Jump to content

High CPU usage drops when Task Manager is opened


Recommended Posts

Hi. I've been noticing high CPU temperatures and fan speeds on my laptop (which I recently cleaned and reapplied thermal paste to). Every time I open the Task Manager, the CPU usage is on 50 - 90% for a moment but immediately drops down to 5 - 10%. I'm suspecting this is a bitcoin miner virus, mainly because the symptoms are identical to what was described in this thread. Should I follow the same steps given to the person in that post?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

(My system is an XPS 15 9560, Intel i7 7700HQ, Nvidia GTX 1050, 8Gb RAM, Windows 10 Version 2004)

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Root Admin

Hello @miguens

On Windows 10 this Task Manager issue is normal. You can see it discussed more in the following topic.
https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/252362-cpu-usage-always-at-70-until-task-manager-is-open/

We can go ahead though and scan your system just to make sure there is nothing wrong if you like.

 

Please run the following steps and post back the logs as an attachment when ready.
Temporarily disable your antivirus or other security software first. Make sure to turn it back on once the scans are completed.
Temporarily disable Microsoft SmartScreen to download software below if needed. Make sure to turn it back on once the scans are completed.
If you still have trouble downloading the software please click on Reveal Hidden Contents below for examples of how to allow the download.

 

Spoiler
 
 
 
 
Spoiler

When downloading with some browsers you may see a different style of screens that may block FRST from downloading. The program is safe and used hundreds of times a week by many users.

Example of Microsoft Edge blocking the download

image.png

image.png

image.png

 



STEP 01

  • If you already have Malwarebytes installed then open Malwarebytes and click on the Scan button. It will automatically check for updates and run a Threat Scan.
  • If you don't have Malwarebytes installed yet please download it from here and install it.
  • Once installed then open Malwarebytes and select Scan and let it run.
  • Once the scan is completed make sure you have it quarantine any detections it finds.
  • If no detections were found click on the Save results drop-down, then the Export to TXT  button, and save the file as a Text file to your desktop or other location you can find and attach that log on your next reply.
  • If there were detections then once the quarantine has completed click on the View report button, Then click the Export drop-down, then the Export to TXT  button, and save the file as a Text file to your desktop or other location you can find and attach that log on your next reply.
  • If the computer restarted to quarantine you can access the logs from the Detection History, then the History tab. Highlight the most recent scan and double-click to open it. Then click the Export drop-down, then the Export to TXT  button, and save the file as a Text file to your desktop or other location you can find and attach that log on your next reply.
  • If Malwarebytes won't run then please skip to the next step and let me know in your next reply that the scanner would not run.

STEP 02

Please download AdwCleaner by Malwarebytes and save the file to your Desktop.

  • Double-click to run the program
  • Accept the End User License Agreement.
  • Wait until the database is updated.
  • Click Scan Now.
  • When finished, if items are found please click Quarantine.
  • Your PC should reboot now if any items were found.
  • After reboot, a log file will be opened. Attach or Copy its content into your next reply.

RESTART THE COMPUTER Before running Step 3

STEP 03
Please download the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.

Note: You need to run the version compatible with your system. You can check here if you're not sure if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit

  • Double-click to run it. When the tool opens, click Yes to disclaimer.
  • Press the Scan button.
  • It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please attach it to your reply.
  • The first time the tool is run, it also makes another log (Addition.txt). If you've, run the tool before you need to place a check mark here each time
  • Please attach the Additions.txt log to your reply as well.
  • On your next reply, you should be attaching frst.txt and additions.txt to your post, every time.

 

Thanks

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Root Admin

Please follow the directions from the following topic and clean up Google Chrome

 

Then disable Avast and run the following scan.

 

The Microsoft Safety Scanner  is a free Microsoft stand-alone virus scanner that  can be used to scan for & remove malware or potentially unwanted software from a system.

The download links & the how-to-run-the tool are at this link at Microsoft

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/intelligence/safety-scanner-download

Please let me know the results of this scan.

The log is named MSERT.log 

the log will be at  %SYSTEMROOT%\debug\msert.log   which in most cases is

C:\Windows\debug\msert.log

Please attach that log with your next reply.

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

I don't know if this is supposed to happen, but I already did the chrome clean-up you suggested, but running the Malwarebytes scan now there are 13 items detected and the file locations are all related to chrome. Maybe I did the clean-up wrong? I'll attach the log in this reply. (I've quarantined those items but haven't deleted them)

malwarebytes_scan2.txt

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok! I followed the article on cleaning up chrome. I will attach the log file here. There were 15 threats found and deleted. After I turned sync back on I did the MalwareBytes scan to check if the infected files were there again but this time the scan came out clean! The fans and the CPU temps are still very high, and the task manager still behaves like it did before. Maybe it'll be fixed after a restart? I'll try that now. A couple of things that may help you maybe narrow down the problem:
1) I was able to notice that the high CPU usage process that appears in the Task Manager for a couple of seconds is System Interrupts. Maybe that gives you a clue as to what the problem is.

2) I read on another thread in a Dell forum for someone with a similar issue that disabling the Nvidia driver helps with the CPU temps and fans. I tried it and it really does! (Don't worry, I've been doing all this testing with the drivers enabled)

Ok, hopefully that helps. I'll try the restart now and I'll let you know how it goes.

malwarebytes_scan3.txt

Link to post
Share on other sites

After the restart the issue persists. Loud fans, hot CPU and "System Interrupts" in the Task Manager using 90% of the CPU for the first couple of seconds. A couple of things I forgot to ask/mention: How should I go about turning on sync in chrome on my phone? And also, regarding point 2) in the last reply, the Task Manager issue remained with the driver disabled, even though it improved the CPU temps and fans issue. (I scanned again after the restart just in case and there were still 0 threats!)

Thank you for your ongoing help and support.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Root Admin

This forum is for assistance with Malware detection and removal.

For overheating, power, and similar general computer issues you're best to start a new topic in the General Windows PC Help forum

To enable sync normally you just sign into Google and in your options check to enable Sync. Perhaps the following page will provide more information on enable it.
https://www.technipages.com/manage-google-sync

Again the high CPU for a few seconds is very normal and to be expected and nothing to worry about. If the CPU percentage remained high and did not come back down then you could investigate what is running and if you wanted to disable it or not. As it is, again it is normal and there is nothing to look at.

When the fans should kick in or other heating or performance issues please create a new topic in the forum above.

 

Let me have you run the following generic clean up script which may also help some

 

 

Please download the attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop or location where you ran FRST from.
NOTE. It's important that both files, FRST or FRST64, and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.

Please make sure you disable any real time antivirus or security software before running this script. Once completed make sure you re-enable it.

NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on this particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to your operating system that cannot be undone.

Run FRST or FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait.
If the tool needs a restart please make sure you let the system restart normally and let the tool complete its run after restart.
The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt) or wherever you ran FRST from. Please attach or post it to your next reply.

Note: If the tool warned you about an outdated version please download and run the updated version.

NOTE-1:  This fix will run a scan to check that all Microsoft operating system files are valid and not corrupt and attempt to correct any invalid files. It will also run a disk check on the restart to ensure disk integrity. Depending on the speed of your computer this fix may take 30 minutes or more.

NOTE-2: As part of this fix all temporary files will be removed. If you have any open web pages that have not been bookmarked please make sure you bookmark them now as all open applications will be automatically closed. Also, make sure you know the passwords for all websites as cookies will also be removed. The use of an external password manager is highly recommended instead of using your browser to store passwords.

The following directories are emptied:

  • Windows Temp
  • Users Temp folders
  • Edge, IE, FF, Chrome and Opera caches, HTML5 storages, Cookies and History
  • Recently opened files cache
  • Flash Player cache
  • Java cache
  • Steam HTML cache
  • Explorer thumbnail and icon cache
  • BITS transfer queue (qmgr*.dat files)
  • Recycle Bin

Important: items are permanently deleted. They are not moved to quarantine. If you have any questions or concerns please ask before running this fix.

The system will be rebooted after the fix has run.

fixlist.txt

Thanks

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

About the directories that will be emptied, should I be worried about having anything stored in them? Also, thank you for referring me to the other forum, I thought that the high CPU usage for the first seconds was bad behaviour and could be due to malware.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Root Admin

Normally nothing is stored in any of the directories. They are temporary file, folder locations. The other locations do concern your web browser and it will delete cookies which can cause loss of connection to sites like the one here. But as long as you know your login name and password you can get back in to the sites.

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Root Admin

Thanks, the log looks good.

If you're still having issues with overheating or power, etc. please go ahead and open a new topic in the PC Help section and link to this topic as well

Unless there is something else I'll go ahead and close your topic here

Thank you again @miguens

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Root Admin

Glad we could help.

If you need this topic reopened, please send a Private Message to any one of the moderating team members. Please include a link to this topic with your request.

This applies only to the originator of this thread. Other members who need assistance please start your own topic in a new thread.

Please review the following for Tips to help protect from infection

Thank you

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
Back to top
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This site uses cookies - We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.