XP Explorer . exe memory usage

[moro2003]

Please can you tell me what is normal memory usage of Explore exe i.e. range min.-max.
I face some difficulties using my browser now.I have two browsers installed- IE 6 and Opera and bot are slow.

 

[linney]

Explorer.exe may vary according to what is running on your machine, but as a very rough guide it seems to sit around the 15,000 - 25,000K mark, I suppose if it was a lot higher it would warrant some investigation.

Run the Disk Cleanup tool and clear out your Temporary Internet Files and other Temp files.

Removing adware & spyware
faq608-4650

 

[moro2003]

Yes I am cleaning out Temporary Internet Files and other temp. files regularely, as well running Disc cleanup very often.
Using all security programs as AV, Adaware , PestPatrol,SpyBot and some others.
Actaualy I found this values for memory usage :
-iexplorer.exe.......19,964K
-Explorer.exe........24,700K
Scaned machine against viruses,worms,pests amd other malware-evrything is clean.
Noticed when try to run Sfc/Scannow ,this program dont start.
Before submited hijackthis.log file for checking on the forum and response was "nothing abnormal"
My SDRAM is 384 MB , and in this moment I have free memory only 160 MB.

 

[linney]

Sfc/Scannow has a space between Sfc and /Scannow.

What type of Internet connection and machine specifications are we talking about here? How slow is slow? When did you first notice this problem or have you always had it?

310353 - How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310353&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

316434 - HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310560&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

 

[moro2003]

Internet connection is Dial-Up Modem 56k
-OS Windows XP Professional SP2
-Processor: AMD Duron 950 Mhz
-RAM : 384 MB
-ATI
-Chip RADEON 9200 SE
-Memory size: 64 MB
-HD: 40 GB

From the total capacity about 9 GB is used now.I have dual boot instalation :
On drive C:\ XP
On drive D:\ Windows 98 SE

Bot drives are clean withiut viruses,worma and other pests.
I need about 4 minutes to dowload 1 MB.
The difference in browser speed is not as it was in the beguining, let me say now is about 30% slower.
f you need some more information,please let me know.

 

[moro2003]

@linney,
After Start>Run> Sfc/Scannow >O.K. ask me to insert my XP CD-ROM,
Insert CD, Retry and receive the message that the files on CD are older then this on my PC and if I insist then I will loose all my updated files.
So I cancel this operation

 

[linney]

FAQ779-4784 may help.

windows XP running very slow
thread779-796508

The condition of your phone line and connections are the main causes of slow internet problems. Your local telecom company may be of help there as they can check your line for problems such as noise on the line etc. Dial up tweaks and such are a bit "hit and miss" and not that much help if your internet is set up correctly. You can check your setup through this link.

http://www.inboost.com/speed-tweaks/modem-tweaks.html

Some improvement may be possible if you use a decent download manager.

Internet Download Manager v4.02

http://www.internetdownloadmanager.com/index.html

There are other "managers" if you care to Google for them

 

[moro2003]

Please check this report,I don't know if such changes are alowed, regarding memory usage.

Mem usage in Windows Task Manager Processes in the beguinnig of PC work ,for some of main users ,was:
-SVCHOST.EXE 18,236 K
-EXPLORER.EXE 16,936 k
-ash Serv.exe 12,232 K
-PP Mem Chck exe 9,012 K
-VSMON.EXE 7,564 K .
-WINLOGON.EXE 5,492 K

All other consumers were under 4 K.

After 2 (two) hours situation regarding memory usage was as follows:
-EXPLORER.EXE 32,656 K
-SVCHOST.EXE 22,868 K
-ashServ.exe 12,232 K
-VSMON.EXE 10,384 K

For other consumers no, or very small changes.
Please can somebody explain what is the reason of this increase of memory usage, specally significant for Explorer.exe.
Thanks in advance,

 

[linney]

Memory leaks.

http://labmice.techtarget.com/troubleshooting/memoryleaks.htm

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&q="memory+leak"+explorer+xp

http://groups.google.com/groups?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&q="memory+leak"+explorer+xp

As to SFC /Scannow have you installed SP2? I would of thought even if you have that SFC would realize this and use the Service Pack files from the Windows folder ahead of the files on your CD. Make sure this folder exists and that you have access to it.

A workaround would be to slipstream the latest SP2 files with your current XP CD and produce your own updated CD.

Slipstream Service Packs
thread779-900263

 

[moro2003]

Yes I have installed SP2.Cheked for Sevice Pack folder in Windows and found it there, is about 520 MB and I have access to the files.
Now please advice me what to do .
As I understood you mention that I should slipstream latest
SP2 files with my current XP CD and create one updated XP CD.
If this is right ,please explain how to do it, and how to procede after to solve this memory leaks.

 

[HughHemington]

On a non-SP2 XP-Pro system, I've noticed that two distinct things are happening. Explorer.exe starts out at about 23MB, and grows to about 32MB under mild folder browsing use. MediaPlayer 10.00.00.3646 seems to leak memory like crazy and this is seen in explorer.exe memory usage, growing to over 208MB after viewing a few music videos in .MPG format.

Another thing that happens is that "something" occurs that causes explorer.exe to grab and hold 50% or more of the CPU, but I haven't been able to track down the exact sequence of events that is causing it. I have only seen this processor-hogging stop one time. All other times, I have to re-boot to stop it.

This system is an Asus P4P-800 system with P4 2.8GHz, 1GB DDR (2 modules), using SCSI and SATA drives.

 

[linney]

You have two threads going on in this post one a problem with SFC and one a problem with memory leaks. They are not necessarily related to each other or the cause of the others problem.

If SFC is only looking at the CD for its files (it shouldn't) then slipstreaming was suggested as a possible workaround. If you download the program and unzip the files and run the exe it will produce a window allowing you to point the program to your CD-ROM containing XP CD. Another box will want to know the location of the SP2 files. (I can't remember whether the SP2 exe has to be copied to the hard drive or if you can use the same CD-ROM after it has copied the files from the XP CD). In any case the slipstreaming program checks and verifies the locations and wont allow you to proceed if there are problems. The program creates an ISO image which then requires software like Nero to "burn" it to a new CD and thereby producing a bootable SP2 slipstreamed XP CD.

As to your memory problems I can only supply the links above as a start point for you to research.

Taking your two problems and considering them as an indication of the overall health of your PC you might think about a repair of XP as a possible solution.

You could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates (no problem if you substitute them with SP2) but your files and programs will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[moro2003]

Try to fix at least SFC using AutoStream .The Program recognize my Windows CD and also SP 2 (i386) ,unchaking CD ROM and Temporary folder on Auto Straem , but after cilck on Open in SP 2 (i 386) nothing happend.
I don't know what I am doing wrong.There is no any explanation what to do, shall copy SP 2 to another hard drive and after that it's unclear how to proceed .
I repeat the program uncheck immidiatelly Windows CD and Temporary folder, then point to the Service Pack Folder , open the folder (i 386) , but without unchecking Service Pack file box.
Regarding memory leakage , I'll try to solve this problem later.
Please if tou can investigate little bit more abt SFC and AutoStream usage ,to activate SFC function on my PC.
Sorry to by so invadive and thaks for your eforts to help me.

 

[linney]

Point the program to location of XP CD, point the program to location of SP2 (XPSP2.exe). The only help available in the program is accessible by running the mouse over the programs screen causing it to display hints.

You click on the magnifying glass besides each box with the locations of CD, SP2, and output folder. This causes the program to check everything is OK with the files and their locations. You then click on the "next" button to start the program.

If you can't get the program to work have a look at -

http://www.broadbandreports.com/faq/5513

for some alternatives and extra information.

 

[moro2003]

@ linney,
Succsseed to create Win XP SP2 bootable CD using AutoStream program.First was forced to dowload SP 2.exe (266 MB ) from Microsoft Web site, then all other run smoothly.
Run Sfc /Scannow with meny "retry" cilck, now I have to reinstall Microsoft Office 2003 Professional because after reboot seems that something is going wrong with this.
After Sfc /Scannow I didn't receive any report regarding System files status- is that normal ?

 

[linney]

Yes, SFC just runs then vanishes, however SFC leaves a report in the Event Viewer (System).
Event Type: Information
Event Source: Windows File Protection

Some programs seem to stop working after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=842242

Prompted for CD-ROM When You Run System File Checker
While Correct CD-ROM Is in Drive

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=263499

Your system seems to be in pretty bad shape. A reinstall after backup of all data, and a clean format may be your only solution.

Also - Did you ever check for hard drive problems ??

I would recommend that you download the free diagnostic software from your hard drive manufacturer's url. This will check the condition of your drives.

Memtest86 - A Stand-alone Memory Diagnostic.
Memtest86 is thorough, stand alone memory test for x86 architecture computers. BIOS based memory tests are only a quick check and often miss many of the failures that are detected by Memtest86.

http://www.memtest86.com/

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

With all your problems, and new ones appearing daily, I would have chucked the towel in long ago and just reformatted and cleaned install XP.

 

[moro2003]

Thanks I'll do some tests and after that decide what to do.
Actually seems all programs running O.K except this memory leakage and low speed which can be coused from the bad line quality or frmo the provider site.