Windows nt kernal & system 50% CPU usage after exiting DCS

[key_stroked]

Every time I run DCS World and then exit, in the task manager on the processes tab, Windows nt Kernel & System is taking 50% of my CPU usage which impacts any other game I try to run after exiting DCS.

 

After rebooting all is well, but this ONLY happens when running DCS World.

Something obviously is going on, just not sure what.

 

Anyone else seeing this?

[key_stroked]

Anyone?

[SkateZilla]

Specs?

[AtaliaA1]

Have you tried to lower their priority in task mangr. This sounds like a software thing for sure.

 

Your icon for DCS points to xx.\xxx\update.exe?

 

What loads those files?

[key_stroked]

Specs?

 

i7 950

GTX 660 Ti 2GB

8GB ram

Win 7 64 bit

[key_stroked]

Have you tried to lower their priority in task mangr. This sounds like a software thing for sure.

 

Your icon for DCS points to xx.\xxx\update.exe?

 

What loads those files?

 

My shortcut points to "C:\Games\DCS World\Run.exe"

 

Should I run the game from something else?

[AtaliaA1]

My shortcut points to "C:\Games\DCS World\Run.exe"

 

Should I run the game from something else?

 

 

Most definably as the new ver. will rid you of the error. You should have DCS World with the 1.2.6 ver. of the modules you own.

[key_stroked]

Most definably as the new ver. will rid you of the error. You should have DCS World with the 1.2.6 ver. of the modules you own.

 

I have version 1.2.6.18933 and I'm still getting this problem.

What new version are you talking about?

 

And yes I should run the game from run.exe or no I shouldn't? Your answer wasn't very clear.

[AtaliaA1]

I have version 1.2.6.18933 and I'm still getting this problem.

What new version are you talking about?

 

And yes I should run the game from run.exe or no I shouldn't? Your answer wasn't very clear.

 

 

Yes. My Answer was based on my belief that you had the wrong ver. installed.(assumed you would need update) that would have avoided long drawn out answer you didn't need.

 

In your case the update didn't take affect correctly, the new ver. of DCS should point to "X:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\bin\DCS_updater.exe" The "X" being your install location.

 

You will want to update your ver. following these instructions.

 

Updating or Reverting DCS World to a Specific Sub Version:

in the Command Prompt Window,

Type: DCS_Updater.exe update <version.subversion> (ie DCS_Updater.exe update 1.2.5.16508)

The DCS Updater Box will open and begin verifying files and downloading the files for the version you specified.

 

For more assistance and info. Read this thread

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=114030

[key_stroked]

Yes. My Answer was based on my belief that you had the wrong ver. installed.(assumed you would need update) that would have avoided long drawn out answer you didn't need.

 

In your case the update didn't take affect correctly, the new ver. of DCS should point to "X:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\bin\DCS_updater.exe" The "X" being your install location.

 

You will want to update your ver. following these instructions.

 

Updating or Reverting DCS World to a Specific Sub Version:

in the Command Prompt Window,

Type: DCS_Updater.exe update <version.subversion> (ie DCS_Updater.exe update 1.2.5.16508)

The DCS Updater Box will open and begin verifying files and downloading the files for the version you specified.

 

For more assistance and info. Read this thread

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=114030

 

1.2.5 is an earlier version and not compatible with the current versions of multiplayer servers.

How is this fixing my problem?

 

Also, I'm running the game from the default shortcut which does point to DCS_Updater.exe, and after exiting the game my CPU usage is still at 50% from Windows NT Kernel & System.

[AtaliaA1]

1.2.5 is an earlier version and not compatible with the current versions of multiplayer servers.

How is this fixing my problem?

 

Also, I'm running the game from the default shortcut which does point to DCS_Updater.exe, and after exiting the game my CPU usage is still at 50% from Windows NT Kernel & System.

 

 

You could do a search in windows to see what program is using these files. and you aren't using any anti-virus are you?

 

This was at the bottom of my post.

 

For more assistance and info. Read this thread

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=114030

Edited October 14, 2013 by AtaliaA1

[_Dredd]

On the topic of this with the latest version, I noticed in resource monitor that my memory had 13GB still cached after closing DCS. If you reboot your memory is cleared. Could it be perhaps other resources are running hard with lack of memory which is the cause of those processes being stretched thin, as it's already cached with DCS data and there's not much left for other programs.

 

I have to check this again, but have a look at memory tab in resource monitor when you exit.

What's your specs too?

[key_stroked]

You could do a search in windows to see what program is using these files. and you aren't using any anti-virus are you?

 

This was at the bottom of my post.

 

For more assistance and info. Read this thread

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=114030

 

No, not using anti-virus.

I ran the repair option from a command prompt and it downloaded and applied some files. Will test to see if it fixed the issue.

 

 

On the topic of this with the latest version, I noticed in resource monitor that my memory had 13GB still cached after closing DCS. If you reboot your memory is cleared. Could it be perhaps other resources are running hard with lack of memory which is the cause of those processes being stretched thin, as it's already cached with DCS data and there's not much left for other programs.

 

I have to check this again, but have a look at memory tab in resource monitor when you exit.

What's your specs too?

 

I'm about to fire DCS back up, so I'll have a look after closing it down.

It's just so weird that out of all my games, DCS is the only one that does this.

[key_stroked]

Just finished a game of DCS, exited, and took screenshots of the processes and performance tabs of the task manager.

Still getting 50% CPU usage.

[key_stroked]

And this is after the reboot.

[_Dredd]

Check resource monitor also, button right there on task manager to see what processes are doing (CPU) and (MEM).

 

Might become a guessing game very shortly; as far aa I know the 64bit LUA iteration is buggy as at the moment with 1.2.6

[key_stroked]

I checked the resource monitor after another DCS session.

This time it's only at 27-30% CPU usage, but everything else seems to be the same.

 

Most of the modules using up the CPU are mostly drivers in the system32 folder, with the exception of two from the syswow64 folder.

 

There are a lot...I have no clue what I'm looking for at this point.

 

It would be great if someone from ED could come in here and help me officially as support for their product, or maybe I should just make a support ticket at this point?

[key_stroked]

I guess I'm stuck with this.

[_Dredd]

Locate and load up your latest IDE Controller drivers, mobo specific ones.; then test again.

In fact locate all the latest drivers for you mobo and update. Are you up to date?

[Abburo]

So, as Dredd already recomended to you, try update ALL you drivers for all your devices. As this kind of issue can easily be related to some erratic drivers functionality, you also can try to unplug any USB conected devices and test the system progresively, conecting back one by one. I am suspecting here your devices like joystick, trackIR, webcam and so on.

Also, are you consequently trying to load same misson? Try load diiferent missions and check every time the resources.

Is your system swapping? From my experience those 8Gb of RAM should be enough to not use swap, still, keep an eye on disk activity pagefile also.

Ultimately consider updating firmware where applicable, as for your motherboard for example.

I am quite sure it is not direct related to DCS software version, otherwise all of us might report it.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Abburo

[AtaliaA1]

And this is after the reboot.

 

 

I ran DCS and looked at Processes to see if NtKernel sys would be listed as high as yours, it didn't the "Priority" of mine is set to "Normal" is yours? it seems a bit high in the task mngr. for what it does.

[key_stroked]

Locate and load up your latest IDE Controller drivers, mobo specific ones.; then test again.

In fact locate all the latest drivers for you mobo and update. Are you up to date?

 

All my drivers are up to date.

 

Go into BIOS and DISABLE Hyper-Threading, it's a terrible technology. :)

 

 

I disabled that when I built my computer.

 

So, as Dredd already recomended to you, try update ALL you drivers for all your devices. As this kind of issue can easily be related to some erratic drivers functionality, you also can try to unplug any USB conected devices and test the system progresively, conecting back one by one. I am suspecting here your devices like joystick, trackIR, webcam and so on.

Also, are you consequently trying to load same misson? Try load diiferent missions and check every time the resources.

Is your system swapping? From my experience those 8Gb of RAM should be enough to not use swap, still, keep an eye on disk activity pagefile also.

Ultimately consider updating firmware where applicable, as for your motherboard for example.

I am quite sure it is not direct related to DCS software version, otherwise all of us might report it.

 

All drivers for all devices are up to date. I keep up on my system maintenance.

If it was a USB issue, then I would see it on other games. DCS is the only one, and I play a lot of different games.

 

I play different missions, the issue happens on all of them.

My system isn't swapping.

 

I ran DCS and looked at Processes to see if NtKernel sys would be listed as high as yours, it didn't the "Priority" of mine is set to "Normal" is yours? it seems a bit high in the task mngr. for what it does.

 

Mine is at normal.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Halcyon

[key_stroked]

Did more testing in resource monitor.

I copied the list of modules associated with NT Kernel & System after a fresh reboot, ran DCS, then copied the list again to compare.

 

There is one module that isn't in the list after exiting DCS.

 

System 4 spsys.sys 6.1.7127.0 C:\Windows\system32\drivers\spsys.sys

 

I don't know what that does, but on a fresh windows reboot it's running, but after I play and exit DCS it's not in the list anymore.

Could this be part of the issue?

[SkateZilla]

spsys.sys is a windows file/process, do not disable, or terminate this process, let the kernel manage it.

 

 

There are 2 Top Possibilities,

1. There's a Hardware Resource issue.

2. There's a Rootkit installed, disguising itself as the Kernel.

3. Drive Indexing

 

For 1.

Leave the Resource Monitor Open, and Unplug all USB Devices 1 By 1 and wait a few seconds, See if the Kernel Process settles.

Start with Items you use during DCSW Gameplay (Joysticks, TrackIR Whatever).

 

For 2.

Run a Virus scan/rootkit scan

 

 

I'd look at 1 before anything, as I've seen USB Devices PEG a CPU at 100% for random reasons. unplugging the device will resolve the issue.

I've seen it happen with Game Controllers, Network USB Adapters, Printers, etc.

 

This is usually an Issue with the USB Driver itself on some mainboards.

 

 

3. Disable Drive Indexing.

Edited October 18, 2013 by SkateZilla

[key_stroked]

For 1.

Leave the Resource Monitor Open, and Unplug all USB Devices 1 By 1 and wait a few seconds, See if the Kernel Process settles.

Start with Items you use during DCSW Gameplay (Joysticks, TrackIR Whatever).

 

 

I'd look at 1 before anything, as I've seen USB Devices PEG a CPU at 100% for random reasons. unplugging the device will resolve the issue.

I've seen it happen with Game Controllers, Network USB Adapters, Printers, etc.

 

This is usually an Issue with the USB Driver itself on some mainboards.

 

You called it...that was totally it.

 

I unplugged my USB hub (all my flight stuff is connected to it) and NT Kernel & System dropped back to 0% CPU use.

Plugged it back, and it stayed at 0.

 

That's so odd that a USB driver would cause issues with DCS but not any other game I use my joystick/throttle stuff for (FSX, War Thunder, Planetside 2, etc.).

 

Thanks for the tips. Now I know what to do.