My Win 10 computer is about 3 years old. The processor is an Intel i5 6600 @ 3.30 GHz. I was sitting at my computer tonight when suddenly I got a message that my CPU was operating at 100%. To my knowledge this has never happened before.

Task Manager revealed the following primary CPU usage culprits:
- Windows Driver Foundation - 44% (I have no idea what this is)
- IE11 - 26% (I had a couple of tabs open including weather app)
- Blue Iris - 15% (this is my security camera software)
- Windows Media Player - 5% (I was listening to some CDs)

What in the world is Windows Driver Foundation? It has since calmed down somewhat and is fluctuating between 2% and 26%. My CPU usage is now running less than 50%.

During the period of 100% usage, Task Manager also revealed that some programs had suspended processing to improve system performance. These included:
- Movies & TV
- Settings
- Microsoft Edge
- YourPhone.exe
- Cortana Background Task Host

Can someone educate me on the purpose of Windows Driver Foundation and why it is such a resource hog? Thanks in advance...….

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BB
http://barrypatch.net

I think this explains it best: http://windowsbulletin.com/windows-driv ... pu-memory/
(Do not run the tool from that site!!)
"Windows Driver Foundation is the former name of Windows Driver Framework. This is a set of Microsoft libraries and tools that help reduce the complexity of writing Windows drivers. It puts the drivers in user mode. This service is necessary for the overall stability of the system."

If the problem persists, you can go ahead with the steps outlined in the article above -- other than the "repair" tool offered.

Bottom line, it is possible that a driver decided to misbehave. Sometimes a reboot takes care of it.
-steve

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stephen boots
Microsoft MVP 2004 - 2020
"Life's always an adventure with computers!"

Thanks for the reference, Steve. Microsoft certainly complicates life for a normal Windows user like me.

To quote from this article:
Although it does not exactly limit CPU functionality for most users, it certainly depletes the battery and can sometimes cause the system to freeze, especially when usage increases up to 100%.

Now I'm wondering if this is what was causing my lockups (or freezes)? Maybe Edge Content had nothing to do with it. However, my system did not lockup yesterday when I got notice of 100% CPU usage....however, some of the programs did suspend processing during that period.

Crazy stuff happening on my motherboard..........

_________________
BB
http://barrypatch.net

Computers can indeed be crazy.

_________________
stephen boots
Microsoft MVP 2004 - 2020
"Life's always an adventure with computers!"