Windows Command Processor - High CPU Usage


  1. Posts : 70
    windows 10
       #1

    Windows Command Processor - High CPU Usage




    Hi,

    My VPN app told me to update to a new build and when I run the exe my CPU goes crazy, the fan cranks up and according to Task Manager the majority of CPU usage is down to Windows Command Processor. There are three WCP processes listed as running on Task Manager.

    Google tells me that WCP is both a legitimate Windows process, but also in some cases is malware tagged with the same name.

    Reading around, CMD.exe should be located In C: Win 32 folder, which it is, but when I open location of those WCP running via Task Manager it takes me to another CMD located in (C) > Windows > SYSWOW64 folder. I don't know if this is normal for it to be in more than one location.

    I don't have any other symptoms associated with the virus, for e.g. constant popups, or browser going to wrong pages.

    Can anyone tell me what the genuine Windows Command Processor actually does, and if it's normal for it to account for high CPU usage for hours on end?

    Thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,735
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    CMD.exe should be located In C: Win 32 folder, which it is, but when I open location of those WCP running via Task Manager it takes me to another CMD located in (C) > Windows > SYSWOW64 folder

    That's found in both in the case of a 64bit OS.

    tell me...if it's normal for it to account for high CPU usage for hours on end?
    Never seen that personally.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 70
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    dalchina said:
    That's found in both in the case of a 64bit OS.
    Ok, yes it's 64bit OS, so that's good to know.



    Never seen that personally.
    Yeah it's been running high for 3 hours now, CPU at about 50% but it's a high end quad core which doesn't usually go up much at all. It did exactly the same thing the other day when I updated the VPN build, so I uninstalled it, re-downloaded the exe and ran it again with the same result. So I'm pretty sure that's the trigger.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 42,735
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    Hi, if you mean 3 like this in this view, that's 1 instance.
    Windows Command Processor - High CPU Usage-1.jpg
    If you mean 3 x cmd.exe, that's even stranger.

    I'd probably contact the VPN support/forum or switch VPN's.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 70
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    dalchina said:
    Hi, if you mean 3 like this in this view, that's 1 instance.
    Windows Command Processor - High CPU Usage-1.jpg
    If you mean 3 x cmd.exe, that's even stranger.

    I'd probably contact the VPN support/forum or switch VPN's.

    I wish I'd taken a screenshot now. All three were listed as 'Windows Command Processor' (in full) in processes, but I don't know what it said in the details tab. All three tracked to the same application via open file location - namely the one in the SYSWOW64 folder.


    If I shut down and reboot it seems to stop them running, so they're gone now because I got fed up with waiting to see if it played itself out. It's just a bit of a mystery, so I was keen to know what WCP actually does, and because the potential malware aspect alarmed me, in case it was downloading something. I did read somewhere it might be 're-indexing library' you see, but that was for someone who had just upgraded OS.

    I appreciate the help anyway.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 121
    Windows 10 x64
       #6

    I had the same issue. I just kill the process and it's gone
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1
    Windows
       #7

    I'm having the same issue can u tell how to fix it please?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 65
    Windows 10
       #8

    ouroboros72 said:


    Hi,

    My VPN app told me to update to a new build and when I run the exe my CPU goes crazy, the fan cranks up and according to Task Manager the majority of CPU usage is down to Windows Command Processor. There are three WCP processes listed as running on Task Manager.

    Google tells me that WCP is both a legitimate Windows process, but also in some cases is malware tagged with the same name.

    Reading around, CMD.exe should be located In C: Win 32 folder, which it is, but when I open location of those WCP running via Task Manager it takes me to another CMD located in (C) > Windows > SYSWOW64 folder. I don't know if this is normal for it to be in more than one location.

    I don't have any other symptoms associated with the virus, for e.g. constant popups, or browser going to wrong pages.

    Can anyone tell me what the genuine Windows Command Processor actually does, and if it's normal for it to account for high CPU usage for hours on end?

    Thanks
    What CMD does ? That's not the question to ask here. If you run CMD yourself, you probably know what is running where.

    If you don't run them yourself (which is applicable for most users), well, ANY program can run CMD's. Although it must be said that running CMD's is sort of old-skool. And, CMD's are also popular amongst hackers. So, entering dangerous areas here ..

    Windows 10 itself won't be launching many of those by itself, mainly because it has better ways of doing that (that would mean, do the same, but in background, and you will never know).
      My Computer


 

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