Windows 7 explorer takes lots of CPU

[heintze]

I just re-installed Windows 7 (64 bit) and I noticed (immediately after logging in) that c:\windows\Explorer.exe is consuming 40%-80% of my CPU. This does not look right! I have 3GB RAM on a 3.2 GHz single core processor I bought in 2005.

This is prior to me starting windows explorer.

Is this correct? When I thought it might be malicious I killed it and lost my task bar and browsers (even firefox).

 

[goombawaho]

Use Process Explorer to see what else is going on on the computer. Is it for prolonged periods of time AFTER booting is 100% complete that this is happening or shortly after startup?

 

[heintze]

The latter: I've been booted for an hour and it c:\Windows\Explorer.exe is still using 40% while I am installing Visual Studio 2010 and doing some heavy duty text processing. I have no explorer windows open. Now it is 50%.

 

[vacunita]

Explorer.exe is the basis of Windows. It runs the desktop, the window engine, and the overall shell interface.

It will always be running, but should be between 2 and 5% usage.

A couple of causes that may point you in the right direction:

Fast User Switching Cause:

http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/explorer-exe-using-50-cpu-time-idle-t3457008.html

Invisible Icon Cause

http://www.sevenforums.com/performa...h-cpu-usage-tried-everything-i-can-think.html

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Phil AKA Vacunita
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Web & Tech

 

[linney]

If it hasn't settled down yet see what it is like in Safe Mode.

Advanced startup options (including safe mode)

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Advanced-startup-options-including-safe-mode

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/929135

Try testing with another user in Normal Mode too.