How do I fix this high CPU usage svchost virus or whatever it is?

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Hi Leo, i think mine is not a svchost, what is system idle process that takes about 99 % CPU? it's slowing my computer. how can i stop it?

angela: "idle" means that your computer does nothing. There is always an "idle" process showing the percentage when the CPU is resting. The processes plus the "idle" always takes 100% in total. Having "idle" close to 100% means that your CPU is free. You computer might be slow for other reason which does not require the CPU working (slow internet, slow/many disk writes etc.) so it has nothing to do with the "svchost" problem.

Hi Guys,

Very helpfull info :)

but i have a different problem in here, the Process explorer shows "Interrupts" is very high usage on the CPU history Column.

Any help please.

thnx alot

This article helped me track down the SVCHOST culprit on both XP and Vista Machines. It is the HP software that the OfficeJet All-In-One installs to watch for system stuff. Ending those services stopped the usage.

Now I'm experimenting another way. With task manager, that SVCHOST wouldn't allow you to change the priority--even if you ignored the warning. With Process Explorer you can. So I'm going to let the processes run, but change them to low priority. That way, if something else needs the processor, they shouldn't interfere. We'll see.

on my system (running XP) the HP printer drivers (very poor software indeed!) spiked up svchost cpu time. Reading previous comments, however, the problem seems to be with the svchost process itself, cos everyone has different process to unleash processor utilization! now, if Microsoft actually has a solution, they should make it available. Otherwise, they should find one asap. No, wait, they're too busy trying to get vista to work in a decent way!!! buddies, lost cause!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I used process explorer, downloaded from Microsoft web site, to identify the problem svchost.exe. Clicked on properties and then services. Found that it was a recently re-installed HP printer file that was monitoring my network. I stopped it and no more CPU problem.

Thanks so much! After 8 months of having this problem, the ProcessExplorer program helped me find the culprit (my HP Digital Image program).

I downloaded the Process Explorer and I think I found the culprit on my computer. I recently installed a new 4-in1 HP unit and it has an image monitor that must run constantly. As soon as i disabled it, my computer sped up to normal. I am so glad that I found your site!!

My issues is my svchost is 5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2.rtm.040803-2158) even though I have installed sp3 and all updates.

anyone in MS land have a util other than SFC that will do a MD5 check on all windows files and update accordling... (SFC doesn't do it)

I read somewhere else that the 100% CPU/Svchost.exe issue is related to HP printers. Nice to see it's here, too. After reading that, I went through each Service (via Start/Run/services.msc) in alpha order. I "Stopped" each one that was Automatically started. Waited a bit. Had the Task Manager open so I could watch if the offending 99% SVCHOST.EXE stopped, too.

When I got to the "HP NETWORK DEVICES SUPPORT SERVICE" for my HPC6280 All-in-One printer, bingo! So I changed the Properties to "DISABLE."

I rebooted. Did not start up again when I opened Internet Explorer 7.
I tested printing after rebooting. Works fine.

Having said that, we have a home network, Linksys wireless router, DSL modem, 1 PC, 2 laptops, and a Wii, a HPC6280 printer and an HP Deskjet 712C printer. If your system is more complicated than that, I don't promise the same results.

We did the same fix on my husband's PC this morning, and it is working and printing correctly.

Thank goodness for Forums like these!

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