Explorer.exe using up 99% of CPU cycles.

[Xenon14]

It should be noted that I am not referring to Internet Explorer, but rather Explorer.exe.

I am on Windows XP Pro. Basic setup: 2500+XP, 512 Ram, 9700Pro.

I ran McAfee anti-virus & Microsoft Anti Spyware, still same problem.

Update: I closed my Windows Explorer window, and the problem was solved. The question now is: Why is it when I am in Windows Explorer CPU & memory usage sky rockets?

 

[FlyingPenguin]

I would suspect you have a spyware app/trojan that's attached to Windows Explorer as a BHO Object.

Please read my detailed spyware removal instructions here: http://theflyingpenguin.com/spyware-removal.shtml

Follow them to the letter, especially as concerns running all scans from safe mode. Make sure you run BHODemon first as I specify to disable any nasty BHO Objects.

Another possibility (after you've eliminated spyware as the cause) is that you have a misbehaved BHO Object that's NOT malicious. Use BHODemon to disable them all. For the most part you generally don't need BHOs.

Another possibility is that you are getting read errors from your hard drive or CD-Rom. Windows Explorer will "hang" until it times out. Check the Event Log and look for device timeout errors. Might indicate a failing hard drive or CD-Rom drive.

Do you keep a CD in your CD-Rom drive all the time? Eject all discs and see if the problem persists. Just having a dirty CD )or a dirty lens) in the drive will cause Windows Explorer to "hang" every time you open it. This could also be an indication of a failing CD-Rom drive.

Hope this helps...

 

[Sunner]

Happens to me sometimes when I open media files(mostly video files) with WMP.
explorer.exe will use 100% CPU for 5-10 minutes, then go back to normal.

Pretty annoying, but only happens when I make the mistake of using WMP.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: Sunner
Happens to me sometimes when I open media files(mostly video files) with WMP.
explorer.exe will use 100% CPU for 5-10 minutes, then go back to normal.

Pretty annoying, but only happens when I make the mistake of using WMP.

isnt that issue related to WMP trying to cache as much of the file as possible or something?

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152

Originally posted by: Sunner
Happens to me sometimes when I open media files(mostly video files) with WMP.
explorer.exe will use 100% CPU for 5-10 minutes, then go back to normal.

Pretty annoying, but only happens when I make the mistake of using WMP.

isnt that issue related to WMP trying to cache as much of the file as possible or something?

Nah, seems pretty random, can be a 15 MB trailer or a full 700 MB DivX, doesn't matter.
Besides, that should cause WMP to use up the CPU, not to mention stop when you kill WMP.
This doesn't stop until you either restart explorer(which sucks) or you let it have it's 10 minute run.