PC-Doctor Module<\/code> is occupying 100% of CPU and a very high amount of RAM. You may be wondering if PC-Doctor Module is a virus, Malware, or a PUA<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"dell](\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/dell-pc-doctor-high-cpu-1.png\")
<\/p>\n
When you right-click on PC-Doctor Module and click Go to details<\/b> to find the executable file name of the application, you’ll find that the executable file path looks like the following, and runs under NT AUTHORITY\\SYSTEM<\/code> (LocalSystem<\/a>) account:<\/p>\nC:\\Program Files\\Dell\\SupportAssistAgent\\PCDr\\SupportAssist\\6.0.7193.611\\pcdrmemory2.p5x\" run -e -lang en -cust dell -var dsc -bd \"C:\\ProgramData\\PCDr\\7193\" -engineClientPid<\/pre>\nThis happens in Dell computers that ship with the Dell SupportAssist diagnostics (a.k.a. Dell SupportAssist remediation services) utility.<\/p>\n
Dell SupportAssist – Scheduled hardware scan and optimization tasks<\/h3>\n
PC-Doctor Module is a component of Dell SupportAssist. Dell SupportAssist keeps your PC up to date and running at its best with recommended software and driver updates. It also helps resolve issues quickly by detecting common problems and sending issue details to Dell Technical Support agents on your behalf.<\/p>\n
The Dell SupportAssist tool periodically runs a hardware scan and optimization tasks. When it runs the hardware scan, the following components are analyzed:<\/p>\n
\n- Memory, CPU, Hard Drive, DVD-RW Drive, HD Audio Controller, PCI Bridge, PCI Bus, Hub, Network Card, USB Composite, Mouse, USB.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
It does a SMART Short Self Test, Linear Read test, Targeted Read test, CPU stress test, among other tests.<\/p>\n
\n- During this process, the CPU, Memory, and Disk usage<\/a> would spike up to
100%<\/code> for a few minutes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nRELATED:<\/strong> Track Disk I\/O Activity in Windows Using Task Manager and Resmon<\/a><\/div>\nYou can open the SupportAssist tool from the Start menu.<\/p>\n
![\"dell](\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/dell-pc-doctor-high-cpu-2.png\")
<\/p>\n
SupportAssist — Scheduled Scans<\/h3>\n
The results of the previous hardware scans and optimization tasks would be available under the History tab of the Dell SupportAssist utility.<\/p>\n
![\"dell](\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/dell-pc-doctor-high-cpu-3.png\")
<\/p>\n
Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of the window, and click Settings<\/strong>.<\/p>\nBy default, the Hardware scans are scheduled to run monthly once.<\/p>\n
![\"dell](\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/dell-pc-doctor-high-cpu-4.png\")
<\/p>\n
In the Settings page, you can disable the scheduled scans and optimizations by unchecking Turn on automatic scans and optimizations at:<\/strong> checkbox.<\/p>\nAlternatively, you can schedule a different time for the tasks to run. You may want to run the tasks after office hours so that you don’t face any performance bottlenecks when you’re working.<\/p>\n
If you choose to disable the automatic scans, then you can manually<\/strong> run the scans at your preferred time or intervals via the Home tab.<\/p>\nHardware scans can be extremely beneficial. You can make informed decisions from these scan results — e.g., it informs you in advance if a hardware component (i.e., the hard disk drive<\/a>) is about to fail so that you can replace the necessary hardware proactively.<\/p>\nRELATED:<\/strong>\u00a0Fix: Device Harddisk DR0 has a “bad block” Error in Event Viewer<\/a><\/div>\n![\"dell](\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/dell-pc-doctor-high-cpu-6.png\")
<\/p>\n
However, if you don’t plan to use this software, you can uninstall it via the Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel or via Apps & Features in Windows 10.<\/p>\n
![\"dell](\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/dell-pc-doctor-high-cpu-5.png\")
<\/p>\n
To learn more about Dell SupportAssist, check out this Dell webpage:\r\nhttps:\/\/www.dell.com\/en-us\/shop\/supportassistforpcs\/cp\/supportassistforpcs<\/pre>\nDell SupportAssist Service<\/h3>\n
This program runs as a service having the display name Dell SupportAssist<\/strong> (short name<\/a>: SupportAssistAgent<\/code>) and is set to Automatic (delayed started)<\/strong> by default. The service’s executable path is \"C:\\Program Files\\Dell\\SupportAssistAgent\\bin\\SupportAssistAgent.exe\"<\/code><\/p>\nDisabling this service should disable the scheduled hardware scans as well.<\/p>\n
![\"dell](\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/dell-pc-doctor-high-cpu-7.png\")
<\/p>\n