Kentuck- I don't think a couple seconds spike to 99-100% is alarming. Mine does this occasionally when opening some programs or my browser. I think it's only an issue if you have a spike and it stays up there. For example, once in a while my Windows Media Player hangs up if I try to play a video at some sites and it ties up my computer at 100% until I go into the Task Manager and select it and shut it down. As for your question about what processes are essential, here is a link that lists the main background processes by their (sometimes inscrutable) names, and tells you what they do. Make sure you have the "Show processes from all users" box checked and compare the list of names. Some of the names you'll have will be processes specific to things like your antivirus, and won't be listed here. For those that aren't, just write the name down and do a Google search. (Sometimes a virus will show up in this list, although I don't think that's your problem.) As I write this, I have 53 processes in the background. I'd have more if I hadn't prevented things like RealPlayer and Quicktime from starting each time I bootup. Here is a link that might be useful: WinTasks Process Library

Owner End Process with the task manager only "Ends Process" during that sesssion. Upon rebooting all your processes are back ... even "End Process" ed ones. Microsoft Word does not belong in my Task Bar. It uses 55% of CPU upon start up. No wonder we were gettin' hot. How do I get it out of my Task Bar? and How did it get in there? Owner 'End Process' es are fairly benign and most gamers turn them of except the task bar itself and IE while playing, its even on the directions of most PC games...for enhancesd performance... etc. The entire word program is running!!...55% of a 3.2GHz CPU (certainly isn't the fastest) at startup is going to word without me turning it on, that is ridiculous! marf

Gene, You didn't list your computer manufacturer or your operating system but try the info on this link. http://www.worldstart.com/task-manager-tabs-are-missing/ I think it may solve your problem. Frank

Mikie is no doubt thinking you have corrupt or missing files. By running sfc your computer systematically goes through the Windows program verifying the validity of those files. It is an excellent feature. However after running it you will find it necessary to visit Microsoft to install the updates created after your version of Windows. To view your Event Viewer click Start/Control panel/Administrative tools/Event viewer. Here you will be looking for red or yellow marks beside entries, double click o any for an explanation or click the link that will be on some remarks for more detail.