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cpu usage 100% always

robecq

robecq

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 21, 2006
118
0
Denmark
My powerbook has been getting extra hot recently so I check my activity monitor and discovered that finder was using up all available cpu, heat the machine like crazy. If I quit finder thru activity monitor, cpu usage drops to 10%. If I launch finder again, up goes the cpu usage to 100% again? why is this happening and can I stop it?
cheers
 
robecq said:
My powerbook has been getting extra hot recently so I check my activity monitor and discovered that finder was using up all available cpu, heat the machine like crazy. If I quit finder thru activity monitor, cpu usage drops to 10%. If I launch finder again, up goes the cpu usage to 100% again? why is this happening and can I stop it?
cheers
Click to expand...

your not running any antivirus software, such as norton with auto-protect enabled are you? That can run in the background constantly scanning for viruses.
 
robecq said:
My powerbook has been getting extra hot recently so I check my activity monitor and discovered that finder was using up all available cpu, heat the machine like crazy. If I quit finder thru activity monitor, cpu usage drops to 10%. If I launch finder again, up goes the cpu usage to 100% again? why is this happening and can I stop it?
cheers
Click to expand...


details on the machine?
which powerbook?
how much RAM
which system osx?

have you run 'disk utility' and checked the preference files? lately?
 
sorry,

pb 12" 1.33 768meg ram 60gb hd os 10.3.9
running disk utilites now
Preference files? where is this
no antivirus
 
runplaysleeprun said:
your not running any antivirus software, such as norton with auto-protect enabled are you? That can run in the background constantly scanning for viruses.
Click to expand...

yea it sounds like you have a process running in the background. More system info would be helpful, though...
 
act1.jpg

here it is with finder running at 85% and my computer not doing much
 
this is weird, Id like to see how this problems is resolved.

id say it was Spotlight or some other background process, but its the Finder itself!?
 
robecq said:
sorry,

pb 12" 1.33 768meg ram 60gb hd os 10.3.9
running disk utilites now
Preference files? where is this
no antivirus
Click to expand...

it's really hard to say without being right there looking at it. Why don't you try this:

re-start the machine, holding down simultaneously the Option key, the Apple key, and the letters "P" and "R"

keep holding down the keys until you hear the startup chime 4 times. After the fourth chime, release the keys and let the machine boot.

this will reset the PRAM, which might kill whatever process the Finder thinks it should be running.
 
try two things:

1 restart your computer. this often (not always, but often) clears up any issues.
2 repair disk permissions (Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility > Repair Disk Permissions)
 
You could try your Login Items in User Accounts. Also third party software that are set to check for updates might be culprits. Also try reparing permissions using the restore disks disk utility....this way more things can be fixed as the OS partition wont be in use. Resetting PRAM/NVRAM or even PMU might help. If all else fails re-install the OS
 
I've cleared the pram, no luck.
I've archived and reinstalled os x. still no luck
does this mean something else is causing finder to use all remaining cpu?
any suggustions on how to fix or what the problem might be??
 
Are you using any Finder/GUI hacks?

Does this problem follow you if you log in as another user (create one if need be)?
 
created another user, log on and presto problem solved! logged back on and problem is back. whats the next step?
 
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