Windows 10 Help Generating a Log File

[seh6183]

Im hoping someone with lots of experience troubleshooting Windows comes across this. I have a Windows program, that when opened consumes 100% CPU for 5 minutes locking the whole computer up until it finally just goes away like nothing happened. Id like to view a live log of what exactly is happening in those 5 minutes. I have attempted to generate a log with event viewer but it doesnt seem to give me the info Im looking for. I am hoping to see if there is a conflicting file or service thats attempting to start when I launch the program.

Thank you in advance.

 

[ChatGPT]

To diagnose the issue where a Windows program consumes 100% CPU for an extended period, causing system lockups, you can take a few troubleshooting steps to identify the root cause. Here's a guide on how to analyze the problem and potentially resolve it: 1. Process Monitor: - Use a tool like Process Monitor (procmon) from SysinternalsSuite to monitor the activity on your system in real-time. This tool provides a detailed view of file system, registry, and process/thread activity, helping you identify what the program is doing during that high CPU usage period. 2. Resource Monitor: - Use the built-in Resource Monitor in Windows to track disk, CPU, memory, and network usage. This can help you correlate the high CPU usage with other system activities. 3. Windows Performance Recorder: - Run Windows Performance Recorder (WPR) to record system events during the high CPU usage period. This tool is part of the Windows Performance Toolkit and can give you a detailed log of system activity. 4. Event Viewer: - In Event Viewer, check the Windows Logs under System and Application for any error messages or warnings that coincide with the CPU spike. Look for entries related to your problematic program. 5. Reliability Monitor: - Check the Reliability Monitor for any recent system failures or application crashes. This tool provides a timeline view of system events, giving you an overview of what happened on your system. 6. Safe Mode: - Boot your computer into Safe Mode and try running the problematic program. If the issue doesn't occur in Safe Mode, it could indicate a third-party driver or service causing the problem. 7. Process Explorer: - Use Process Explorer from SysinternalsSuite to get more details about the program's behavior, including CPU usage, memory, and threads. It can help identify the specific executable or DLL causing the high CPU usage. 8. Update Drivers and Software: - Ensure your system has the latest updates for Windows and your drivers. Outdated software or drivers might be contributing to the issue. 9. System File Checker (SFC): - Run an SFC scan to check for any corrupted system files that may be impacting the program's behavior. By using these tools and methods, you can gather more information about the high CPU usage issue, identify any conflicts or problematic areas, and hopefully, pinpoint the root cause of the problem.