Expert: Brian Benosky - 11/14/2009

Question
I have about a month old computer.  In the last few days the CPU usage has begun to jump every ten seconds or so.  When the usage jumps it affects the function of my mouse and video streaming.  I get an error when I try to do a system restore and my DVD drive doesn't work (I get a driver error when I try to use it).  I'm using Norton, but scans don't seem to be finding a virus.  Hardware checks don't find anything wrong either.  I tried restore from an image, but, of course, I hadn't stored one yet.  Curiously, after restarting from the 'restore from image' screen the usage jumps stop (until the next time I start my computer), but I still can't restore.  I'm worried I've FUBAR'ed my new computer.

Answer
Hi Doug

I will need more information in order to determine if this is a virus.  Please download HijackThis to your desktop from here:
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/_download/HJTInstall.exe
Make sure you close EVERY open window and ALL browser windows. The only thing that should be open is the HijackThis program.
Double-click on the file you just downloaded.
Click on the "Install" button.
Upon install, HijackThis should open for you.
Should it not open, go to C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis and double click on HijackThis.exe
Choose 'Do a system scan and save a log file'.
Copy the text file which opens in Notepad and paste it in your follow-up to me.
   * Do not fix any entries in HijackThis, as they may be harmless.

Brian