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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
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/

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

253 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
  1. Anonymous
    2011-11-22T04:44:31+00:00

    For what it's worth I solved my problem in a way that I hadn't thought of. I purchased my machine along with an external/removable battery that is a licensed HP accessory designed for use with this product. About a month ago I removed the battery for an unrelated reason and found that during the entire period of time I had the battery off I didn't  have a "fit". As soon as I put it back on however the computer got all screwy. With the seeds of an idea forming in my mind as the CPU ramped up I removed the battery from the computer and within 1 minute the machine was back to normal operation. I haven't put the battery back on the computer since and, knock on wood, I haven't experienced a "fit" since.

    I don't know why this is or why the battery did not cause a fit during the first 5 months I owned the computer but it explains all of the weirdness in how the problems was presenting. When I sent the machine in to be examined/repaired I always kept the battery which explains why technicians couldn't replicate the problem. It also explains why the problem persisted between machines because, even though I sent back my original to HP, I kept the battery and used it on the replacement machine I was sent. This explains why the problem persisted (previously inexplicably) across totally unrelated and totally clean machines and why it continued on a completely wiped and clean hard drive.

    So that's the end of my completely bizzare, frustrating adventure. I'm enjoying my machine again and I don't live in constant fear of it locking up when I'm in the middle of something. It may have taken 7 months but I'm finally enjoying computing again. Hopefully this can help someone out there in the future who has the same problem that I did.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2011-11-22T04:39:57+00:00

    Hi all.

    My Laptop is G62 i3 3GB. I did install Win7 64bit Ultimate my self. I install all the drivers in the Drivers CD. After begin to update Automatic Updates my CPU usage is High. I add CPU Usage Gadget to my desktop. When the CPU usage is High i saw the Clock rate is reduced to 90Mhz (Ninty). In the Task Manager it has no High CPU usage programs either.  Any one has a reason for this ?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Deleted

    This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.


    Comments have been turned off. Learn more

  4. Anonymous
    2011-11-07T00:22:20+00:00

    To my Friend having this sort of problem, please try these;

    1. From your Windows Media Player, go to Tools then Option.
    2. Select Library.

    3. Unchecked  "Retrieve additional information from the internet".

    1. Apply, then OK.

    You will noticed a remarkable drop of CPU usage from over 90% to not more than 30%. You can use these options only if you don't need extra details from the music you are playing, because if this is enabled you will automatically get information or details of the song you are playing from the internet. (i.e.) Album, Genre, etc...

    These works both on WinXP/Vista or Windows7.

    Wished I had looked here first,

    Fixed in seconds     Many Thanks

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments