I recently began using a system monitor app and have a question regarding the results: I've noticed that the "cpu usage" seems to be very high (70-80%) with the computer idleing and nothing running in the background. Usage upon boot-up is @25%. Each successive operation of the computer raises the percentage until it reaches the 80% level, where it stays, even with all programs closed (I also closed "start-up" programs using MSCONFIG). I have a 900mhz Duron with 512mgs of memory, running Windows 98se. Is this normal? If not, any suggestions?

This is fairly normal.
Although a few points worth considering...enable DMA if your system supports it.This will take a load of pressure of the cpu by bypassing it and going staright to memory.
If you have a anti-virus prog running in the sys tray then this will use loads of ram, which will strain the cpu.
Good luck and dont worry.
Remember hardware will usen cpu resources as well as system resources

Sometimes shutting down programs in msconfig does not shut down everything.
Press Ctrl-Alt-Del on the Desktop. If there are a lot of programs still running, then shut all of them down, except Explorer and Systray, by clicking on them one at a time and clicking 'End Task'. Then check the CPU usage with the Windows System Monitor utility.

I suspect the system monitor utility may be using the resources...even with some programs running in the background, you should not be at 80% CPU all the time...unless one of the programs running requires constant resources, like a monitoring utility...

ski's suggestion is the best way to go...

You wouldn't think that a program like that would do something so stupid, but it's not uncommon. The CPU temp. monitoring program that came with my motherboard runs the CPU at 100% continously...so in order to monitor your temps. you have to run them as high as possible?

Sounds like the same thing with you prog. to monitor your system you have to use a lot of your resources...

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When all else fails, read the instructions.

Microsoft Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;rid;kbinfo)

Google (http://www.google.com)

Most of the system monitor apps I have seen are really just "front ends' for the native one built into Windows.

What version of Windows are you running?

Is your computer an off the shelf system (like HP, Compaq, etc)?

In win98, on HPs especially, there seems to be a problem with the native system monitor...it almost always reads high usage, unless you are actually doing someting, then it drops to what would be a normal level for the task at hand. Before HP closed down the forums for home users, seveeral of the forum tech were recommending to ignore it completely, as they had no answer (and of course the first reply was, use the restore CD.....)

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mjc
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