Troubleshooting 100% CPU Usage in Windows 10: A Persistent Mystery

Experiencing 100% CPU usage in Windows 10 can be incredibly frustrating, especially when the cause is elusive. Recently, I encountered a situation where my CPU consistently operated at full capacity, a problem that persisted regardless of whether the system was idle or under heavy load. All 12 cores were maxed out, leaving me scratching my head.

Initially, one might assume this issue could stem from malware or unwanted Software. I diligently followed the steps outlined in a prominent malware removal guide, employing tools like HitmanPro to eliminate several Trojans and other rogue applications. Unfortunately, even after cleaning up these threats, my CPU remained stubbornly stuck at 100%.

The most perplexing part was the “untrackable” nature of the CPU load. Multiple applications seemed to share the burden, rapidly shifting their usage reports in Task Manager. For example, one moment Brave browser would spike to 80%, only to drop to 2% seconds later as the Steam Client surged to take over. Despite closing various resource-intensive applications, CPU usage remained locked at full throttle.

Interestingly, whenever I terminated heavy processes like Steam or Brave, the WMI Provider Host often surged to near the top of the list, allegedly consuming around 80% of CPU resources. Despite these fluctuations, the total CPU utilization never dipped below 100%, a concerning situation without an apparent resolution in sight.

I pondered whether this could be linked to a hardware issue, perhaps related to my power supply. Strangely, even applications that typically require minimal resources were labeled as having “Very High” power usage.

Feeling quite overwhelmed by this predicament, I reached out for advice, hoping someone might shed light on what could potentially be happening with my system.

Update: After struggling with this issue for nearly two hours, I noticed a surprising turnaround—shortly after drafting this post, my CPU usage dropped to 2%. However, the WMI Provider Host still occasionally jumped back up to 40%, indicating that while there might be a glimmer of resolution, the root cause remains uncertain.

If you’re facing a similar challenge, I encourage you to share your insights or experiences. Together, we can unravel the mystery behind persistent CPU utilization issues. Thank you in advance for your input!