upowerd using 100% CPU

[Ian Clarke]

I have am having a recurring problem with my CPU maxxing out.
Using System Monitor I can see that the CPU cycles from 15% to 100% then back again every couple of seconds, the graph is going up and down continually even when no programs are running. This of course generates heat which causes the fan to spin all the time and so uses more power than necessary, it also slows program response time.
I typed 'sudo top' into terminal and it appears that something called 'upowerd' is the culprit. I believe that this controls my Touchpad and cannot just uninstall it.
I tried disabling some small things like Wobbly Windows and Shift Switchers which appeared to help for a while but the problem is back.

Xorg and Compiz use about 6 to 7% of CPU power each and are the next highest users after upowerd.

I am using a Sony Vaio laptop, dual core Intel T2300 @1.66Ghz, 2Gig RAM with Linux Mint 10 Kernel 2.6.35.22-generic, Gnome 2.32.0

[wyrdoak]

You may think this is kind of strange, but try taking the battery out for a minute or so and then put it back in. This resets something that has to with upowerd after one of the updates. I ran across it the other day when I was playing with another Kernel and researching power problems.

I wouldn't hurt anything, no need messing with code if it fixes it.

[Ian Clarke]

OK, right, well that does stop the problem but only when the battery is out, as soon as I put it back again, the problem returns.

The battery on this machine is in fact dead and useless, will not take a charge and does not power the laptop at all, so maybe I'll just have to leave it out.
Thanks for that.