Explorer.exe in Win XP Pro

Can anyone tell me why in "Task Manager" Explorer.exe can use upto 100% of CPU usage, this really slow my machine down, Any ideas how to fix it?

Cheers

 

Is anything running within explorer while this is happening? (ie. java program, flash, etc.)

 

No i only have a few programs running at a time, for example: Outlook, Word, Direct Connect and msn messenger.

It is happening quite often and the only solution i have is to reboot the pc via the restart switch on the case.

 

All WindowsUpdates done?

 

yes i have got all the latest updates and patches. i thought it might have been my nvidia detenator drivers 23.11 but i've just taken those off and still the same problem.

Im not doing anything special with the pc.
Any ideas

 

Try removing RealPlayer....

 

Why Real Player? I have Real One installed.

A temporary solution I have come up with is to switch the the Windows Classic Theme.

 

Mine is showing it's using 14,776 kb! (explorer.exe)
a) I don't know what Real Player has to do with the amt of CPU usage exp.exe is using? Especially when it is not opened nor running?
b)why should the THEME of windows be related to exp.exe? I don't know alot, but thought exp.exe was only the area showing lists of files and folders when you can access, see sizes and info, move things around, etc...so why should how one setsup THEMES have anything to do with CPU usage here?
c)I also don't understand why, after the window for exp.exe is CLOSED why it still shows it as a RUNNING PROCESS(when hitting "ctrl/alt/del ")?

 

I know it sounds strange, but I've seen in other message boards the very same thing and they found that it was RealPlayer.

However, if you change the themes to something that is a bit less resourse intensive and it drops, that may not be the case. What CPU are you running? Memory?

 

expl.exe -vs- other slow down items!?

NEW-Toshiba laptop, winXP-home,Pent3, 240RAM, 1.1gHz , 18gbHD(w/16GB FREE!)..seems ALOT has slowed down and fan sure seems to run ALL THE TIME(maybe it does on laptops anyway?)...slowed down more since messing w/changes in SERVICES (per blkviper.com)..so now trying to go back to orig settings and see if that is prob..or could be norton's firewall (set to MEDIUM) or Norton ANtivirus(only scan incoming email-also amazing during typing of emails, all seems to slow down..as if what I typed is storing in memory, then few secs after letters appear on screen..like too much running and it's tyring to play catchup..when i only havef opened NFW,NAV. at those times)oh well...boy if i sent someone a .jpg of what all those 'running processes' show in that ctrl/alt/del window..wonder if that would help..sure is alot of stuff i still don't understand in there! ugh!..descriptions from blkviper.com are mainly for those who already understand alot!)

 

May not be a bad idea to start falling back to restore points and find out where everything straightens out!!

 

Im running an Athlon 1200, 320Mb PC133, MSI K7T Pro-2A Mainboard, Creative Geforce 2 MX DDR, SoundBlaster Audigy Player, DLink NIC, Linksys NIC.

I have taken RealOne off my system now and the same thing happens.

Explorer.exe can be running with 13Mb the all of a sudden shoot up to using more that 40Mb.


I am at a loss here

Any more help appreciated

In Task Manager I have 30 Processes running. These are as follows:

Explorer.exe, spoolsv.exe, taskmgr.exe, IExplorer.exe, nisserv.exe, Fast.exe, Symproxysvc.exe, scchost.exe, Nopdb.exe, Direct Connect.exe, nvsvc32.exe, nprotext.exe, nisum.exe, navapsvc.exe, ctsvccda.exe, alg.exe, svchost.exe, atrack.exe, svchost.exe, svchost.exe, svchost.exe, lsass.exe, services.exe, winlogon.exe, csrss.exe, smss.exe, iamapp.exe, navapw32.exe, system, system idle process (using 98% CPU)

 

well I have showing 31 processes running too..and on this Toshiba laptop have it plugged in to AC power and choice of: FULL POWER in the POWER SAVER choices: "This mode is for maximum speed and performance of your computer, and does not slow down the CPU!" The fan keeps cycling on/off almost every 5secs (keeps it cool and not slow down cpu..but noisey)and during fan running, when typing in eudora email, letters drag from time I hit keys until time they appear on screen!
..I put settings in SERVICES back as they were, except for a couple I know I do not need, and nothing has changed.
..I even set SYSTEM RESTORE back to 1%(200MB)..it was on 12%.
maybe it's all to do with XP as never had such slowdowns with win98; SURELY 240RAM and AC power should be ENOUGH to run this?! (see prev. msg of what all is in this laptop)
~~no ideas~~~~

 

Try using msconfig from the run command. Go to start-run-and type msconfig - enter. In the General tab select the diagonostics button and load only the basics. If your problems go away then just use the selective startup tab to eliminate the problem. The msconfig is pretty self-explanitory and should fix the problem. Other than that do a system restore and go back to day one if you have to, thats better than formatting the drive. Good luck...

 

did the msconfig..prob is don't know names of things in there..try to put some back..oh well..tired of all this tks anyway
..did system restore..had earlier made restore point in JAN that was really good..now it ONLY shows TODAYS about an hour ago..maybe by my changing the amt for restore to 1% it made all former settings disappear from memory? I tried clicking left arrow on calendar to get back to JAN and it WONT LET ME
~fedupincomputerland~