Explorer uses 100% of CPU

[rednecktek]

It takes about three hours from a (re)boot, but explorer.exe will start using 98-100% of the CPU time. Killing and restarting explorer.exe from the task manager "fixes" the problem for another 3 or so hours.

I'm positive this is a bug, due to the fact that the machine will completely hang when booted without an Internet connection, usability is restored when connected. It's not really an option to disconnect the unit as I am working remotely - about 2 hours away.

I've been fighting this one for sometime now. I need someone else to take a look; I'm missing something.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 5:35:30 PM, on 1/22/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgemc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\RealVNC\VNC4\WinVNC4.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\hjt\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.dell.com
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.packers.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.dell.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.dell.com
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_10\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEToolbarHelper Class - {AE7CD045-E861-484f-8273-0445EE161910} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Adobe PDF - {47833539-D0C5-4125-9FA8-0819E2EAAC93} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [igfxhkcmd] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [!AVG Anti-Spyware] "C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe" /minimized
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_10\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - Startup: DING!.lnk = C:\Program Files\Southwest Airlines\Ding\Ding.exe
O4 - Global Startup: FTP Utility.lnk = C:\Program Files\KONICA MINOLTA\FTP Utility\KMFtp.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Pervasive.SQL Workgroup Engine.lnk = C:\PVSW\Bin\w3dbsmgr.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_10\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_10\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {2AF5BD25-90C5-4EEC-88C5-B44DC2905D8B} (DownloadManager Control) - http://dlm.tools.akamai.com/dlmanager/versions/activex/dlm-activex-2.0.6.5.cab
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1126028138109
O16 - DPF: {9A9307A0-7DA4-4DAF-B042-5009F29E09E1} (ActiveScan Installer Class) - http://acs.pandasoftware.com/activescan/as5free/asinst.cab
O16 - DPF: {E06E2E99-0AA1-11D4-ABA6-0060082AA75C} (GpcContainer Class) - https://homesphere.webex.com/client/v_mywebex-t20/support/ieatgpc.cab
O20 - Winlogon Notify: igfxcui - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\igfxdev.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O23 - Service: AVG Anti-Spyware Guard - Anti-Malware Development a.s. - C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG E-mail Scanner (AVGEMS) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: Broadcom ASF IP monitoring service v6.0.4 (BAsfIpM) - Broadcom Corp. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\basfipm.exe
O23 - Service: dkab_device - Dell - C:\WINDOWS\system32\DKabcoms.exe
O23 - Service: FileCabinet Solution Print Service (FCPrintService) - Creative Solutions - C:\WINDOWS\csifcsvc.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: Sage Service Host (Sage.ServiceHost.Host) - Sage Software, Inc. - c:\program files\timberline office\shared\sage.servicehost.host.exe
O23 - Service: VNC Server Version 4 (WinVNC4) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\RealVNC\VNC4\WinVNC4.exe" -service (file missing)

[pskelley]

Welcome to the forum, administration has taken steps to help you avoid a long wait: http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=1137

It appears you may also have missed these instructions:
"BEFORE you POST" -Preliminary Steps
http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=288

If your issue is not resolved, please make sure you have followed the instructions in that link. Then update and run a scan with AVG Anti-Spyware using these instructions:
http://forums.security-central.us/showthread.php?t=3165
Delete or at least quarantine anything located, then post the scan results a new HJT log and any comments you think will help. I am interested in any error messages you receive "word for word". Use Post Reply to stay in this topic.

Thanks

[rednecktek]

pskelley,

I'm not a newbie at this. I make my living in System Administration. I have run Ewido/AVG Spyware, Spybot, AVG Root-Kit Detector, two of the online scanners and probably a few I've forgotten. There was nothing besides cookies in any scan. I have completed steps one through four on the BEFORE-YOU-POST steps; if I hadn't, I wouldn't have posted.

I posted the HJT log knowing there isn't anything wrong with it (that I could see), if you see something or if I did something wrong, please enlighten me.

The user has gotten so fed-up that I'm formatting the box on Monday. I'd like to at least know what this is before then so I don't have to relive this.

Thanks,

[pskelley]

OK, I am sorry if I misunderstood something, if you had made me aware you were repairing a computer for someone else:
http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=288

This malware removal forum is set up to help those in need of assistance with their personal computers.

We do realise that on occasion a business where staff are trained to remove malware need a second opinion. In that case please state that up-front and note the steps already taken. Our volunteers appreciate that.
Then I would have responded like you knew what you were doing, understand that most folks who post do not.

I would have also told you I saw nothing in the HJT log and that you probably want to look for other reasons for the high CPU.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2006-16,GGLG:en&q=Explorer+uses+100%25+of+CPU+
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2006-16,GGLG:en&q=troubleshoot+high+CPU
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2006-16,GGLG:en&q=reasons+for+high+CPU

I wish you success with your computer repair.

Thanks...pskelley
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