Windows Explorer ate my CPU alive!

I'm pretty sure this has happened to one person or another running Windows
Vista. I have a pretty standard computer, well equipped for Windows Vista
(1024MB Hard Disk, 2.1GHz Processor, the whole nine yards...). Yet sometimes
when doing my work, I notice my computer slows down a great lot!

I hit CTRL+ALT+DEL to go to Task Manager, and I see that Windows Explorer is
using all 100% of my CPU! So I force close it and open it back up again. Then
a few days later, the same thing happens. Note, this occurs no matter what
program I'm using. I could be playing a game, doing computer programming or
surfing the web! It just suddenly happens. What I want to know is WHY and HOW?

Hi,

Use process explorer to get a better handle on exactly what is not
releasing. Explorer.exe as a shell extension houses many other processes.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys...sexplorer.mspx

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"TheTechSupportGeek" <> wrote in
message news:C441CDD1-98D0-43B0-AB0E-...
> I'm pretty sure this has happened to one person or another running Windows
> Vista. I have a pretty standard computer, well equipped for Windows Vista
> (1024MB Hard Disk, 2.1GHz Processor, the whole nine yards...). Yet
> sometimes
> when doing my work, I notice my computer slows down a great lot!
>
> I hit CTRL+ALT+DEL to go to Task Manager, and I see that Windows Explorer
> is
> using all 100% of my CPU! So I force close it and open it back up again.
> Then
> a few days later, the same thing happens. Note, this occurs no matter what
> program I'm using. I could be playing a game, doing computer programming
> or
> surfing the web! It just suddenly happens. What I want to know is WHY and
> HOW?

So what you're saying is that when Windows Explorer takes too much CPU time,
it is because of another process that is busy?

"Rick Rogers" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Use process explorer to get a better handle on exactly what is not
> releasing. Explorer.exe as a shell extension houses many other processes.
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys...sexplorer.mspx
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>
> "TheTechSupportGeek" <> wrote in
> message news:C441CDD1-98D0-43B0-AB0E-...
> > I'm pretty sure this has happened to one person or another running Windows
> > Vista. I have a pretty standard computer, well equipped for Windows Vista
> > (1024MB Hard Disk, 2.1GHz Processor, the whole nine yards...). Yet
> > sometimes
> > when doing my work, I notice my computer slows down a great lot!
> >
> > I hit CTRL+ALT+DEL to go to Task Manager, and I see that Windows Explorer
> > is
> > using all 100% of my CPU! So I force close it and open it back up again.
> > Then
> > a few days later, the same thing happens. Note, this occurs no matter what
> > program I'm using. I could be playing a game, doing computer programming
> > or
> > surfing the web! It just suddenly happens. What I want to know is WHY and
> > HOW?
>
>

I downloaded Process Explorer and even that program is telling me that
Windows Explorer is using between 89%-100% of my CPU. It's doing it as I type
right now.
All my other processes are using 0%-1.15% of my CPU. I really think it is a
problem concerning Windows Explorer and not the processes it houses as a
shell extension.

"Rick Rogers" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Use process explorer to get a better handle on exactly what is not
> releasing. Explorer.exe as a shell extension houses many other processes.
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys...sexplorer.mspx
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>
> "TheTechSupportGeek" <> wrote in
> message news:C441CDD1-98D0-43B0-AB0E-...
> > I'm pretty sure this has happened to one person or another running Windows
> > Vista. I have a pretty standard computer, well equipped for Windows Vista
> > (1024MB Hard Disk, 2.1GHz Processor, the whole nine yards...). Yet
> > sometimes
> > when doing my work, I notice my computer slows down a great lot!
> >
> > I hit CTRL+ALT+DEL to go to Task Manager, and I see that Windows Explorer
> > is
> > using all 100% of my CPU! So I force close it and open it back up again.
> > Then
> > a few days later, the same thing happens. Note, this occurs no matter what
> > program I'm using. I could be playing a game, doing computer programming
> > or
> > surfing the web! It just suddenly happens. What I want to know is WHY and
> > HOW?
>
>

Hi,

Windows Explorer uses many of the same files and processes as Internet
Explorer. Often, plugins/addons from IE cause odd behavior in Windows
Explorer. Try going in to the Control Panel/Internet Options/Programs tab
and get into 'manage addons' and start disabling those that load with IE.

By the way, you don't have Norton/Symantec installed, do you?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"TheTechSupportGeek" <> wrote in
message news:885D928D-C09B-43EA-BC98-...
>I downloaded Process Explorer and even that program is telling me that
> Windows Explorer is using between 89%-100% of my CPU. It's doing it as I
> type
> right now.
> All my other processes are using 0%-1.15% of my CPU. I really think it is
> a
> problem concerning Windows Explorer and not the processes it houses as a
> shell extension.
>
> "Rick Rogers" wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Use process explorer to get a better handle on exactly what is not
>> releasing. Explorer.exe as a shell extension houses many other processes.
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys...sexplorer.mspx
>>
>> --
>> Best of Luck,
>>
>> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>>
>> "TheTechSupportGeek" <> wrote
>> in
>> message news:C441CDD1-98D0-43B0-AB0E-...
>> > I'm pretty sure this has happened to one person or another running
>> > Windows
>> > Vista. I have a pretty standard computer, well equipped for Windows
>> > Vista
>> > (1024MB Hard Disk, 2.1GHz Processor, the whole nine yards...). Yet
>> > sometimes
>> > when doing my work, I notice my computer slows down a great lot!
>> >
>> > I hit CTRL+ALT+DEL to go to Task Manager, and I see that Windows
>> > Explorer
>> > is
>> > using all 100% of my CPU! So I force close it and open it back up
>> > again.
>> > Then
>> > a few days later, the same thing happens. Note, this occurs no matter
>> > what
>> > program I'm using. I could be playing a game, doing computer
>> > programming
>> > or
>> > surfing the web! It just suddenly happens. What I want to know is WHY
>> > and
>> > HOW?
>>
>>

On Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:07:30 -0400, "Rick Rogers" <>
wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Windows Explorer uses many of the same files and processes as Internet
>Explorer. Often, plugins/addons from IE cause odd behavior in Windows
>Explorer. Try going in to the Control Panel/Internet Options/Programs tab
>and get into 'manage addons' and start disabling those that load with IE.
>
>By the way, you don't have Norton/Symantec installed, do you?

Don't forget all those damned add-on toolbars! Some have clock, temp,
etc, etc things that auto check constantly!

I understand this, but if such was the case, then both Internet Explorer and
Windows Explorer would be eating my CPU alive. Internet Explorer 99% of the
time works fine...

"Rick Rogers" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Windows Explorer uses many of the same files and processes as Internet
> Explorer. Often, plugins/addons from IE cause odd behavior in Windows
> Explorer. Try going in to the Control Panel/Internet Options/Programs tab
> and get into 'manage addons' and start disabling those that load with IE.
>
> By the way, you don't have Norton/Symantec installed, do you?
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>
> "TheTechSupportGeek" <> wrote in
> message news:885D928D-C09B-43EA-BC98-...
> >I downloaded Process Explorer and even that program is telling me that
> > Windows Explorer is using between 89%-100% of my CPU. It's doing it as I
> > type
> > right now.
> > All my other processes are using 0%-1.15% of my CPU. I really think it is
> > a
> > problem concerning Windows Explorer and not the processes it houses as a
> > shell extension.
> >
> > "Rick Rogers" wrote:
> >
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> Use process explorer to get a better handle on exactly what is not
> >> releasing. Explorer.exe as a shell extension houses many other processes.
> >> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys...sexplorer.mspx
> >>
> >> --
> >> Best of Luck,
> >>
> >> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
> >>
> >> "TheTechSupportGeek" <> wrote
> >> in
> >> message news:C441CDD1-98D0-43B0-AB0E-...
> >> > I'm pretty sure this has happened to one person or another running
> >> > Windows
> >> > Vista. I have a pretty standard computer, well equipped for Windows
> >> > Vista
> >> > (1024MB Hard Disk, 2.1GHz Processor, the whole nine yards...). Yet
> >> > sometimes
> >> > when doing my work, I notice my computer slows down a great lot!
> >> >
> >> > I hit CTRL+ALT+DEL to go to Task Manager, and I see that Windows
> >> > Explorer
> >> > is
> >> > using all 100% of my CPU! So I force close it and open it back up
> >> > again.
> >> > Then
> >> > a few days later, the same thing happens. Note, this occurs no matter
> >> > what
> >> > program I'm using. I could be playing a game, doing computer
> >> > programming
> >> > or
> >> > surfing the web! It just suddenly happens. What I want to know is WHY
> >> > and
> >> > HOW?
> >>
> >>
>
>

Yep, but all you can do is eliminate possible causes.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"TheTechSupportGeek" <> wrote in
message news:7D7A8CC1-4924-48D3-A741-...
>I understand this, but if such was the case, then both Internet Explorer
>and
> Windows Explorer would be eating my CPU alive. Internet Explorer 99% of
> the
> time works fine...
>
> "Rick Rogers" wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Windows Explorer uses many of the same files and processes as Internet
>> Explorer. Often, plugins/addons from IE cause odd behavior in Windows
>> Explorer. Try going in to the Control Panel/Internet Options/Programs tab
>> and get into 'manage addons' and start disabling those that load with IE.
>>
>> By the way, you don't have Norton/Symantec installed, do you?
>>
>> --
>> Best of Luck,
>>
>> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>>
>> "TheTechSupportGeek" <> wrote
>> in
>> message news:885D928D-C09B-43EA-BC98-...
>> >I downloaded Process Explorer and even that program is telling me that
>> > Windows Explorer is using between 89%-100% of my CPU. It's doing it as
>> > I
>> > type
>> > right now.
>> > All my other processes are using 0%-1.15% of my CPU. I really think it
>> > is
>> > a
>> > problem concerning Windows Explorer and not the processes it houses as
>> > a
>> > shell extension.
>> >
>> > "Rick Rogers" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hi,
>> >>
>> >> Use process explorer to get a better handle on exactly what is not
>> >> releasing. Explorer.exe as a shell extension houses many other
>> >> processes.
>> >> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys...sexplorer.mspx
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Best of Luck,
>> >>
>> >> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>> >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> >> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>> >> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>> >>
>> >> "TheTechSupportGeek" <>
>> >> wrote
>> >> in
>> >> message news:C441CDD1-98D0-43B0-AB0E-...
>> >> > I'm pretty sure this has happened to one person or another running
>> >> > Windows
>> >> > Vista. I have a pretty standard computer, well equipped for Windows
>> >> > Vista
>> >> > (1024MB Hard Disk, 2.1GHz Processor, the whole nine yards...). Yet
>> >> > sometimes
>> >> > when doing my work, I notice my computer slows down a great lot!
>> >> >
>> >> > I hit CTRL+ALT+DEL to go to Task Manager, and I see that Windows
>> >> > Explorer
>> >> > is
>> >> > using all 100% of my CPU! So I force close it and open it back up
>> >> > again.
>> >> > Then
>> >> > a few days later, the same thing happens. Note, this occurs no
>> >> > matter
>> >> > what
>> >> > program I'm using. I could be playing a game, doing computer
>> >> > programming
>> >> > or
>> >> > surfing the web! It just suddenly happens. What I want to know is
>> >> > WHY
>> >> > and
>> >> > HOW?
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>

But I don't know any other causes than Windows Explorer. Like I said, no
other program on my computer when this happens uses more than 5% of my CPU.

"Rick Rogers" wrote:

> Yep, but all you can do is eliminate possible causes.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>
> "TheTechSupportGeek" <> wrote in
> message news:7D7A8CC1-4924-48D3-A741-...
> >I understand this, but if such was the case, then both Internet Explorer
> >and
> > Windows Explorer would be eating my CPU alive. Internet Explorer 99% of
> > the
> > time works fine...
> >
> > "Rick Rogers" wrote:
> >
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> Windows Explorer uses many of the same files and processes as Internet
> >> Explorer. Often, plugins/addons from IE cause odd behavior in Windows
> >> Explorer. Try going in to the Control Panel/Internet Options/Programs tab
> >> and get into 'manage addons' and start disabling those that load with IE.
> >>
> >> By the way, you don't have Norton/Symantec installed, do you?
> >>
> >> --
> >> Best of Luck,
> >>
> >> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
> >>
> >> "TheTechSupportGeek" <> wrote
> >> in
> >> message news:885D928D-C09B-43EA-BC98-...
> >> >I downloaded Process Explorer and even that program is telling me that
> >> > Windows Explorer is using between 89%-100% of my CPU. It's doing it as
> >> > I
> >> > type
> >> > right now.
> >> > All my other processes are using 0%-1.15% of my CPU. I really think it
> >> > is
> >> > a
> >> > problem concerning Windows Explorer and not the processes it houses as
> >> > a
> >> > shell extension.
> >> >
> >> > "Rick Rogers" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Hi,
> >> >>
> >> >> Use process explorer to get a better handle on exactly what is not
> >> >> releasing. Explorer.exe as a shell extension houses many other
> >> >> processes.
> >> >> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys...sexplorer.mspx
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> Best of Luck,
> >> >>
> >> >> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> >> >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> >> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> >> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
> >> >>
> >> >> "TheTechSupportGeek" <>
> >> >> wrote
> >> >> in
> >> >> message news:C441CDD1-98D0-43B0-AB0E-...
> >> >> > I'm pretty sure this has happened to one person or another running
> >> >> > Windows
> >> >> > Vista. I have a pretty standard computer, well equipped for Windows
> >> >> > Vista
> >> >> > (1024MB Hard Disk, 2.1GHz Processor, the whole nine yards...). Yet
> >> >> > sometimes
> >> >> > when doing my work, I notice my computer slows down a great lot!
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I hit CTRL+ALT+DEL to go to Task Manager, and I see that Windows
> >> >> > Explorer
> >> >> > is
> >> >> > using all 100% of my CPU! So I force close it and open it back up
> >> >> > again.
> >> >> > Then
> >> >> > a few days later, the same thing happens. Note, this occurs no
> >> >> > matter
> >> >> > what
> >> >> > program I'm using. I could be playing a game, doing computer
> >> >> > programming
> >> >> > or
> >> >> > surfing the web! It just suddenly happens. What I want to know is
> >> >> > WHY
> >> >> > and
> >> >> > HOW?
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>

I mean that *something* must be causing explorer.exe to act this way, you
need to eliminate possible causes.

Didn't answer my question about Symantec - it's known to cause all sorts of
system issues. If it's install, my first recommendation is to uninstall it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"TheTechSupportGeek" <> wrote in
message news:07DD3264-0016-46C7-82ED-...
> But I don't know any other causes than Windows Explorer. Like I said, no
> other program on my computer when this happens uses more than 5% of my
> CPU.
>
> "Rick Rogers" wrote:
>
>> Yep, but all you can do is eliminate possible causes.
>>
>> --
>> Best of Luck,
>>
>> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>>
>> "TheTechSupportGeek" <> wrote
>> in
>> message news:7D7A8CC1-4924-48D3-A741-...
>> >I understand this, but if such was the case, then both Internet Explorer
>> >and
>> > Windows Explorer would be eating my CPU alive. Internet Explorer 99% of
>> > the
>> > time works fine...
>> >
>> > "Rick Rogers" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hi,
>> >>
>> >> Windows Explorer uses many of the same files and processes as Internet
>> >> Explorer. Often, plugins/addons from IE cause odd behavior in Windows
>> >> Explorer. Try going in to the Control Panel/Internet Options/Programs
>> >> tab
>> >> and get into 'manage addons' and start disabling those that load with
>> >> IE.
>> >>
>> >> By the way, you don't have Norton/Symantec installed, do you?
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Best of Luck,
>> >>
>> >> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>> >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> >> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>> >> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>> >>
>> >> "TheTechSupportGeek" <>
>> >> wrote
>> >> in
>> >> message news:885D928D-C09B-43EA-BC98-...
>> >> >I downloaded Process Explorer and even that program is telling me
>> >> >that
>> >> > Windows Explorer is using between 89%-100% of my CPU. It's doing it
>> >> > as
>> >> > I
>> >> > type
>> >> > right now.
>> >> > All my other processes are using 0%-1.15% of my CPU. I really think
>> >> > it
>> >> > is
>> >> > a
>> >> > problem concerning Windows Explorer and not the processes it houses
>> >> > as
>> >> > a
>> >> > shell extension.
>> >> >
>> >> > "Rick Rogers" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> Hi,
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Use process explorer to get a better handle on exactly what is not
>> >> >> releasing. Explorer.exe as a shell extension houses many other
>> >> >> processes.
>> >> >> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys...sexplorer.mspx
>> >> >>
>> >> >> --
>> >> >> Best of Luck,
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>> >> >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> >> >> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>> >> >> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "TheTechSupportGeek" <>
>> >> >> wrote
>> >> >> in
>> >> >> message news:C441CDD1-98D0-43B0-AB0E-...
>> >> >> > I'm pretty sure this has happened to one person or another
>> >> >> > running
>> >> >> > Windows
>> >> >> > Vista. I have a pretty standard computer, well equipped for
>> >> >> > Windows
>> >> >> > Vista
>> >> >> > (1024MB Hard Disk, 2.1GHz Processor, the whole nine yards...).
>> >> >> > Yet
>> >> >> > sometimes
>> >> >> > when doing my work, I notice my computer slows down a great lot!
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > I hit CTRL+ALT+DEL to go to Task Manager, and I see that Windows
>> >> >> > Explorer
>> >> >> > is
>> >> >> > using all 100% of my CPU! So I force close it and open it back up
>> >> >> > again.
>> >> >> > Then
>> >> >> > a few days later, the same thing happens. Note, this occurs no
>> >> >> > matter
>> >> >> > what
>> >> >> > program I'm using. I could be playing a game, doing computer
>> >> >> > programming
>> >> >> > or
>> >> >> > surfing the web! It just suddenly happens. What I want to know is
>> >> >> > WHY
>> >> >> > and
>> >> >> > HOW?
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>