windows explorer uses 100% cpu

[pamf]

for the last week or so ive been having problems with windows explorer.. whenever im browsing folders, the mouse just starts getting really choppy like somethings using up 100% cpu or something, then it goes back to normal... if i right click on a large file and leave the menu open, it just sits there being really slow.. it wasnt doing this before a week ago when i reinstalled windows.. i just reinstalled it again and its still doing it...

does anyone have any ideas what might be causing this?

 

[fastman]

Did you do just a reinstall or a complete format/install? What O/S are you using? Try doing a "three finger salute", (Ctrl, Alt, Delete), check Processes under Task Manager and seeing exactly what is using up your resources.

 

[pamf]

its xp.. ive done a complete reinstall (format)... windows explorer is using up the cpu in task manager..

 

[pamf]

bump?

 

[bruincal]

Hey Pamf,
I had this exact same problem 2 months ago. I would be using Windows XP, and I noticed that Explorer.exe was using about 80 MB of RAM/paging space and 100% of my CPU. I terminated explorer.exe, but when it reloads, the same problem occurs. This happened for two months. I noticed that I could create the problem by launching My Computer or Windows Media Player. I tried patching up my system, and checked the Microsoft Support Articles to no avail.
After a while, the problem stopped, but I am not sure exactly how it was solved. However, there were several things that I tried all at once. You should make sure that you have the latest WinXP drivers for your video card. Also, you should to www.windowsupdate.com and make sure your system is entirely patched. There's a very high chance that Windows XP Service Pack 1 properly addresses this issue.

Good luck!!

 

[pamf]

I'm running the detonator 41.03 drivers... I had this problem before when I was running 30.82 though. I've also got SP1 and all the latest updates too, as well as the latest 4in1s..

Any other suggestions?

 

[dethman]

i've had this happen before. i still have not isolated the problem. it happens occasionally to me when i use web2pop downloading mail, and regularly when using newsbin. explorer usage goes up to 100% and it hangs and becomes unresponsive but it will move around SLOOOOOWLY. it appears that this happens when some program is trying to access something that it can't, and somehow it drags explorer down with it.

i'm just going to reformat when i find the time to install my new HD.

 

[pamf]

reinstalling didn't help me.. :/

 

[magomago]

Reinstall wouldn't fix it?

This used to happen to me, but I just reformated....

I dunno, maybe wipe out the HDD and leave the computer alone for a while(1-2 days?) without it plugged into the power....who knows? Maybe it'll work (Its like Computer Supersitition, but hey doesn't hurt to try)

I've done this b4 on problems that drive me crazy (especially when trying to install drivers on a reinstall of win98) and it worked

 

[crisp82]

www.Astonshell.com. Nice shell replacement for windows. try it.