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  1. #1
    DF VIP Member whatnow's Avatar
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    Default Explorer.exe crashes PC and then takes 50% CPU

    PC Spec:

    36 GB SATA HD - Master (windows)
    80GB SATA HD - Slave (work drive)

    P4 2.8 no overclocking HT
    1GB XMS 'something hardcore' memory.
    Asus P4P800 Delux Mobo

    I have had this problem for a shameful amount of time on a PC of mine. I'll be working away, using nothing specific and things will get slow and non responding. Task Manager reports a few (seemingly random) apps non-responsive. If I go to processes I can see that explorer.exe is taking 48-50% of the CPU.

    To cure the problem I can terminate explorer.exe. This brings back all other apps to a working state. I then have to close down random apps to get the thing back up again. I was finding that after forcing a close on Thunderbird it would usually allow me to File> Run 'explorer.exe'. However I've close thunderbird other times and its not done the same trick. Sometimes I can just wait, nothing is happening but if I just wait I can then Run 'explorer.exe' again and it'll re-load the Windows Shell.

    If I just terminate explorer and re-load it'll just bosh instantly back up to the half way mark of my CPU and not re-load windows shell.


    I get this serveral times a day when on my PC, which is most days. I've not formatted this PC since I got it, nor reinstalled windows. I use Diskkeeper which does a good job with that side of things. I'm tempted to just format and forget as I know it'll take it away but this is extreem as i've got it setup as I want it, but the setup includes a fair few things, all of which are roughly 30GB, and backing up a forked config is pointless anyway

    thanks in advance for any help...!
    I'm new to this :huh:

  2. #2
    DF VIP Member Q-Ball's Avatar
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    Default Re: Explorer.exe crashes PC and then takes 50% CPU

    i had a very similar problem - exact problem to be honest, however mine turned out to be a virus (norton didnt pick it up, but avg did)

    Anyway - does this happen when your network cable is plugged in or when the pc is standalone? if only when on the net, i really would go down the virus root..

    if not, the a windows update may help
    If I'm not back in five minutes... wait longer!

  3. #3
    DF VIP Member whatnow's Avatar
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    Default Re: Explorer.exe crashes PC and then takes 50% CPU

    thanks for your response q-ball,

    It seems random in all honesty. I am currently using two cat 5network cables and a wifi connection so debugging them might be a big long-winded.

    The reason why I think it's random is becuase it'll just 'happen' like as if explorer just gives up on me. It just happend now and all I did to fix it was to force quit explorer.exe, go to the shops (aka leave the sod alone) and then on returning I could load explorer.exe up again and it'd reload the windows GUI.

    it's all a bit fooked!

    are there any logs or programs that make logs that I can use to help debug this? I dont want to reinstall xp but I will if I have to.

    ps, I use a monthly autopatcher from the usual places so I belive i'm pretty up to date.
    I'm new to this :huh:

  4. #4
    DF VIP Member Shambles's Avatar
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    Default Re: Explorer.exe crashes PC and then takes 50% CPU

    Have you checked your system-events and application-events lists?


  5. #5
    DF VIP Member whatnow's Avatar
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    Default Re: Explorer.exe crashes PC and then takes 50% CPU

    it happended 30 mins ago and there's nothing listed in either

    I assume you are referring to the ones in my Event Viewer?
    I'm new to this :huh:

  6. #6
    DF VIP Member Shambles's Avatar
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    Default Re: Explorer.exe crashes PC and then takes 50% CPU

    yes, just figured it might just have shown something

  7. #7
    DF VIP Member whatnow's Avatar
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    Default Re: Explorer.exe crashes PC and then takes 50% CPU

    no, I wish it had. I've got my windows xp disk just sitting in on my desk glaring at me

    I think a format and re-install it just gonna be the best method. It's crap but i've never had a windows installation last 2+ years before so I am happy to accept that it might need re-doing. Plus it'll probably make my pc run at better speeds due to less shite in the system

    thanks shambolah
    I'm new to this :huh:

  8. #8
    DF VIP Member Shambles's Avatar
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    Default Re: Explorer.exe crashes PC and then takes 50% CPU

    Quote Originally Posted by shangrula
    no, I wish it had. I've got my windows xp disk just sitting in on my desk glaring at me
    At this time you're offline and probably staring at an install screen that says "39 minutes left..."

    So this may be too late.. but I'd go for a run of "SFC /scannow" having first copied the i386 folder to your HD, to scan all system files to see what's changed, if anything.

    Ah well good luck mr shangrullah saab

  9. #9
    DF VIP Member whatnow's Avatar
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    Default Re: Explorer.exe crashes PC and then takes 50% CPU

    yep, format. oddly the problem is now gone.



    paul daniels.
    I'm new to this :huh:

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