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
    2011-08-27T06:53:57+00:00

    First of all Gerry,

     I have been using Norton products for 11 years and it hasn't failed me yet, so" when you on a good thing stick to it" Reading Magazines in AU PC User and Australian PCandTech Authority Magazine, tells me Norton Internet Security 2011 is the best on the market at the moment, so I would NOT change it for a moderately secure freeware. I also have been using Yahoo Messenger and YTP for a few years and 18 months on Windows 7 without incident. I just spent the afternoon troubleshooting to definately prove beyond a shadow of a doubt audiodg.exe is the problem file. I had the task manager open and was in chat soon as it froze, I ended audiodg.exe and my CPU dropped back to normal.

    My Computer is clean and free of infections. I am using a selective startup to troubleshoot, the only performance issue is freezing due to CPU and that is when I am in chat? Normal usage no problems. Other forums suggest it is related to RealTek Sound Cards, so all my driver are upto date, I even flashed the BIOS. I do have a Cert. 3 in IT and run a sole trader business.

    I am not sure if you read my post scorrectly to be talking of spam mail etc, that I don't have a problem with and it it off subject?

    To sum it up you have told me nothing about solving the issue I have at hand.

     Kind Regards

      Pisces

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-08-27T05:53:55+00:00

    Poor choice of software could be contibuting to your performance issues.

    Norton Internet Security 2011 would be the first item I would replace with  other freeware options. That saves money as an added bonus.

    I am also not a fan of Yahoo software. My ISP is British Telecom and they have teamed up with Yahoo. The support software caused me nightmares and so there is now none on any of my computers. I am using Mail Classic to control spam but I do not like the software. With the exception of controlling spam it works for Yahoo and not for the user.

    I would also suggest you check to see that your system is free from error. Do not use a registry cleaner to do this as that will ultimately result in you needing to reinstall the operating system.

    Event Viewer Reports

    1. Normally when an error occurs on your computer looking in Event Viewer should be your starting point for finding a solution. Most system related errors are logged and getting an exact copy of the relevant report is important. Unfortunately understanding the reports is not easy and most computer users need help with their interpretation. I have more to say later on interpretation.
    2. Event Viewer comprises three main Windows logs. These are Application, Security and System. For troubleshooting purposes System is by far the most important.
    3. To access the System log select Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Event Viewer, from the list in the left side of the window select Windows Logs and System. Place the cursor on System, right click and select Filter Current Log. Check the box before Error and click on OK and you see only Error reports. Click on the Date and Time Column Header to sort. You may need to click a second time to see the latest Report at the top.
    4. A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double click on the error you want to copy. Select the Details tab and check the box before XML View. Click on the Copy button to place a copy on your Clipboard and close Event Viewer. Now start your message and paste into the body of the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from Event Viewer.
    5. There are three types of Report, being Information, Warning and Error reports. In most situations it is Error Reports that offer the best information but occasionally Warning Reports provide useful clues.
    6. All reports have date and time stamps and when troubleshooting it is important to concentrate on more recent reports. Study reports since the point when the computer was last booted and then check whether a similar report appeared in the previous session. If errors do not repeat investigation as to why they occurred is wasted effort.
    7. Within individual reports the more important information is Event ID and Source as these help when looking for help on the internet. The description is equally important and copying the exact text for use as the search criteria greatly helps getting better results when using Google. Do not paraphrase descriptions when asking others for help.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-08-26T23:13:11+00:00

    My problem started with a change of harddrive, I was using Yahoo messenger and Ytunnel Pro in a Yahoo chat, I have benn using earlier versions of this prior to Hardrive failure, but my failure coincided with a YTP website being off line so I could'nt reactivate my earlier version. Then when I got the new version, my problem started. Norton Internet Security 2011 flagged "audiodg.exe" as the culprit, but since then "yahoo messanger.exe" also. All I read pointed to KB981013 being the hot fix for the problem, but no, I can't install this hotfix. Also I read it only related to Motheboards with RealTek sound cards so I have upgraded all my sound drivers. YTP founder Chet Simpson is at a loss to reproduce the problem, in YTP, which leads me to believe it is a Microsoft issue? I don't blue screen or anything so no incompatibilities. I am going to go back and view all the updates I have installed to see if the could be an update related issue.

    Here are My PC specs

    Intel 3.0Ghz dual core

    4GB DDR3 1066 memory

    32 bit Windows 7 Home Premium

    Also happens on my laptop

    Acer Aspire 5742

    i5 CPU

    4GB DDR2 Memory

    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit

    From the Microsoft Site it only affects Vista and Windows 7 users, Most XP users are ok with the odd exception. If you visit http://www.ytunnelpro.com and view a post "feeezing V2.6 732/736 (investigating) and view all the transcripts

     Look forward to a fix apart from Sevice Pack 2 for windows 7?

     Pisces52au

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-08-12T01:48:59+00:00

    I had the same problem, but it wasn't the Windows Media Player. It was the Apple Mobile Control Panel. Once I stopped it, my CPU message went back to hovering around 6-10%. Hope that helps.

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