows; I'm thinking of switching to Mac. First, Vista. Now, 7. I CAN'T TAKE THESE BUGS ANYMORE!!!

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