Problem with Dell 8200: Fan spikes CPU to 100% when using ..

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

I would REALLY appreciate some help with this. I spoke to a person
from Dell for over an hour, all he managed to do was to really screw
up my computer. I had to get the memory wiped and the problem STILL
is there.

My System

Dell 8200 Inspiron
I'm running XP Professional

The exact problem: About 10 minutes into using my computer the fan
kicks in (it is VERY loud actually)

If I happen to be using the modem the CPU will spike up to close to
100% (which I view with a ctl-alt-del), interestingly it does not
remain there if I am NOT on the internet. Of course with 100% CPU
used my connection generally shuts down or at best goes so slowly that
it is pretty useless. As I am a professor and need to be in contact
with my students this has been driving me crazy.

I am pretty much a novice (although I can generally follow directions
well) so please pass along your help in layman's terms.

I greatly appreciate your help-remember the life you save maybe my
computers.

Cheers and thanks in advance.

Doug Stemke

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Well, I'd guess you have a WinModem, where the CPU does most of the work, as
opposed to a Hardware modem where the modem itself does the work.
Therefore, 100% CPU, hot cpu, fan.

Replace it with a cheap hardware modem or, better yet, get broadband.

Tom
"Argo" <stemked@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:b8c22c34.0405110603.5333ca5b@posting.google.com...
> I would REALLY appreciate some help with this. I spoke to a person
> from Dell for over an hour, all he managed to do was to really screw
> up my computer. I had to get the memory wiped and the problem STILL
> is there.
>
> My System
>
> Dell 8200 Inspiron
> I'm running XP Professional
>
> The exact problem: About 10 minutes into using my computer the fan
> kicks in (it is VERY loud actually)
>
> If I happen to be using the modem the CPU will spike up to close to
> 100% (which I view with a ctl-alt-del), interestingly it does not
> remain there if I am NOT on the internet. Of course with 100% CPU
> used my connection generally shuts down or at best goes so slowly that
> it is pretty useless. As I am a professor and need to be in contact
> with my students this has been driving me crazy.
>
> I am pretty much a novice (although I can generally follow directions
> well) so please pass along your help in layman's terms.
>
> I greatly appreciate your help-remember the life you save maybe my
> computers.
>
> Cheers and thanks in advance.
>
> Doug Stemke

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

On Tue, 11 May 2004 16:21:09 -0400, "Tom Scales" <tomtoo@softhome.net>
wrote:

>Well, I'd guess you have a WinModem, where the CPU does most of the work, as
>opposed to a Hardware modem where the modem itself does the work.
>Therefore, 100% CPU, hot cpu, fan.
>
>Replace it with a cheap hardware modem or, better yet, get broadband.

Or another possibility: your computer has become infected with a virus
(such as the recent Sasser worm) which only springs into action,
searching for new victims, when you are connected to the Internet.

If you have a virus checker, make sure it's virus signature database is
up to date. If you don't have one, get one. Also make sure your
computer has all of the security patches installed (go to
Start/Programs/Windows Update).

Jeff Bean

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Tom Scales" <tomtoo@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:N_mdnc1f3P8xqDzdRVn-ug@comcast.com...
> Well, I'd guess you have a WinModem, where the CPU does most of the work,
as
> opposed to a Hardware modem where the modem itself does the work.
> Therefore, 100% CPU, hot cpu, fan.
>
> Replace it with a cheap hardware modem or, better yet, get broadband.
>

That's not very helpful. It's a laptop and presumably the guy wants to
use it with the internal modem rather than lug around an external. Further,
he might be using it at assorted locations (such as office and home) where
he might not have access to anything but Plain Old Telephone Service. I have
broadband at home, 1x cellualr data service, but still find the need to use
POTS. Perhaps he is in the same boat.

I have an Inspiron 8200 and can say that this behavior is abnormal when
using the internal modem, but unfortunately, I don't know what to suggest as
the problem. Perhaps if the poster could provide some info on what's running
when the CPU hits 100%. You can do a control-alt-delete and see what's
running under the processes tab. The might give a clue as to what the
culprit is.

When you say you got the memory wiped, does that mean you formatted the
hard drive and re-installed Windows?

Have you run the Dell Diagnositics? That could indicate if there is a
hardware problem. So far, when I have had a hardware issue, Dell has been
decent about it, espcially if their diagnostics program indicated a fault. A
copy of it should have come with the laptop.


--
Thomas M. Goethe



> Tom
> "Argo" <stemked@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:b8c22c34.0405110603.5333ca5b@posting.google.com...
> > I would REALLY appreciate some help with this. I spoke to a person
> > from Dell for over an hour, all he managed to do was to really screw
> > up my computer. I had to get the memory wiped and the problem STILL
> > is there.
> >
> > My System
> >
> > Dell 8200 Inspiron
> > I'm running XP Professional
> >
> > The exact problem: About 10 minutes into using my computer the fan
> > kicks in (it is VERY loud actually)
> >
> > If I happen to be using the modem the CPU will spike up to close to
> > 100% (which I view with a ctl-alt-del), interestingly it does not
> > remain there if I am NOT on the internet. Of course with 100% CPU
> > used my connection generally shuts down or at best goes so slowly that
> > it is pretty useless. As I am a professor and need to be in contact
> > with my students this has been driving me crazy.
> >
> > I am pretty much a novice (although I can generally follow directions
> > well) so please pass along your help in layman's terms.
> >
> > I greatly appreciate your help-remember the life you save maybe my
> > computers.
> >
> > Cheers and thanks in advance.
> >
> > Doug Stemke
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

You're right. For some reason, I read "Dimension 8200" when it said
"Inspiron 8200". Bad advice on my part, sorry.

Tom
"Thomas M. Goethe" <goethe11@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:2gdd0kF1jqrdU1@uni-berlin.de...
> "Tom Scales" <tomtoo@softhome.net> wrote in message
> news:N_mdnc1f3P8xqDzdRVn-ug@comcast.com...
> > Well, I'd guess you have a WinModem, where the CPU does most of the
work,
> as
> > opposed to a Hardware modem where the modem itself does the work.
> > Therefore, 100% CPU, hot cpu, fan.
> >
> > Replace it with a cheap hardware modem or, better yet, get broadband.
> >
>
> That's not very helpful. It's a laptop and presumably the guy wants to
> use it with the internal modem rather than lug around an external.
Further,
> he might be using it at assorted locations (such as office and home) where
> he might not have access to anything but Plain Old Telephone Service. I
have
> broadband at home, 1x cellualr data service, but still find the need to
use
> POTS. Perhaps he is in the same boat.
>
> I have an Inspiron 8200 and can say that this behavior is abnormal
when
> using the internal modem, but unfortunately, I don't know what to suggest
as
> the problem. Perhaps if the poster could provide some info on what's
running
> when the CPU hits 100%. You can do a control-alt-delete and see what's
> running under the processes tab. The might give a clue as to what the
> culprit is.
>
> When you say you got the memory wiped, does that mean you formatted
the
> hard drive and re-installed Windows?
>
> Have you run the Dell Diagnositics? That could indicate if there is a
> hardware problem. So far, when I have had a hardware issue, Dell has been
> decent about it, espcially if their diagnostics program indicated a fault.
A
> copy of it should have come with the laptop.
>
>
> --
> Thomas M. Goethe
>
>
>
> > Tom
> > "Argo" <stemked@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > news:b8c22c34.0405110603.5333ca5b@posting.google.com...
> > > I would REALLY appreciate some help with this. I spoke to a person
> > > from Dell for over an hour, all he managed to do was to really screw
> > > up my computer. I had to get the memory wiped and the problem STILL
> > > is there.
> > >
> > > My System
> > >
> > > Dell 8200 Inspiron
> > > I'm running XP Professional
> > >
> > > The exact problem: About 10 minutes into using my computer the fan
> > > kicks in (it is VERY loud actually)
> > >
> > > If I happen to be using the modem the CPU will spike up to close to
> > > 100% (which I view with a ctl-alt-del), interestingly it does not
> > > remain there if I am NOT on the internet. Of course with 100% CPU
> > > used my connection generally shuts down or at best goes so slowly that
> > > it is pretty useless. As I am a professor and need to be in contact
> > > with my students this has been driving me crazy.
> > >
> > > I am pretty much a novice (although I can generally follow directions
> > > well) so please pass along your help in layman's terms.
> > >
> > > I greatly appreciate your help-remember the life you save maybe my
> > > computers.
> > >
> > > Cheers and thanks in advance.
> > >
> > > Doug Stemke
> >
> >
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Tom Scales" <tomtoo@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:48ydnfb57tGmczzd4p2dnA@comcast.com...
> You're right. For some reason, I read "Dimension 8200" when it said
> "Inspiron 8200". Bad advice on my part, sorry.
>

And you would be right on that one, Winmodems are bad juju. There's not
much choice with laptops, alas.


--
Thomas M. Goethe


> "Thomas M. Goethe" <goethe11@lycos.com> wrote in message
> news:2gdd0kF1jqrdU1@uni-berlin.de...
> > "Tom Scales" <tomtoo@softhome.net> wrote in message
> > news:N_mdnc1f3P8xqDzdRVn-ug@comcast.com...
> > > Well, I'd guess you have a WinModem, where the CPU does most of the
> work,
> > as
> > > opposed to a Hardware modem where the modem itself does the work.
> > > Therefore, 100% CPU, hot cpu, fan.
> > >
> > > Replace it with a cheap hardware modem or, better yet, get broadband.
> > >
> >
> > That's not very helpful. It's a laptop and presumably the guy wants
to
> > use it with the internal modem rather than lug around an external.
> Further,
> > he might be using it at assorted locations (such as office and home)
where
> > he might not have access to anything but Plain Old Telephone Service. I
> have
> > broadband at home, 1x cellualr data service, but still find the need to
> use
> > POTS. Perhaps he is in the same boat.
> >
> > I have an Inspiron 8200 and can say that this behavior is abnormal
> when
> > using the internal modem, but unfortunately, I don't know what to
suggest
> as
> > the problem. Perhaps if the poster could provide some info on what's
> running
> > when the CPU hits 100%. You can do a control-alt-delete and see what's
> > running under the processes tab. The might give a clue as to what the
> > culprit is.
> >
> > When you say you got the memory wiped, does that mean you formatted
> the
> > hard drive and re-installed Windows?
> >
> > Have you run the Dell Diagnositics? That could indicate if there is
a
> > hardware problem. So far, when I have had a hardware issue, Dell has
been
> > decent about it, espcially if their diagnostics program indicated a
fault.
> A
> > copy of it should have come with the laptop.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Thomas M. Goethe
> >
> >
> >
> > > Tom
> > > "Argo" <stemked@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > > news:b8c22c34.0405110603.5333ca5b@posting.google.com...
> > > > I would REALLY appreciate some help with this. I spoke to a person
> > > > from Dell for over an hour, all he managed to do was to really screw
> > > > up my computer. I had to get the memory wiped and the problem STILL
> > > > is there.
> > > >
> > > > My System
> > > >
> > > > Dell 8200 Inspiron
> > > > I'm running XP Professional
> > > >
> > > > The exact problem: About 10 minutes into using my computer the fan
> > > > kicks in (it is VERY loud actually)
> > > >
> > > > If I happen to be using the modem the CPU will spike up to close to
> > > > 100% (which I view with a ctl-alt-del), interestingly it does not
> > > > remain there if I am NOT on the internet. Of course with 100% CPU
> > > > used my connection generally shuts down or at best goes so slowly
that
> > > > it is pretty useless. As I am a professor and need to be in contact
> > > > with my students this has been driving me crazy.
> > > >
> > > > I am pretty much a novice (although I can generally follow
directions
> > > > well) so please pass along your help in layman's terms.
> > > >
> > > > I greatly appreciate your help-remember the life you save maybe my
> > > > computers.
> > > >
> > > > Cheers and thanks in advance.
> > > >
> > > > Doug Stemke
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Again I really appreciate your help everyone.


To the requested question:

* When you say you got the memory wiped, does that mean you
formatted the
hard drive and re-installed Windows?

Yes. I had a professional (not associated with Dell) do the
reformatting.

* Have you run the Dell Diagnositics?

Yes with the Dell technician. However since I only have one phone in
the house I couldn't do it in real time with the tech. And, no, it
didn't pickup anything.

* That could indicate if there is a hardware problem.

I'm sure it must be so. Facing what has happened so far, is the next
logical step to get a new fan or modem? Is this something I'll need to
send the computer off to Dell for?

Thanks again Y'all.

Doug

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

PS. Please forgive my delay time it responding to your advice. As I
don't have a useable internet computer at home I'm doing this at work.
Thanks again for your help.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Argo" <stemked@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:b8c22c34.0405120622.1706c428@posting.google.com...
> Again I really appreciate your help everyone.
>
>
> To the requested question:
>
> * When you say you got the memory wiped, does that mean you
> formatted the
> hard drive and re-installed Windows?
>
> Yes. I had a professional (not associated with Dell) do the
> reformatting.

Ah, that probably eliminates the software issue. Did the tech install
all of the Dell drivers? This also should have eliminated virus or worm
issues. I presume he installed all of the Windows updates and you are
running an anti-virus program with current definitions.

>
> * Have you run the Dell Diagnositics?
>
> Yes with the Dell technician. However since I only have one phone in
> the house I couldn't do it in real time with the tech. And, no, it
> didn't pickup anything.

There could still be a hardware issue, but the diagnostics should have
picked it up.

>
> * That could indicate if there is a hardware problem.
>
> I'm sure it must be so. Facing what has happened so far, is the next
> logical step to get a new fan or modem? Is this something I'll need to
> send the computer off to Dell for?

The fan should not be an issue. It just follows orders to turn on when
things get hot. The modem is part of the motherboard. Do you know if you
have the right drivers installed for it? I presume it worked fine and then
started having problems.

` As to how it gets fixed, that depends on what sort of warranty you
have. I paid extra and got the onsite warranty so that the guy came out and
replaced the motherboard when mine was bad. Some warranties require you to
send it in, assuming it is a hardware issue. If it is software, they will
wnat you to reload it. I wish I could be more specific.


--
Thomas M. Goethe

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

stemked@yahoo.com (Argo) wrote in message news:<b8c22c34.0405120625.53459e3a@posting.google.com>...
> PS. Please forgive my delay time it responding to your advice. As I
> don't have a useable internet computer at home I'm doing this at work.
> Thanks again for your help.

*Did the tech install all of the Dell drivers?

I think so. However again the problem existed pre and post the techs
work. And yes, all worm/virus software is up to date. It certainly
sounds to me like a modem problem. Again this is my first laptop (my
old PC I used to yank cards out all the time). I had been reading
here that Dell fans are bad, and mine is actually very noisy. To get a
new modem and presumably fan, can I get anyone to take care of this or
is this going to be a Dell-only fix? I'm going to have to read
through my warrantee to see if this is still covered.

Thanks again 100% for all the words of wisdom. I still have some hope
for my computer.

Cheers,

Doug