Hi My Dell Inspiron 1150 laptop has developed a problem with the CPU continually running at 100% to the point where the overheat protection cuts in after 1 hour and shuts the computer down. It is running Windows XP SP2 with the Dell patch downloaded and installed to fix compatibility.

Following is my HijackThis print out - could really do with some help :

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 13:50:34, on 21/06/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16674)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\BCMSMMSG.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\quickset.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\DSentry.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\Media Experience\PCMService.exe
C:\Program Files\D-Link\DSL-200\dslstat.exe
C:\Program Files\D-Link\DSL-200\dslagent.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
C:\Program Files\NETGEAR\WG511\Utility\WG511WLU.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe
C:\Program Files\NewSoft\Smart Start UP\PnPDetect.exe
C:\WINDOWS\tsnp2std.exe
C:\WINDOWS\vsnp2std.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxsrvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\DELLSU~1\DSAgnt.exe
C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe
C:\Program Files\Skype\Plugin Manager\SkypePM.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Program Files\Kontiki\KService.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = Dell UK homepage - Computers, Computer equipment, electronics, and services. (http://www.euro.dell.com/countries/uk/enu/gen/default.htm)
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = MSN.com (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157)
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = Live Search (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896)
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = Live Search (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896)
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = MSN.com (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157)
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = Dell UK homepage - Computers, Computer equipment, electronics, and services. (http://www.euro.dell.com/countries/uk/enu/gen/default.htm)
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Tiscali 10.0
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswshx.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7E853D72-626A-48EC-A868-BA8D5E23E045} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: ST - {9394EDE7-C8B5-483E-8773-474BF36AF6E4} - C:\Program Files\MSN Apps\ST\01.03.0000.1005\en-xu\stmain.dll
O2 - BHO: MSNToolBandBHO - {BDBD1DAD-C946-4A17-ADC1-64B5B4FF55D0} - C:\Program Files\MSN Apps\MSN Toolbar\MSN Toolbar\01.02.5000.1021\en-us\msntb.dll
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {BA52B914-B692-46c4-B683-905236F6F655} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: MSN - {BDAD1DAD-C946-4A17-ADC1-64B5B4FF55D0} - C:\Program Files\MSN Apps\MSN Toolbar\MSN Toolbar\01.02.5000.1021\en-us\msntb.dll
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [BCMSMMSG] BCMSMMSG.exe
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [Dell QuickSet] C:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\quickset.exe
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [SynTPLpr] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [dla] C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [DVDSentry] C:\WINDOWS\System32\DSentry.exe
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [PCMService] "C:\Program Files\Dell\Media Experience\PCMService.exe"
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [UpdateManager] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic\Update Manager\sgtray.exe" /r
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [DSLSTATEXE] C:\Program Files\D-Link\DSL-200\dslstat.exe icon
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [DSLAGENTEXE] C:\Program Files\D-Link\DSL-200\dslagent.exe
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [igfxtray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [igfxhkcmd] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [igfxpers] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [WG511WLU] C:\Program Files\NETGEAR\WG511\Utility\WG511WLU.exe
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [Google Desktop Search] "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [Smart Start UP] C:\Program Files\NewSoft\Smart Start UP\PnPDetect.exe /Automation
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [tsnp2std] C:\WINDOWS\tsnp2std.exe
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [snp2std] C:\WINDOWS\vsnp2std.exe
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\.. \Run: [avast!] C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
O4 - HKCU\.. \Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\.. \Run: [DellSupport] "C:\PROGRA~1\DELLSU~1\DSAgnt.exe" /startup
O4 - HKCU\.. \Run: [Skype] "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /nosplash /minimized
O4 - HKCU\.. \Run: [kdx] C:\Program Files\Kontiki\KHost.exe -all
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\.. \Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\System32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\.. \Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\System32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: PowerReg Scheduler V3.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: Add to Awasu workpad - C:\DOCUME~1\Andy\LOCALS~1\Temp\awasu3
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Open in Awasu - C:\DOCUME~1\Andy\LOCALS~1\Temp\awasu4
O8 - Extra context menu item: Open in default browser - C:\DOCUME~1\Andy\LOCALS~1\Temp\awasu5
O8 - Extra context menu item: Subscribe in A&wasu - C:\DOCUME~1\Andy\LOCALS~1\Temp\awasu6
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {1239CC52-59EF-4DFA-8C61-90FFA846DF7E} (Musicnotes Viewer) - http://www.musicnotes.com/download/mnviewer.cab
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {4ED9DDF0-7479-4BBE-9335-5A1EDB1D8A21} - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/mcinsctl/en-gb/4,0,0,84/mcinsctl.cab
O16 - DPF: {644E432F-49D3-41A1-8DD5-E099162EEEC5} (Symantec RuFSI Utility Class) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/SharedContent/common/bin/cabsa.cab
O16 - DPF: {9C024426-7859-4B2D-AB4C-B1E370AE7549} - http://us.mcafee.com/Apps/WSC/en-us/WscWlanScannerCtrl.cab
O16 - DPF: {B38870E4-7ECB-40DA-8C6A-595F0A5519FF} (MsnMessengerSetupDownloadControl Class) - http://messenger.msn.com/download/MsnMessengerSetupDownloader.cab
O16 - DPF: {D821DC4A-0814-435E-9820-661C543A4679} (CRLDownloadWrapper Class) - http://drmlicense.one.microsoft.com/crlupdate/en/crlocx.ocx
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\PROGRA~1\Google\GOOGLE~2\GOEC62~1.DLL
O23 - Service: avast! IAVS4 Control Service (aswUpdSv) - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe
O23 - Service: GoogleDesktopManager - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPodService - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: KService - Kontiki Inc. - C:\Program Files\Kontiki\KService.exe

--
End of file - 9898 bytes

There seems to be a lot of other processes running in the background.

START > RUN > msconfig
STARTUP tab

Uncheck all entries relating to the following items:
DEFINITELY
C:\Program Files\Dell\Media Experience\PCMService.exe (the most likely culprit)
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe

OPTIONALLY
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe (opt)
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe (opt)
C:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\quickset.exe (opt)
C:\WINDOWS\System32\DSentry.exe (opt)
C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe (UGH!! )
C:\Program Files\NewSoft\Smart Start UP\PnPDetect.exe (opt)
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Program Files\Kontiki\KService.exe (opt, but turning off some other software may be necessary for this to stay off)

This may be all that you need to do to get your system back to peppy performance. Turning off the startup entries seldom affects the programs that use them, they still operate just fine when called upon. They just don't load pieces of themselves up every time I start the computer.