Re: 70% CPU Usage Due to Hardware Interrupt Conflicts

Bert,

Here's a link to my latest reply:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroups/reader.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.windowsxp.general&mid=2675ee21-0710-4d61-bda7-bb08abbb81ff&sloc=en-us

"Bert Kinney" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I would suggest looking for updated usb drivers from Dell.
> http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
>
> --
> Regards,
> Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
> http://bertk.mvps.org
>
>
> TZar wrote:
> > The short version:
> > My Dell Dimension 8250 with an "as shipped" configuration
> > has a Hardware Interrupt issue which constantly keeps the
> > CPU 70% utilized (as measured by Windows Task Manager)
> > even with no applications/processes actively utilizing
> > the CPU (also as measured by Windows Task Manager).
> > Device Manager shows no apparent hardware conflicts, but
> > a process management tool (Process Manager by
> > Sysinternals) shows that the 70% background CPU
> > utilization is caused by Hardware Interrupts. The
> > details on my devices and associated IRQs are listed
> > further down in this post. Can anyone advise as to how
> > to resolve the interrupt issue and free up the CPU?
> >
> > The Long Version:
> > For several weeks, I've been trying to debug an issue
> > with very slow system performance and constant high CPU
> > usage. I have tried everything from multiple anti-virus
> > tools, multiple anti-adware tools, system restore, using
> > alternate hardware profiles to temporarily disable
> > potentially conflicting devices, MSconfig to temporarily
> > turn off non-essential services and applications, XP
> > recovery console, the MS User Profile Hive clean-up tool,
> > Dell Diagnostics, clearing NVRAM, XP repair install, and
> > eventually a full XP re-install. Nothing has corrected
> > the problem. Prior to the re-install, I was on Service
> > Pack 2 and was fully up to date with any XP updates.
> >
> > With this problem, Windows Task Manager shows conflicting
> > results. The overall CPU usage is always over 70% (as
> > reflected in the lower status bar, in the "Performance"
> > tab, and in the system tray icon of Task Manager),
> > however the at the same time Task Manager "Processes" tab
> > shows that the system is 99% idle (System Idle Process
> > for the CPU is 99%, with no other processes showing any
> > CPU usage over 1%).
> >
> > In addition to the CPU utilization issue, before the XP
> > reinstall, I also had a "blue screen"
> > Driver_IRQL_Not_Less_or_Equal stop error.
> >
> > I recently found a tool (Process Manager by Sysinternals)
> > which is similar to Windows Task Manager, which
> > identifies the hidden CPU usage. It identifies that the
> > 70% CPU usage is being consumed by Hardware Interrupts.
> >
> > To simplify the debugging, for the XP re-install, I
> > disconnected any peripherals (e.g. printer, DSL Modem,
> > wireless router) that did not come with the original
> > configuration. I also disconnected the Dazzle Mojave
> > device, but left the associated card in the slot. These
> > were part of a standard Dell "Movie Studio Premium"
> > package.
> >
> > After the re-install, although several devices share the
> > same IRQs, Device Manager shows no apparent hardware
> > conflicts (other than a missing driver for the Multimedia
> > controller resulting from having the Dazzle Mojave device
> > unplugged).
> >
> > I have a Dell Dimension 8250 with the following PCI
> > devices which could be causing the Hardware Interrupt
> > conflict:
> >
> > IRQ 10:
> > - Multimedia Controller (supporting the Mojave Dazzle
> > Device which came with the Dell "Movie Studio Premium"
> > package)
> >
> > IRQ 11:
> > - Intel 82801BA/BAM SMBus Controller 2443
> >
> > IRQ 16:
> > - 64MB DDR NVidia GeForce4 MX 420 w/ TV Out (Dell)
> > - VIA USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
> >
> > IRQ 17:
> > - Conexant HSF v.92 56 RTAD Speakerphone PCI Modem
> > - VIA Rev5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
> >
> > IRQ 18:
> > - Intel Pro/100M Network Connection
> > - Santa Cruz (Voyetra Turtle Beach sound card)
> > - VIA Rev5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
> > - VIA Rev5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
> >
> > IRQ 19:
> > - Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host
> > Controller (also supporting the Mojave Dazzle Device
> > which came with the "Movie Studio Premium" package)
> > - VIA Rev5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
> > - VIA USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
> >
> > The entire configuration that I am working with for the
> > debugging is "as shipped" originally. The only exception
> > is that I unplugged the external Dazzle Mojave device
> > when doing the XP re-install, and tried to add it in
> > later. After the re-install, with the Dazzle Mojave
> > device disconnected, I got rid of the
> > Driver_IRQL_Not_Less_or_Equal stop error, but I still had
> > the CPU utilization issue. When I reconnected the Dazzle
> > Mojave device, I get a Driver_IRQL_Not_Less_or_Equal stop
> > error back. I also used the latest driver for this
> > device from the Dell website for the Movie Studio
> > package.
> >
> > I've used alternate hardware profiles to selectively
> > disable potentially offending devices through Device
> > Manager,. The only thing that stops the CPU consumption
> > is systematically disabling the USB Root Hubs first, and
> > then disabling the USB controllers. That stops the CPU
> > consumption; however it renders my USB ports inoperable,
> > and upon re-boot the system hangs.
> >
> > One final note: my BIOS is upgraded to the most recent
> > version. BIOS setup shows different IRQs for the PCI
> > devices than the IRQs shown in Device Manager.
> >
> > My gut tells me that the problem is with the components
> > of the Dell "Movie Studio Premium" package. I've
> > systematically disabled, via Device Manager, all the
> > components associated with it but I still have the CPU
> > utilization issue. I will probably try to uninstall them
> > via Device Manager and/or try removing the card from the
> > slot next to see if that resolves it.
> >
> > Before taking this final step, any recommendations or
> > advice would be greatly appreciated. This debugging
> > process has been an excellent learning tool for me to
> > find obscure techniques in an attempt to resolve it, but
> > I'm ready for it to be over!!
> >
> > Any help would be greatly appreciated!
> >
> > Thanks!
>
>
>
.

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