High DPC's Issue (Help Requested)

[RiCK420]

I am having an issue with high DPC's (deferred procedure calls), likely caused by some driver.
I am thinking possibly the videoport.sys (from my Nvidia card) or AlesisFireWire.sys (from my Alesis MultiMix FireWire Mixer).

The symptoms I receive are CPU usage up to 100% but none of the processes use that much.
With sysinternals Process Explorer I have discovered that when the CPU goes up high, that DPC's go up to 5-15%, which still never adds up to 100% even with all applications added up, but only when the DPC's are that high do I notice this problem, which is beginning to happen more and more often lately. However, when I boot in safe mode, the problem does not occur.

I have tried KernRate, and also RATTv3. However I am unfamiliar with how to interpret the data either of these products. If someone with experience with these could assist me, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,
RiCK

[peterb]

If you boot into safe mode with the interactive option, you can chose which drivers to load, so you can try that to eliminate the one causing the problem - time consuming though.

(I am assuming that you have checked to make sure that there isn't any malware running in the background which could be using CPU resources.

If you suspect the Nvidea drivers, try uninstaling them (card should still work in basic modes) and see if the problem goes - if so re-installation 'might' solve the problem.

Other than that, not much else to suggest - a Windows 'guru' might have more ideas -- or more definite ideas. A Google search might help, or a look at the MS support site.

[Splash]

You're certain that the system processes don't add up to the 100% CPU usage? I'd be tempted to have a look at Rootkit Revealer (again from Sysinternals). That said, the fact that you don't see the problem when in Safe Mode does rather suggest it *could* be a drivers issue.

Out of interest does what does Process Explorer show rundll to be running when you have these symptoms?

[RiCK420]

Thanks I'll try Rootkit Revealer to make sure.

[RiCK420]

Ran Rootkit Reavealer and GMER, neither found anything out of ordinary.

[RiCK420]

You're certain that the system processes don't add up to the 100% CPU usage? I'd be tempted to have a look at Rootkit Revealer (again from Sysinternals). That said, the fact that you don't see the problem when in Safe Mode does rather suggest it *could* be a drivers issue.

Out of interest does what does Process Explorer show rundll to be running when you have these symptoms?

I dont see a rundll
But I do see 2x rundll32.exe which both are running at 0% usage.

[Splash]

How about svchost.exe? Which process is using the *most* cpu time?

[RiCK420]

How about svchost.exe? Which process is using the *most* cpu time?

What's using the most is continually changing but rarely over 20%

Firefox, DPC, procexp, explorer
and also system idle of course.


edit: Also I have 6 or 7 svchost, but all are running under 0%

[RiCK420]

If you boot into safe mode with the interactive option, you can chose which drivers to load, so you can try that to eliminate the one causing the problem - time consuming though.

(I am assuming that you have checked to make sure that there isn't any malware running in the background which could be using CPU resources.

If you suspect the Nvidea drivers, try uninstaling them (card should still work in basic modes) and see if the problem goes - if so re-installation 'might' solve the problem.

Other than that, not much else to suggest - a Windows 'guru' might have more ideas -- or more definite ideas. A Google search might help, or a look at the MS support site.

Tried removing all Nvidia drivers, infact am running without any right now in basic vga mode,
however after a few minutes the problem still occured. I'm going to proceed to update with the latest Nvidia drivers now, however I suspect no change, I think it must be something other than Nvidia drivers then?

[RiCK420]

Now using latest Nvidia WHQL certified ones, still suffering from the DPC / High CPU usage.
Wish I could get this worked out, makes that desktop system mostly unusable for any practical purposes.
I've been stuck on my laptop for months trying to to figure this out.