Only Windows but it feels like a virus is acting.
Only Windows but it feels like a virus is acting.
I've noticed some persistent issues on my PC that have lasted several months. It rarely gets extremely hot, but it often stays around 65-70°C, and the Windows reports near full usage. When I run benchmarks, performance remains acceptable, and background CPU usage isn't unusually high (though the benchmark tool itself shows excessive activity). The Task Manager keeps flagging high usage, and Ryzen Master shows me hovering at 90% EDC with a constant 4200MHz frequency. There must be something unusual going on.
I've tried running Windows Defender, used Malwarebytes after advice from a friend, and thoroughly checked the Task Manager and Task List via Command Prompt. Everything seems normal—usage is spread across processes, not concentrated in one area. If I power off the system, it still reports high usage, but when I boot into Safe Mode, Task Manager shows 100% utilization with no suspicious processes.
I removed all my drives and booted off my wife's old laptop drive, and the problem disappeared. Idle temperatures are between 35-40°C depending on background tasks. After reinstalling hardware, it worked fine, so it wasn't just a matter of reseating components. I suspect something on my C drive is causing this behavior. I'm stuck trying to identify the source without risking data loss.
Anyone else have faced similar problems? Are there other tools or checks I should run to pinpoint what's consuming CPU? I’d rather not lose important files, but a fresh Windows install seems like the only safe option. Thanks for any advice!
There is clearly a distinction between the two approaches. Microsoft does essentially everything possible and manages to come close to turning Windows into a virus. To address this issue, I recommend using another computer with a Linux system that includes a virus scanner. This could help transfer files without risking infection, though I can't confirm it will always succeed.