First, I'd like to make it 100% clear that I understand what the system idle process is and what it is SUPPOSED to do:The system idle process is supposed to wait until your CPU is generally unoccupied, and then use all that unused space to perform necessary system tasks. In other words, the system idle process shouldn't activate when the CPU is already very busy, and therefore should NEVER interfere with other programs' performance.If I'm way off-base with this understanding, please let me know.That being said, the system idle process on my PC is NOT functioning correctly. Rather than waiting until my CPU is generally not busy, it seems to activate ONLY when the PC is in the middle of performing CPU-intensive tasks, such as streaming video, watching DVDs, playing graphics-intensive games, or viewing flash-heavy web pages. If it were only using up CPU when I wasn't doing anything CPU-heavy, I wouldn't be complaining in the first place.When this happens, the system performance instantly plummets, and the frame rate onscreen drops to around 5 fps, sometimes less. Once the system idle process has activated, even rudimentary tasks (word processing, checking email) take ludicrous amounts of time to perform. For instance, if I click the "minimize" button, it can take anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds for the click to register and the window to minimize. Even as I write these words, there's about a 5-second delay before they show up onscreen. And because you can't deactivate the process using the task manager, I basically lose all use of my computer for a half-hour to an hour at a time, several times a day.This has been happening with increasing frequency over the last year, and there is a 100% correlation between these system delays and the system idle process: the process has been active every single time performance plummets, and has never been active when my system is running smoothly. If there's a third variable involved, I have no idea what it might be.I have regularly defragged my hard drive, cleaned out temp files, cleaned out my registry, scanned for viruses, and transferred enough files off the computer to ensure that it has at least 50% free space on the C drive on any given day. Short of simply installing a new version of Windows, I'm at a loss for what to try next.Any suggestions?1 person needs an answerI do too

On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:52:36 +0000, David Weiss wrote:First, I'd like to make it 100% clear that I understand what the system idle process is and what it is SUPPOSED to do:Sorry, but your understanding is incorrect. See below.The system idle process is supposed to wait until your CPU is generally unoccupied, and then use all that unused space to perform necessary system tasks.  In other words, the system idle process shouldn't activate when the CPU is already very busy, and therefore should NEVER interfere with other programs' performance.If I'm way off-base with this understanding, please let me know.Sorry, but you are off base. "System Idle Process" is just the namefor what the system is doing when it's not doing anything. It's therejust to make the total add up to 100%*That being said, the system idle process on my PC is NOT functioning correctly.  Rather than waiting until my CPU is generally not busy, it seems to activate ONLY when the PC is in the middle of performing CPU-intensive tasks, such as streaming video, watching DVDs, playing graphics-intensive games, or viewing flash-heavy web pages.If those tasks used up 100% of the CPU, there would be no system idleprocess. Since they use up somewhat less than 100%, System IdleProcess accounts for the rest.  If it were only using up CPU It uses up no CPU.when I wasn't doing anything CPU-heavy, I wouldn't be complaining in the first place.**When this happens, the system performance instantly plummets, and the frame rate onscreen drops to around 5 fps, sometimes less.  Once the system idle process has activated, even rudimentary tasks (word processing, checking email) take ludicrous amounts of time to perform.  *I can't tell from what you are saying what your problem is, but I cantell you that it's *not* System Idle Process. System Idle Process isnever any problem at all. Look elsewhere for what your problem is.*For instance, if I click the "minimize" button, it can take anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds for the click to register and the window to minimize.  Even as I write these words, there's about a 5-second delay before they show up onscreen.  And because you can't deactivate the process using the task manager, I basically lose all use of my computer for a half-hour to an hour at a time, several times a day.**This has been happening with increasing frequency over the last year, and there is a 100% correlation between these system delays and the system idle process: the process has been active every single time performance plummets, and has never been active when my system is running smoothly.  If there's a third variable involved, I have no idea what it might be.**I have regularly defragged my hard drive, cleaned out temp files, cleaned out my registry, scanned for viruses, and transferred enough files off the computer to ensure that it has at least 50% free space on the C drive on any given day.  Short of simply installing a new version of Windows, I'm at a loss for what to try next.*Again, I don't know what's causing your problem, but it's not becauseit's Windows 7. I have Windows 7 on three computers here and Imaintain several other for friends and family. None of us has such aproblem with Windows 7.Ken Blake

On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:51:08 -0700, Ken Blake<Email removed for privacy> wrote:On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:52:36 +0000, David Weiss wrote:First, I'd like to make it 100% clear that I understand what the system idle process is and what it is SUPPOSED to do:Sorry, but your understanding is incorrect. See below.The system idle process is supposed to wait until your CPU is generally unoccupied, and then use all that unused space to perform necessary system tasks.  In other words, the system idle process shouldn't activate when the CPU is already very busy, and therefore should NEVER interfere with other programs' performance.If I'm way off-base with this understanding, please let me know.Sorry, but you are off base. "System Idle Process" is just the namefor what the system is doing when it's not doing anything. It's therejust to make the total add up to 100%*That being said, the system idle process on my PC is NOT functioning correctly.  Rather than waiting until my CPU is generally not busy, it seems to activate ONLY when the PC is in the middle of performing CPU-intensive tasks, such as streaming video, watching DVDs, playing graphics-intensive games, or viewing flash-heavy web pages.If those tasks used up 100% of the CPU, there would be no system idleprocess. Since they use up somewhat less than 100%, System IdleProcess accounts for the rest.  If it were only using up CPU It uses up no CPU.when I wasn't doing anything CPU-heavy, I wouldn't be complaining in the first place.**When this happens, the system performance instantly plummets, and the frame rate onscreen drops to around 5 fps, sometimes less.  Once the system idle process has activated, even rudimentary tasks (word processing, checking email) take ludicrous amounts of time to perform.  *I can't tell from what you are saying what your problem is, but I cantell you that it's *not* System Idle Process. System Idle Process isnever any problem at all. Look elsewhere for what your problem is.*For instance, if I click the "minimize" button, it can take anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds for the click to register and the window to minimize.  Even as I write these words, there's about a 5-second delay before they show up onscreen.  And because you can't deactivate the process using the task manager, I basically lose all use of my computer for a half-hour to an hour at a time, several times a day.**This has been happening with increasing frequency over the last year, and there is a 100% correlation between these system delays and the system idle process: the process has been active every single time performance plummets, and has never been active when my system is running smoothly.  If there's a third variable involved, I have no idea what it might be.**I have regularly defragged my hard drive, cleaned out temp files, cleaned out my registry, scanned for viruses, and transferred enough files off the computer to ensure that it has at least 50% free space on the C drive on any given day.  Short of simply installing a new version of Windows, I'm at a loss for what to try next.*Again, I don't know what's causing your problem, but it's not becauseit's Windows 7. I have Windows 7 on three computers here and Imaintain several other for friends and family. None of us has such aproblem with Windows 7.Sorry--my error. This is a Windows XP forum, not Windows 7.Nevertheless the same thing goes for Windows XP. Change the paragraphabove to substitute "Windows XP" for "Windows 7," change "have" to"had" and "maintain" to "maintained," and it remains true.Ken Blake