NT Kernel & System using 100% of CPU

Anonymous
2009-04-02T00:19:32+00:00

Hi,

I just bought a new laptop with Window Vista Basic. The laptop has 3 Gb ram. I was just reading an article on line and then I start to hear the laptop fan running like crazy. then I went to the Resource Monitor and there was an image/program that was using 95% of my cpu and it was my system with description of "NT Kernel & System". It has been going on for over 30mins. Other than restarting the computer, what can I do about this "NT Kernel & System" eating up 95% of my CPU?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2009-07-06T17:17:59+00:00

I've been having the same problem on my HP desktop running Vista home for a couple weeks. I read that someone fixed the same problem by updating some hardware firmware, so I opened Resource Monitor and started unplugging all my hardware one at a time. The instant I unplugged my Belkin USB network adapter, NT Kernel & System dropped down to 0% and my computer unfroze entirely. The same adapter has been causing me a lot of grief for months- it wouldn't respond every time my computer came out of standby. I'll be updating the driver and firmware to see if that helps - otherwise that garbage is going in the trash. I recommend disabling/unplugging hardware (especially if you have any with odd behavior) until the problem stops, then replacing or updating that hardware.

Was this answer helpful?

50+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2009-04-02T10:03:09+00:00

Hello Dtsai,

Thank you for posting.  What you just described seems to be some form of mal-ware trying to mascuerade as a legitimate windows service.  Windows does have NT Kernel and also System, but they never show up together as one service, program, or file. 

I highly recommend that you use your favorite anti-virus and anti-spyware program and do a full scan of your PC. 

Please try the scan and let me know if this helps you

Zack

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Was this answer helpful?

3 people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

59 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2011-11-09T18:49:21+00:00

    Hi there

    I think when the fan is making noices -- it is cooling off the bus

    I think you might need also a new cell battery

    Your pc might be crashing

    What article did you read from the internet

    if you scan and you did not get a virus

    somebody might be hacking into your pc looking for password

    or that -- your electric jack is not up to date with current USA brand

    did you get your own modem or from your server?

    try to  network as many as possible with the store you got your pc or the network server

    but do not put all your heart is in one bag

    try to be variety but yet networking

    if you feel you are not being hack -- i would return the pc and get a new one with your manufacturing or store warranty

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2011-11-09T18:49:37+00:00

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-12-30T00:23:20+00:00

    Zack,

    That's actually completely untrue.  The NT Kernel is run by the 'SYSTEM' user account, and therefore will show up in the process list as SYSTEM.

    Image Name                          User                        CPU   Mem          Description

    System                                    System                    x          x                 NT Kernel & System

    This is normal.  What's not normal is it consuming virtually all CPU cycles not taken by other tasks, which I'm running into now as well on Server 2008 R2.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments