Slow computer -- High CPU usage

Question

Level 1

85 points

Slow computer -- High CPU usage

OK here's the specs of my computer:

G4 933Mhz, 1.5Gb Ram 80Gb internal HD, but booting from a 250Gb external firewire

Now the problem. My CPU usage in Activity monitor gets close to 100% system usage after a few hours even if I don't have more than a couple of programs running. I do notice that pmTool and Kernel_task are eating up the majority of the CPU cycles though. When I boot from the internal it happens as well, but to a much lesser extent.

I did an archive and install of the 10.4 on the firewire and the problem still exists. Current system is 10.4.8.

Any ideas how to stop this? It appears that this problem started about a month ago and the only piece of software that's been updated since then has been Skype and Second Life.

Eric

933Mhz G4, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Oct 28, 2006 9:42 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Oct 28, 2006 10:08 AM in response to Saundhaus

Suggest you start looking for applications that may be causing the problem such as anti-virus programs and any other applications you are running. These can also include add-on utilities.

Without any more information than you've provided this is about the best I can offer.

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Answer 2

Saundhaus Author

Level 1

85 points

Oct 28, 2006 11:00 AM in response to Kappy

I have been looking at applications that might be eating up the processor and the only one that's doing it is the System right now. Restarting seems to help. I've been running for a couple of hours since the last restart and my current stats are 16% User and about 20%-60% System. pmTool seems to be the hog at the moment at 22.5% Kernel_task is only at about 6% though.

Any more information you'd like that could help to diagnose the problem let me know and I'll provide it. here's the current console log if that might help:

Mac OS X Version 10.4.8 (Build 8L127)
2006-10-28 09:23:15 -0700
FATAL: The database system is starting up
LOG: database system is ready
2006-10-28 09:23:26.521 loginwindow[91] FSResolveAliasWithMountFlags returned err = -43
2006-10-28 09:23:28.716 MediaCentral Launcher[233] http://datapump.equinux.com/channel/Component+Update?creatorCode=MedC&version=12 130&uniqueId=XB20401LM8G
2006-10-28 09:23:35.370 SystemUIServer[216]
MenuCracker
see http://sourceforge.net/projects/menucracker
MenuCracker is now loaded. Ready to accept new menus. Ignore the failure message that follow.
2006-10-28 09:23:35.383 SystemUIServer[216] failed to load Menu Extra: NSBundle </Applications/iClock Folder/iClock 2.app/Contents/Resources/MenuCracker.menu> (loaded)
Oct 28 09:23:45 video mDNSResponder: NAT Port Mapping (LLQ event port.): timeout
Unsafe JavaScript attempt to access frame with URL http://www.sfgate.com/ from frame with URL http://view.atdmt.com/NYC/iview/sfgtxstw1840000732nyc/direct;wi.160;hi.600/01&74 3552460?click=http://oascentral.sfgate.com/RealMedia/ads/clicklx.ads/www.sfgate.com/main/743552460/Position2/SFGate/sttarwood_ttl_rch_1028_102 9_06/Starwood_Total_Reach_Sky101106.html/34353661666339633432383432343230?. Domains must match.
Unsafe JavaScript attempt to access frame with URL http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/10/28/MNGD7M1UNL1.DTL from frame with URL http://view.atdmt.com/NYC/iview/sfgtxstw1840000726nyc/direct;wi.728;hi.90/01&132 643488?click=http://oascentral.sfgate.com/RealMedia/ads/clicklx.ads/www.sfgate.com/news/article/132643488/Top2/SFGate/sttarwood_ttl_rch_1028_ 1029_06/Starwood_Total_Reach_Leaderboard101106.html/34353661666339633432383432343230?. Domains must match.
[303] http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/10/28/MNGD7M1UNN1.DTL:T ypeError - Undefined value
Oct 28 09:37:29 video /usr/sbin/ocspd: starting
2006-10-28 10:04:38.004 TransmitSync[341] Sycning with identifier: com.panic.TransmitSync.Favorites
2006-10-28 10:04:38.005 TransmitSync[341] Was told to sync entity names: (
"com.panic.transmit.favorites.Collection",
"com.panic.transmit.favorites.Favorite"
)
2006-10-28 10:12:05.225 Translator[349] Invoked to sync conduit com.apple.Safari for entityNames: com.apple.bookmarks.Folder,com.apple.bookmarks.Bookmark
2006-10-28 10:42:15.385 SyndicationAgent[372] WARNING: BestCalendarDateFromString - can't interpret: '28 Oct 2006 13:12:00 EDT'
Main starting
2006-10-28 10:51:44.210 Skype[385] Logging to /Users/Video/Library/Application Support/Skype/Logs/skydebug-20061028-1051.log
2006-10-28 10:51:44.407 Skype[385] NSWindow does not support utility styleMask 0x10
2006-10-28 10:51:45.027 Skype[385] CFLog (0): CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): Old-style plist parser: missing semicolon in dictionary.
2006-10-28 10:51:45.029 Skype[385] CFLog (0): CFPropertyListCreateFromXMLData(): The file name for this data might be (or it might not): /Users/Video/Desktop/Skype.app/Contents/Resources/SkypeEvents.plist
[303] http://secondlife.com/scripts/_flashdetect02.vbs:SyntaxError - Parse error

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Oct 28, 2006 1:14 PM in response to Saundhaus

I suggest you create a new user account. Log into the new account. Check CPU usage with Activity Monitor. If it's "normal" then start adding your typically loaded software one at a time observing the changes in Activity Monitor. When it starts to spike you'll have the culrit.

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Answer 4

Saundhaus Author

Level 1

85 points

Oct 29, 2006 1:42 PM in response to Kappy

Kappy,

Did that still a problem. I think I might have figured out the problem though. I was told that Skype is having a problem with the latest release hogging CPU time and Second Life seems to do this as well. My current solution is to log out and log back in when the computer gets slow and hope that they fix the problems with these two apps.

Eric

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Answer 5

Kevin Horn

Level 4

1,836 points

Oct 29, 2006 6:20 PM in response to Saundhaus

I have been looking at applications that might be
eating up the processor and the only one that's doing
it is the System right now. Restarting seems to help.
I've been running for a couple of hours since the
last restart and my current stats are 16% User and
about 20%-60% System. pmTool seems to be the hog at
the moment at 22.5% Kernel_task is only at about 6%
though.

What Kappy means is not an app that will show up in Activity Monitor, because clearly nothing is, but an app can be causing Kernel Task and other system functions to go crazy. Sounds like something is building up processes over time. This is most likely an app that is functioning full time in the background.

MenuCracker
see http://sourceforge.net/projects/menucracker
MenuCracker is now loaded.

That could be your problem right there, this is a system hack, normally used for placing Application icons in the upper right menu and generally not a good idea. Do you know what it's being used for?

Kevin
http://bearbyte.blogspot.com/

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Answer 6

Saundhaus Author

Level 1

85 points

Oct 29, 2006 9:37 PM in response to Kevin Horn

Regarding Menucracker I have no idea what installed it. Of all the things in the upper right they're all Apple except for Skype Status, Kensington's Shuttle Pro and an menu "widget" for opening up your superdrive when the key doesn't work.

If I could find a way to unload it or who it belongs to I'd be happy.

Eric

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Answer 7

Kevin Horn

Level 4

1,836 points

Oct 29, 2006 9:47 PM in response to Saundhaus

It could easily belong to either Skype or Shuttle Pro. Try searching documentation or their web sites.

Kevin

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Answer 8

Saundhaus Author

Level 1

85 points

Oct 29, 2006 10:01 PM in response to Kevin Horn

MenuCracker isn't the culprit because it was installed by iClock i've discovered and that's been installed for a long time.

I think that the culprit may indeed be Skype and/or Second Life on this computer because there are known issues with Skype hogging CPU time (and this started with v1.5) and there are a lot of problems with SL's new version that came out last Wednesday which might just compound a few of the problems as well.

Eric

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Answer 9

Saundhaus Author

Level 1

85 points

Nov 4, 2006 9:37 AM in response to Saundhaus

OK Skype and Second Life aren't the problem because I've uninstalled both and left the computer on over night and it has slowed to a crawl in the morning. I've repaired permissions and checked the disk with Disk Warrior and it's fine so now I'm back at the beginning.

Eric

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