My computer suffers a 100% usage of computer resources when i connect to the internet. The 100% usage lasts for at least 20minutes after which computer performance goes back to normal. When it is in 100% usage, i have noticed tat the svchost.exe will take up 99% of the usage. After five minutes, the svchost.exe stops taking so much usage but still no programs can be launched for at least twenty minutes after that. i have checked for malware and found nothing. I have tried stopping windows automatic updates(i heard it can cause svchost.exe errors).i am using windows XP professional service pack two. How do i overcome this?

Jack Daniels, May 2007

This IS a MS update problem and they have released a fix for it its been happening for anfew months now and MS have said a new update with the fix is due out July/August as a patch email me monday @ ritchiebaby@hotmail.com I will send you fix, It works for our pc's

Ritchie, July 2007

"The computer in question has 1GB RAM and has a minimum of 5GB of real memory available. i have allocated 1GB for virtual memory as well."

I am afraid that doesn't make any sense to me. RAM IS real memory. So I don't know where this 5GBytes comes in especially as you say you have allocated 1GByte of virtual memory. (Virtual Memory is an area of disk space that is mapped to the processor's memory map. It is used when the PC runs out of real memory by paging the least used areas of real memory to it.)

Having said all that if svchost is taking all those mips at startup you could have a corrupted Registry. Try running CCleaner but be careful (Based on your description of your memory.) you can do some real damage.

Having said that, what happens if you start the PC and don't connected it to the Internet?

t, May 2007

ive already done the msconfig thingy a long time before all this. Is it possible that im having a hardware error? the lag lasts for exactly 10minutes after connecting to the internet. What kinda error causes such a condition?

Jack Daniels, May 2007

Try the following,go to start>run enter msconfig click ok.
from the system config window,choose the start up tab, in the menu that opens, deselect everything that you dont need to run at start up.... for example, ms office, acrobat, paintshop, etc etc.... choose apply, reboot pc if a box comes up at restart telling you that changes were made, tick the dont remind box.

Pete, May 2007

the computer in question has 1GB RAM and has a minimum of 5GB of real memory available. i have allocated 1GB for virtual memory as well. and i have AVG anti virus, Registry Mechanic,Lavasoft Ad-aware, Ad-block plus. All the undated scans turn out nothing. And the computer has been defragmented. im stumped as to wwats going on now. any ideas would be totally appreciated!

Jack Daniels, May 2007

I have found that kind of start-up problem can be caused by a badly fragmented disk and/or not enough real memory causing 'thrashing'. That is to say the OS spends more time paging to disk than it does loading code. So the first thing to try is, assuming XP with SP2, ensure that you have at least 512MB of RAM. Second once the machine has started run a defrag.

Once you have son the above run a virus scan and a spyware scan as that process is often hijacked.

t, May 2007