CPU bursts while idle?

[terrypin]

I've just noticed that with PSP8 freshly started, even with no files loaded, XP Task Manager (and other tools) reports 'bursts' of CPU usage of around 6-12%. These occur every second or so: 0,6,0,8,0,7,0,11... etc.

Anyone seen similar behaviour or have any idea what causes it please?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[terrypin]

No one with any thoughts on this please?

I've spent a couple of days troubleshooting it in vain.

I ran ProcMon but could see no entries explicitly implicating PSP8. Nor did staring at output from Regmon or Filemon give me any clues.

Amongst other results from my research I found a blog by Mark Russinovich in which he used Process Explorer (PE) to isolate an obscure problem. So I opened PE and examined the PSP8 process. But I haven't a clue how to proceed! There are no fewer than 156 threads running. And as mentioned this is with PSP8 merely idling.

I've posted in StackOverflow too. But I'd appreciate feedback from any other PSP user who also has PE. If there are any here, could you fire up PE while your PSP is sitting idle and compare the threads you see with mine please. Maybe something will stand out that I can investigate. Ideally PSP8 but any version would be helpful.

Here are the relevant screenshots:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/401 ... blem_0.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/401 ... blem_1.jpg

Also here's that list as a text file:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/401 ... lem_1a.txt

And in PE there's an option to save a Dump or a Mini-Dump. I did the latter and uploaded it in case it helps:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/401 ... %20Pro.dmp

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[BrianCee]

Surely the standard "Task Manager" 'processes' tab shows you which programmes are using the CPU and when

there is always some activity - often with no programmes at all open - something called "idle process' and 'system' keep cutting in - and many programmes such as virus scanners are constantly starting and scanning your system as well as programmes which are open updating themselves on where and what has been added

use Task manager to identify what process is using the cpu and take it from there

[hartpaul]

I am running XP Home and only have 60 processes running. With Jasc PSP8 (Not Corel PSP X8) opened and no image loaded, I see nothing happening in the CPU area during a whole minute.
Is it causing you any problems in running PSP8 or any other program otherwise do not worry until something does happen.

[terrypin]

Thanks hartpaul. Definitely causing PSP8 to perform badly and affecting other apps too. Not surprisingly, as 10% is a significant proportion for a single app.

I've been reluctant to resort to a System Restore because I've made quite a few tweaks and sw updates recently (not related to PSP8) and didn't want to revert. But as I'm fed up with this issue I stepped through recent backups methodically an hour or so ago until it no longer occurred. Had to go back two weeks. So now I'm waiting to see what negative consequences arise, if any. But happy to have PSP performing quietly now?

@BrianCee:
TM was naturally the first place I looked at, before using those more advanced tools! It tells you nothing about the many individual threads, registry keys, files, etc that the process is using.