why would a single applicaton max out the cpu?
 

My girlfriends computer is having problems...it seems whatever program is running at the time, it uses up the majority of the cpu..im taking from 80 100 percent. Right now I am just running spybot to see if there is any bad shit on it and its using up 99 percent.

Her computer is xp, it only has 1.25 gigs of ram but still, why would a single applicaton max out the cpu?

Run Process Explorer and see what is causing the processor to max out. Also, has it done this for a while or did it just start? Have you tried a reboot?

run task manager first to see which process is using 100% cpu time..

i will give process explorer a shot but it seems various programs use 100 of the cpu. spybot was using 100 when i was running it, windows media player was using 100 when i was running it. not sure if it just started or not as i don't use her computer. she was just complaining of something lately so i took a look.

Windows XP is famous for having very poor control over the hardware resources. If a program requires it, Windows will happily lock up or dedicate plenty of resources to running a specific program. Can be bad programming or some virus/or similar. If she uses Internet Explorer that one is famous for hogging resources like crazy, make her change to Firefox. Run Windows update (update.microsoft.com), then run Windows Error Checking (right click on the hard drive, Properties, Tools), restart and then run defragmentation. Also, make sure to have at least the double size of the RAM empty on the hard drive, to allow for the Windows swap file to use it. You can also always clean out folders like temporary internet files, C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch (all can be deleted!), C:\WINDOWS\Temp (all can be deleted!) and C:\Documents and Settings\USER (go Tools>Folder Options>Show Hidden Files and Flders) and then \Local Settings\Temp (all files can be deleted!) and go to \Local Settings\Application Data and delete the "Iconcache.db" file. Empty the trashcan. Uninstall all programs that she doesn't use!

That should take care of making the computer run a lot faster.

Next step would be to go Run > msconfig > Startup
BE CAREFUL! HERE YOU CAN MESS UP BAD!!!
Uncheck those services that you don't need to start upon startup. Safe to uncheck are services like jusched, qttask, Reader_sl, Adobe_ARM, realsched. Leave all Windows and antivius programs. Search unknown services in Google before unchecking them. Then restart the computer and it will be like new and she'll love you like never before... :)

Do not run Firefox on a computer with 1.25gb ram, it will end up making the computer sluggish and unresponsive. That was my experience with firefox until I downloaded google chrome, which is wonderful and easy on the processor. Also download ccleaner and that will clean up everything that was mentioned in the above post, plus more, all in one swipe. Kickass program and I have been using it for a couple years with no problems... Or... Walmart has some good deals around $400 on w7 computers. I got mine which has 3gb ram, w7 64 bit, 250gb hard drive, b/g/n wireless card, lightscribe dl/dvd burner, HD screen, 16" laptop for $400. Well worth the investment as I have made at least 10x cost back since I bought it.

Single application maxes out CPU... That's weird...

Maybe the CPU is outdated. I know mine (P4 2.8 ghz) is borderline obsolete.

:1orglaugh

Your GF doesn't need a Computer in the kitchen, right? -> Problem solved :thumbsup