High unkown RAM usage slowing PC down

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Josh-Sweeny

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Oct 5, 2013
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Since about an hour ago my system started becoming really slow, unable to to the simplest tasks such as browsing the internet. I checked CPU usage, around 20%. I then check the RAM usage, it is going back and forth between 97% and 98%. However when i look at the programs nothing is showing up to me as using a lot of memory ("system and compressed memory" goes as high as 150MB). I turn off the pc and leave it for about an hour and come back first thing i do before opening any program (steam and origin automatically come on and i havnt had any problems with them the past 3 years theyve been on the pc) is check RAM usage, it is still 98% and the pc is slow. i dont know what to do now as i can barely do anything

SSD usage is also at 100% if that helps
 
Solution
Redneck5439
Check your task manager and see if you can find a process or processes using lots of RAM, if you do please post what those processes are. With you SSD also at 100% the very first thing I would do is download and run Malwarebytes. Download it from official website, install it, update it, run custom scan and select the drive where you have your OS installed (usually C) and run it. A lot of times when something like that happens out of the blue and is utilizing a ton of system resources you have a Malware infection or possibly a lot of PUPs (potentially unwanted programs that install without your knowledge when your downloading something else) using up system resources. I'm not going to lie to you, with your RAM usage that high and...
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Redneck5439

Redneck5439

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Aug 21, 2015
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Check your task manager and see if you can find a process or processes using lots of RAM, if you do please post what those processes are. With you SSD also at 100% the very first thing I would do is download and run Malwarebytes. Download it from official website, install it, update it, run custom scan and select the drive where you have your OS installed (usually C) and run it. A lot of times when something like that happens out of the blue and is utilizing a ton of system resources you have a Malware infection or possibly a lot of PUPs (potentially unwanted programs that install without your knowledge when your downloading something else) using up system resources. I'm not going to lie to you, with your RAM usage that high and your SSD at 100% its going to take time (probably overnight to run the scan) when it is done remove any PUP or Malware it finds, then you can cross Malware off the list of possibilities.

It may also be beneficial to know what OS you are running. Sometimes strange things happen when programs are carried from Windows 7 or 8 over to Windows 10. After updating its always best to back up important information and do a complete clean install of the OS.
 
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Josh-Sweeny

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Oct 5, 2013
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Just so you know i was using task manager and the largest task was "system and compressed memory" which peaked at 150MB if my 8GB of RAM, so i didnt know what was using the memory. I also ran a lot of malware scanning software and it didnt really help as not many high risk items were being found. I then restarted my pc for the 4th time after the last program finished and the problem seemed to be fixed. I dont know what i had changed, it seemed likeit randomly decided to stop. I will probably have to make another thread if the problem comes back but its back to normal for now.

 
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Redneck5439

Redneck5439

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Aug 21, 2015
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It could have very well been a malware infection. A lot of very smart people for some reason I can't fathom spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to make someone else's computer run like ****. Hopefully that is all that it was and your good to go now.

Keep in mind also that if you recently updated to Windows 10, like many have, the best thing to do AFTER updating through Windows Update is to do a clean install. Clean install will ensure you don't have any conflicting stuff carried over from your old OS (ie outdated drivers, program and file fragments, ect). I have seen a lot of people recently reporting high CPU or RAM usage after the update, and in fact experienced it myself. The only thing that really fixed the issue 100% was to do a full clean install after backing up my important files. Even if you don't want to make the leap to Windows 10 sometimes nothing beats backing up important files formatting the drive and doing a full clean install (although if your going to go that route it would be a good time to update to Windows 10 - through Windows Update so you license is carried over, then do a full clean install of the OS).

Best of luck to you!!
 
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