Old computer running XP - Windows Task Manager shows 100% CPU usage.

October 9, 2013 7:30 AM

Does flash show as flash in Windows task manager in XP? - It's invisible even when I play videos which are obviously using flash. Are the resources consumed by flash 'lumped in' with the CPU utilization consumed by my browser as I see it in Task Manager?

I know flash is consuming resources. Invisibly to me though. I want the ability to shut flash off.

posted by vapidave to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

Hmm. I know Flash is built into Chrome these days, so it'd probably show up as Chrome if you're using that - i.e. yes, lumped in. If you want to disable Flash in Chrome go to chrome://plugins/ in Chrome and disable it there.

Actually, disabling it from within the browser is almost definitely the route you want to take - if you let me know which browser you're using, I can give more specific instructions.
posted by spielzebub at 7:52 AM on October 9, 2013

Actually, Spielzebub reminded me of a weird alternate Chrome/Flash problem - For some reason, Shockwave Flash tries to install two plugins with Chrome, and when it tries to run them both it causes issues. Here's how to assess whether this is what's going on, and how to fix it.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:55 AM on October 9, 2013

Flashblock will give you the ability to selectively enable flash at your discretion.
posted by srboisvert at 9:31 AM on October 9, 2013

Best answer: Using Firefox as browser it's plugin-container.exe.
posted by mirage pine at 12:36 PM on October 9, 2013

Response by poster: The problem was resolved in that I ran Advanced System Care several times and my CPU usage went back down to a resting state of about 5%. I have no idea though if flash was the problem.

Thanks for the help all.
posted by vapidave at 1:44 PM on November 9, 2013