One of the most common and obscure issues is CPU utilization. Unclear processes and services select 100 percent of his work, which makes using a computer extremely difficult. Why is this happening?
CPU utilization is 100 percent. What to do?
Quite often, computer owners can observe deterioration in work, a delay in reaction to user actions and other problems after some time of continuous use. Among the most common reasons that can lead to this is the full processor load of obscure running processes. The easiest advice is to restart your computer. In some cases, it may help. You can advise reinstalling the system, but this is the most extreme method, which is already included in the category of anecdotal recommendations in most technical forums.
The most common causes of increased processor load
There are quite a few who are concerned about this issue. And all of them are looking for an effective solution to their problem without using cardinal methods. And for this it is necessary to deal with the reason that could lead to such a situation. If we turn to forums where questions related to such computer behavior are encountered quite often, we can single out the most common situations:
- Running a program or process that uses increased computer resources.
- Violations in the system.
- CPU overheating due to accumulated dust and insufficient cooling.
Identification of problems and their solution
In order to determine why CPU utilization is 100 percent, a number of diagnostic procedures will be required. Once the cause is established or there is reason to choose one or the other, it will be necessary to take the steps necessary to eliminate it. Details of what needs to be done in each case are discussed below.
Defining a program that loads a processor
The first thing to do when the computer starts to slow down and respond poorly to mouse commands and other actions is to open the task manager. To do this, you can simultaneously hold down the key combination Ctrl, Alt and Del or Ctrl, Shift and Esc, or call the context menu in the taskbar area and find the corresponding item in it.
In the window that opens, you need to select a detailed view so that tabs appear, among which will be the one we need - "Processes". In it, you can see when the CPU is loading 100 percent. What to do next in this case?
The tab will display a complete list of all processes that are currently running in the system. By default, they are sorted in alphabetical order, but you can select the CPU-loading column to determine the one that caused the problems.
Quite often it happens that a massive program, which requires high costs for resources, is not loaded correctly after closing. As a result of this, processes remain in operation, and processor loading continues. In this case, just click on the “Remove task” button to solve the problem. In this regard, it may be effective to reboot the system, which was recommended at the very beginning. Roughly speaking, the same task removal takes place during it. In addition, additional resources are released that you may not notice on your own.
The list of processes may also include unknowns that were not there before. And they can also take part in system boot. Such behavior is typical of viruses, so it would be nice to know the names and characteristics of processes that constantly work in a particular system, and periodically check the list of running ones for the appearance of suspicious activity.
System malfunctions
The first method does not always allow you to determine the reason why the CPU is loading 100 percent. What to do in this case? In practice, in the task manager, it may turn out that the entire load falls on the item “System inactivity”. And in this situation, the task cannot be removed.
The recommendation in this case is to run a utility that is distributed by Microsoft for free. Process Explorer provides an extended picture of what the task manager shows. In this situation, the processor load can be 100 percent due to system interrupts, which in this program are referred to as Interrupts. It is difficult to say what exactly is the reason for this behavior, if you do not take additional actions.
What can load the processor in the system
Often incorrectly written drivers lead to such a problem. Identify this will help boot the system using safe mode. If the CPU does not experience the previous load, then with a high degree of probability the reason is precisely in the drivers. You need to look for their new versions provided directly by the manufacturer of the computer or laptop.
Also, various viruses that have settled in it can lead to such system behavior. In this case, you need to run a system scan with antivirus software.
As a result of problems with connected devices, CPU utilization of 100 percent may also occur. What to do with this? The tip is pretty simple. It is enough to disconnect everything from the computer, leaving only the most necessary minimum set of mouse, keyboard and monitor. You should also look into the device manager to check for possible problems there.
If these tips do not help solve the problem, you will have to reinstall the system. Well, if in the process of work, rollback points are created to which you can recover if the system was working properly at that time.
Dust accumulation and overheating
It is often possible to determine why the CPU load reaches 100 percent, the loud operation of the cooler and the increase in the temperature of the processor help. As a rule, this suggests that it is high time to clean the computer or laptop from the dust and dirt accumulated in it, and replace the thermal grease. This also leads to braking and failure of the system. It is recommended to clean at least once a year.