computer whining and programmes wont respond

[janetla]

Calling all geeks. My computer is seriously playing up and I don't know why. Whenever it is being asked to do anything it makes a dreadful whining noise, rather like a car engine when it is labouring. Often programmes won't respond, when I run task manager to close them it says something about CPU usage 100% and won't shut the programme down. It have antivirus software which runs regularly and nothing has been detected. Oftentimes the computer freezes and then I can't even shut it down, I have to switch it off which I know is a bad thing to do. It is quite an old machine, but even so it has been properly cared for, don't download stuff onto it, don't open e-mails that I don't know where they came from, I take every precaution not to get viruses> It is clean inside, although this whiny noise sounds like the fan I don't think it is, there appears to be no overheating going on It really sounds like it just can't manage to do what is being asked of it, which isn't much really. When I ask it to open two programmes at the same time then is when it tends to freeze altogether. Suggestions welcome thank you.

[DanAB]

if you are using windows (and i am assuming you are) press ctrl+atl+del to open up the Task Manager.

this will show you information about the PC and things running on it. click on the processes tab and then click on the CPU field to order them by usage. this will show you what processes are using up all your CPU.

can you list the top 5 so i (or someone else) is able to see what is using it all

[ACtheTROLL]

sounds like it's over heating - open the box and see if there is a dust bunny living in there

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Comp uters/Question772730.html

[ChuckFickens]

I was gonna answer this within a few minutes of it being asked (also agree overheating BTW) but wasn't sure if I was a geek or not so thought I best not!!

[ACtheTROLL]

just what you trying to say chuck !!! ;-)

[janetla]

Have checked for dust and its not that. The programmes I usually use are word and outlook express, plus internet. When a programme is obviously not responding I check with task manager and try to close the non responding one down. Below the list it says cpu usage 100% but it says that no matter which task I am trying to end. When I ask it to end task, nothing happens. If I then try to close the computer down often this won't respond either so I end up having to switch it off at the mains. There is a background whiny sound all the time, but it gets much worse if I try to open and use any programme. I am using Windows XP. It seems to me that anything I try to open uses all the CPU which I am sure cannot be a good thing. I am afraid that it is going to crash sometime soon, so I have taken the precaution of saving to a flash drive anything that is important. I don't want to have to go to great expense though so if I can prevent this from happening I would be happy

[ACtheTROLL]

ok that's good news - remember to keep the backup up to date because this could easily end in tears

I agree - 100 processor isnt good if it's 100% of the time

none of the progs you use would cause that

so something else is causing it ...
open task manager - processes ... what is running
and what numbers are against those progs
is anything admitting that it's at 100%?

the most obvious - is a virus or other nasty
what virus protection do you use ?

the other is torrents or any "naughty software which could be carrying something nasty.

have you got any network traffic constantly down/uploading
(network card properties - tick show icon in notification area)?

which version of windows?

what recovery have you got?
f10 (or whichever)
recovery CDs
install discs

and now the good news....
bearing in mind not seen the machine - so this is 99% guess
personally - if it was me - I'd take this as an opportunity to crash and burn
if it's damaged - the time it will take to mend it isn't worth it

if you have a good backup - cut your losses - rebuild and use it.

I rebuild mine about every 12 months
It's not hard (depeding which method you have to use to reinstall)

[wallacia]

dont know if this will help,but a couple of months ago i started to hear whining from my fan,programmes were closing down now and again,then all of a sudden nothing would appear,as it was under warranty i contacted the supplier who took my tower back to look at,the culprit was a dirty motherboard i got a new motherboard and everything is working great now,as i say i dont know if this will help.

[janetla]

Thanks everybody. I use Norton, I know people think it's not much good but I have never had a virus ever on any computer with norton antivirus on it. It always refuses to open anything suspicious looking that comes with e-mail. Again I never open attachments from e-mails I don't know, in fact don't open the e-mail either. I don't download much from the internet, don't get music or video etc. I have downloaded pdf files from places such as the irs and hmrc. It is quite an old computer though and I agree it would probably not be worth the cost of repairs especially these days. Fortunately we do have a laptop as well so would not be without. I have all my important files photos etc on a flash drive but am a bit worried that if there is something nasty in here then I will just be putting it onto the flash drive then putting it back into any new computer I might get. What can I do to prevent that happening.

[janetla]

Just had a look in task manager, something called system idle process is showing 97 or 98, is this the problem and is there anything I can do about it. nothing else shows anything like this, usually 1, 2 or 3