"system" hogging all cpu cycles

[Ultima]

Hey guys,

on my older rig, the X2 3800, from time to time, just out of nowhere, it starts reacting real slowlike and when I open up task manager to look at the running processess, I see "system" hogging like 80% cpu power, while "system idle process" takes up the rest.

What is this "system"?? Why can't I end it?? it is frigging annoying, cause I can't even burn a dvd cause the system won't respond.

Thanks for any help.

Ultima

[Steve R Jones]

SYSTEM:
Windows NT4/2000/XP/2003 only. A collective name for all operating system kernel threads.

Recommendation :
The Operating System !! Leave alone.
Task List Programs - AnswersThatWork's famous Database of Processes, Windows Startups, Windows XP Services, Windows Vista Services, Process Library

[electric]

may be run chkdsk/r for errors on your hard drive

start>run>cmd>chkdsk/r

[Ultima]

I ran checkdisk and the array is fine, no errors found.

But still, from time to time, "system" comes along and takes up half my cpu power.

Thanks to you guys I now know what it is, but what can I do when it happens?? I mean, it usually ends in me having to restart the pc, cause it won't respond to anything anymore, not even after 10 minutes.

It happens during the stupidest things, like this morning, I plugged in my usb stick and set to copy an avi file to it....BANG!! there it hangs.

[osprey4]

Ultima:

You need this: Process Explorer

You can tray it and it will tell you exactly where the problem is.