Processes consuming significant CPU resources detected.
Processes consuming significant CPU resources detected.
My laptop has been affected by a problem where the system process in Task Manager consumes around 10-20% of the CPU without any apparent reason. I've checked updating drivers, ran the SFC/scannow tool, turned off Superfetch, cleared the page file before shutdown, used Process Explorer and Event Viewer to search for issues, and disabled certain audio devices in Device Manager. The high CPU usage indicates the system is constantly working, preventing it from truly resting and causing slowdowns during tasks like work or gaming. It also keeps the CPU temperature elevated, even at idle levels. I plan to perform a clean Windows installation tonight when I return home, as this might resolve the issue. I haven’t done that before since I’m still using the original OEM image and have cloned it to my Samsung 960 EVO. I’ll also reach out here for advice and suggestions in case the reinstall doesn’t help. My laptop model is a Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Gaming (likely model 15577), equipped with an i5-7300HQ processor, 16GB RAM (one module, brand unknown), a GTX 1050 4GB, an OEM WD 1TB HDD at 5400rpm, and a Samsung 960 EVO 500GB drive.
The specific .exe file responsible is unknown, as the system handles all Windows operations.
System refers to the core of Windows, often experiencing high CPU or memory demand because of installed drivers.
For what purpose you asked? Probably to fix something or improve performance. It could be anything—even a scheduled disk defrag. You just installed Windows again, and it decided to run a defragmentation even though you didn’t ask. If you need deeper insight, try Process Hacker—it might reveal more than Task Manager.
You're wondering if it might be a virus and which antivirus software you're using. I've seen issues when installing apps bundled with PUPs such as uTorrent, which can damage your system—so I stopped using it. It could be anything. Regarding driver updates, where did you obtain them from? I noticed a crash after installing an updated driver from Station Drivers, especially after rebooting. When I searched for the error code, it seemed to trigger an unstable reboot due to malware. I reformatted the system and installed the latest driver from my laptop manufacturer, though it was a bit outdated. It never caused that error. My advice is to get drivers only from official sources.
I use Kaspersky for my antivirus protection. Updates come via Nvidia GeForce Experience and Intel's update tool. I've also downloaded drivers from Dell's official site before, but switched to Intel's utility now that I have an Intel system. It hasn't been a while since I ran an antivirus scan, so I assume it's not scheduled weekly like on my other machines. I'll proceed with the scan now.
If you use Kaspersky, you're likely safe from most viruses, especially if the software is active. To boost protection, look for an option under Virus Protection to enable safeguards against potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). The guide you mentioned explains how to do this. After enabling it, run a scan again. Also, could you share a list of the programs installed on your system? I can help review them if needed.