explorer.exe is using nearly 100% of the cpu power

gx9900wz · 01-10-2007, 11:34 PM

I think everything begain with firefox restarting in the background on its own. Today, after I uninstalled firefox, I found that my Windows was slower than usual. It was still acceptable.Then I discovered that it was explorer.exe that was eating up the cpu. I tried running the system in safe mode. The situation was gone. Explorer.exe returned to normal. I restarted Windows multiple times in normal mode, safe mode, and diagnostic mode to see if there's any programs or services causing such program. It turned out that only safe mode solved the problem. But I wouldn't want to run my computer in safe mode on a regular basis.
Somehow, my computer is now even worse. It is taking more than the usual to load. I waited for more around 10 minutes, and it still didn't finish loading.

I am well aware of running spybot (again), ad-aware, online virus scanners in safe mode. I just ran spybot and panda active scan earlier today. I also ran housecall and bitdefender and cwshredder yesterday.

Should I download AVG and Cleanup and run everything over again in safe mode and post a HJT log if the problem still persists?

Could it be that Windows is running super slow because my harddrive is quite fragmented? But then I haven't downloaded or stored much. I had my other computer being quite fragmented before, there wasn't any noticeable effect.

Update: Windows is so laggy that it takes forever to get something opened.
Update: I finally get to end task explorer.exe to get other stuff running fine and smooth. Somehow, I just explorer.exe to restart, and it's shot up to 100% again, though it's slightly better.

Thank you in advance.

**petercj** · 01-11-2007, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Should I download AVG and Cleanup and run everything over again in safe mode and post a HJT log if the problem still persists

That sounds a good idea.

If that doesn't help, I would suggest starting with the first two 'sticky' threads here:-

http://www.techsupportforum.com/secu...this-log-help/

Tapasia · 01-11-2007, 04:01 AM

Okay, I'm not an expert or pro, but - if after the HJT and antivirus/spyware thing it's still laggy, I would assume explorer got messed up. I would uninstall and reinstall from add/remove windows components. I think that because I've had instances before of various browsers screwing up explorer (I think it was something in the winsock settings, I don't know) upon uninstall. Especially if you've played with IP anonymizers.

**petercj** · 01-11-2007, 05:07 AM

Also worth a look:-

http://www.liutilities.com/products/...rary/explorer/

gx9900wz · 01-12-2007, 02:31 PM

i scanned my computer with avg and spybot, but couldn't find anything

is there a way to check what my explorer.exe is trying to do?

if i do decide to reinstall explorer.exe
how do i do it? what would i lose if i reinstall it?

for that computer, i am just booting it in safe mode for now, don't really know how to fix the problem

thanks in advance

DumbTerminal · 01-12-2007, 02:46 PM

Start - Run - Type sfc /scannow

.

01-10-2007, 11:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
gx9900wz Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 26 OS: Windows XP SP2	explorer.exe is using nearly 100% of the cpu power I think everything begain with firefox restarting in the background on its own. Today, after I uninstalled firefox, I found that my Windows was slower than usual. It was still acceptable.Then I discovered that it was explorer.exe that was eating up the cpu. I tried running the system in safe mode. The situation was gone. Explorer.exe returned to normal. I restarted Windows multiple times in normal mode, safe mode, and diagnostic mode to see if there's any programs or services causing such program. It turned out that only safe mode solved the problem. But I wouldn't want to run my computer in safe mode on a regular basis. Somehow, my computer is now even worse. It is taking more than the usual to load. I waited for more around 10 minutes, and it still didn't finish loading. I am well aware of running spybot (again), ad-aware, online virus scanners in safe mode. I just ran spybot and panda active scan earlier today. I also ran housecall and bitdefender and cwshredder yesterday. Should I download AVG and Cleanup and run everything over again in safe mode and post a HJT log if the problem still persists? Could it be that Windows is running super slow because my harddrive is quite fragmented? But then I haven't downloaded or stored much. I had my other computer being quite fragmented before, there wasn't any noticeable effect. Update: Windows is so laggy that it takes forever to get something opened. Update: I finally get to end task explorer.exe to get other stuff running fine and smooth. Somehow, I just explorer.exe to restart, and it's shot up to 100% again, though it's slightly better. Thank you in advance. Last edited by gx9900wz : 01-10-2007 at 11:57 PM.

01-11-2007, 04:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tapasia Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 22 OS: Media Center	Okay, I'm not an expert or pro, but - if after the HJT and antivirus/spyware thing it's still laggy, I would assume explorer got messed up. I would uninstall and reinstall from add/remove windows components. I think that because I've had instances before of various browsers screwing up explorer (I think it was something in the winsock settings, I don't know) upon uninstall. Especially if you've played with IP anonymizers.

01-11-2007, 05:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
petercj UK Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: South Coast UK Posts: 905 OS: Win XP Pro/XP Home/98se/Suse Linux 9.1 & Xandros 3 Deluxe	Also worth a look:- http://www.liutilities.com/products/...rary/explorer/

01-12-2007, 02:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
gx9900wz Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 26 OS: Windows XP SP2	i scanned my computer with avg and spybot, but couldn't find anything is there a way to check what my explorer.exe is trying to do? if i do decide to reinstall explorer.exe how do i do it? what would i lose if i reinstall it? for that computer, i am just booting it in safe mode for now, don't really know how to fix the problem thanks in advance

01-12-2007, 02:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
DumbTerminal Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 428 OS: Mainly XP	Start - Run - Type sfc /scannow .