CPU logger

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StevieT

286 posts

Ultimate Geek

Topic # 114233 12-Feb-2013 20:35
Hi there, I notice at times my computer being non responsive, with the light indicating activity on. A few minutes later whatever was happening is completed. Is there a program that logs CPU / RAM memory / hard drive usage so I can see what services/processes occur and when, and whether I can pinpoint what exactly makes my computer non responsive for minutes at a time. Even at times I get a message saying Explorer has stopped responding. I don't know if its related to the fact that Norton Utilities cannot complete a disk de-fragmentation due to an CRC error, and running Disk Doctor as it suggests no errors are found. What that is in regards to I have no idea. Sometimes I log onto my laptop, go get my coffee and return to find out its restarted and upon logging in again I'm told that the system rebooted due to an error, and to send a report to Microsoft. I don't know what that is about, either. I use Windows 8 Pro.

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719 posts

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Reply # 760372 12-Feb-2013 20:42
Windows does have built in tools for that, but they are errr.. less than end user friendly http://technet.microsoft.com/en-nz/library/cc749249.aspx

Lias

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Reply # 760373 12-Feb-2013 20:44
Also, that reboot is probably a BSOD, if you turn off automatic rebooting it will show you the actual error. BSOD's are usually either faulty hardware or bad drivers. Given your other issues I'd def be leaning towards dodgy hardware, I'd start by downloading and burning a CD/USB from http://www.memtest.org/ to test your ram.

StevieT

286 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 760393 12-Feb-2013 21:07
It could be the wireless adapter driver. I am not using the one that is suggested within SWUpdate.exe, as I get issues of this nature: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=45&topicid=112580 Despite being told I would continue to receive support for drivers released by Samsung after upgrading my laptop from 7 to 8, I get brushed off with no help at all (except call Microsoft who tell me to call Samsung) which is why I have reverted to using Windows 7 drivers. The driver version available for download via SWUpdate is 6.30.59.26; I'm using 5.100.245.20.

StevieT

286 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 760406 12-Feb-2013 21:16
Lias: Also, that reboot is probably a BSOD, if you turn off automatic rebooting it will show you the actual error. I have just disabled automatic restarting, so next time I come back with a coffee I'll see an error message which I can investigate.

gzt

3244 posts

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Reply # 762129 14-Feb-2013 11:19
An activity light would normally indicate disk activity not CPU. It is possible the intense disk activity is the windows error logging mechanism kicking in some cases. Have a look in the event log and see what is being reported there around the time your computer has problems. Also, right click on the taskbar and choose Task Manager. Keep that running all the time. It will not tell you exactly what the problem is but it can often point you in the general direction. A side effect of running Task Manager is that applications sharing time with it tend to be better behaved which in some cases can give you enough response time to figure things out.

StevieT

286 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 762467 14-Feb-2013 16:35
I have the most hellish time with my laptop ever since last night. After Norton decided to throw up errors, start up is taking hours on end, disk doctor has run a few times. At the moment I'm trying to reinstall Norton 360, with intense activity having occured since 2.30pm until my return from my appointment around 4pm where I just simply powered off the laptop, then back on. I'm simply getting no where, with it constantly utilising the hard drive and it taken ages to get anything done.

gzt

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Reply # 762557 14-Feb-2013 18:35
So you think you have traced the problem to Norton 360? How about uninstalling 360 and running with MSE for a while. What model of machine do you have and how much RAM? Brand new with Windows 8 or an upgrade?

StevieT

286 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 762593 14-Feb-2013 19:34
I don't think it was Norton to begin with, but now that program is showing errors. Lets just say that whatever is writing to the disk, it is using up all the RAM. I have had to call Microsoft for help - scan disk acknowledges there are disk errors. Whatever is using up all the RAM needs to stop, quite frankly. Microsoft disabled all services at start-up, and we are now trying to get into command prompt to run scan disk. But of course, whatever is running in the background is slowing the process down.

Lias

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Reply # 762595 14-Feb-2013 19:40
scan disk acknowledges there are disk errors. Most likely your HDD is dying. Backup anything on that PC you value ASAP.

StevieT

286 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 762598 14-Feb-2013 19:42
I will say that when I wrote my post at 4.30, I was very close to throwing the laptop to the ground. It is very frustrating and I haven't been able to relax at all today - and it doesn't happen I already suffer from GAD.

StevieT

286 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 762601 14-Feb-2013 19:44
Lias: scan disk acknowledges there are disk errors. Most likely your HDD is dying. Backup anything on that PC you value ASAP. It better bloody not be. Its just over a year old... although when I purchased by Vaio in 2006 I thought I was getting a good product; turned out to be crap. Toshiba = excellent. Now Samsung = well, lets just wait and see.

gzt

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Reply # 762608 14-Feb-2013 20:06
For scan disk at least you can skip all that by using the recovery menu: command prompt "shutdown /r /o" will restart the machine into the recovery menu. Then > Troubleshoot > Advanced > Command Prompt > "chkdsk c: /offlinescanandfix" Alternatively you could use Advanced > Startup options to start in safe mode and run scandisk from there. That would also be a good place to get in and run the windows memory diagnostic. If those two come back without any hardware errors then start ~~blaming~~ thinking about software you installed and windows updates you installed and when this problem began to occur. Scan disk by itself is not likely to help but do it anyway. The file errors are probably being caused when the windows error logging process shuts down the system and interrupts whatever process[es] writing to the disk at that time. You really should start looking at what is being reported in the windows event log around this issue. [Edit: Added drive letter 'c:' to chkdsk commandline]

StevieT

286 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 762625 14-Feb-2013 20:34
gzt: For scan disk at least you can skip all that by using the recovery menu: command prompt "shutdown /r /o" will restart the machine into the recovery menu. Then > Troubleshoot > Advanced > Command Prompt > "chkdsk c: /offlinescanandfix" Alternatively you could use Advanced > Startup options to start in safe mode and run scandisk from there. That would also be a good place to get in and run the windows memory diagnostic. If those two come back without any hardware errors then start blaming thinking about software you installed and windows updates you installed and when this problem began to occur. Scan disk by itself is not likely to help but do it anyway. The file errors are probably being caused when the windows error logging process shuts down the system and interrupts whatever process[es] writing to the disk at that time. You really should start looking at what is being reported in the windows event log around this issue. [Edit: Added drive letter 'c:' to chkdsk commandline] I am now about to try the above. Will post how I get along.

gzt

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Reply # 762651 14-Feb-2013 21:22
Ok. If you want a definitive check of the physical disk surface after that run: "chkdsk c: /R". That takes hours so you might want to leave that one last, until just before bedtime. Running these from the recovery command prompt probably does not leave a record of the result in the windows event log. For that reason you may want to take a photo of the output summary of those chkdsk commands and post them here for comment.

StevieT

286 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 762652 14-Feb-2013 21:26
gzt: Ok. If you want a definitive check of the physical disk surface after that run: "chkdsk c: /R". That takes hours so you might want to leave that one last, until just before bedtime. Running these from the recovery command prompt probably does not leave a record of the result in the windows event log. For that reason you may want to take a photo of the output summary of those chkdsk commands and post them here for comment. It appears both chkdsk commands result in no errors being found.

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