Need Tech Help =[

[Hyperion]

ok...so just got my net connection back and now i have a problem with the bloody laptop i use Opera now but i have a rogue program calling itself explorer.exe that is using 99-100% of my CPU constantly...i terminate the process and everything but my screensaver dissapears...forcing me to re-activate it.

I figured it was something that snuck through into my Internet Explorer program files and hence i tried to delete them but it doesn't let me whilst it's running and if i end it i can't get back into the 'search' and 'run' etc to delete the folder...anyone had this before or know how i can get rid of the bloody thing? please?

[rus|Mike]

explorer.exe is a system process handling Windows interface (disapearence of graphics when you terminate it proves it). No idea why it's consuming all CPU resources

Although, this exe can be infected with smth... try searching and downloading native explorer.exe for your Windows version and exchanging the currect one with it.

[Mas Tnega]

Explorer.exe is Windows Explorer, and it controls vast majority of the GUI. IExplore.exe is Internet Explorer.

Best guess is getting Process Explorer, running it, clicking on the plus next to explore.exe and finding out if that tells you more about what's using what.

That, or taking your chances with some smartass' scribblings

[LLamaBoy]

explorer.exe is the window shell program. Basically it's the basis for your entire GUI, so naturally terminating will get rid of your taskbar, windows etc.

Why it would be constantly running at 100% CPU usage is a mystery. A quick google suggests one cause is a media thing, so does it happen when you're using video or audio files?

http://www.winforums.com/showthread.php?t=1328 - link to a relevant discussion

[Hyperion]

explorer.exe is the window shell program. Basically it's the basis for your entire GUI, so naturally terminating will get rid of your taskbar, windows etc.

Why it would be constantly running at 100% CPU usage is a mystery. A quick google suggests one cause is a media thing, so does it happen when you're using video or audio files?

http://www.winforums.com/showthread.php?t=1328 - link to a relevant discussion

No it's not a media thing, it's a constant thing as soon as the computer it switched on, i keep having to end it and re-run it to get a brief moment of cpu usage to try and find a cure...there are various mentions of it on sites (the trojan word keeps popping up), microsoft states problems with it using cpu cycles when windows is idle...which is what happens when i terminate it (the idle mode switches to 99% cpu usage).

Anyone know there directory location it should run from? or how i can find that?

[rus|Mike]

C:/windows/explorer.exe

[Hyperion]

Think i fixed it

Method 2 seemed to work - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/819946/en-us

Thank you all for the quick responses, gotta love this community if i had free sweets id hand them out all round...honest.

EDIT: Seems i was mistaken just gave me a small break then hit the cpu again.

[Phelanpt]

It should run from your Windows dir on XP (C:\Windows\explorer.exe).

Do you have antivirus and antispyware software? You didn't mention it yet. If you don't, the chances that it could be infected by a rogue program are high.

Edit: Ninja'd!

[Nimbus]

If you close explorer.exe, you can restart it by bringing up the task manager, going to file>New Task and typing "explorer.exe". That should save you from restarting your computer when you kill the process. As to why it is taking up 100% of you CPU I have no idea.

[Hyperion]

If you close explorer.exe, you can restart it by bringing up the task manager, going to file>New Task and typing "explorer.exe". That should save you from restarting your computer when you kill the process. As to why it is taking up 100% of you CPU I have no idea.

Yeah i've been doing that only using Virgin PcGuard...think i've fixed it now though O_o *cautiously gets out the bag of sweets again*...

[TomCat39]

One other you might try doing is multiple virus scans of your laptop. No one scan engine detects everything so multiple engine scan is the only sure way to know your machine is clean or mostly clean.

The first one I tend to us and is quite good is http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ free online scan. Then there is bitdefender http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
and then symantec http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/home ... IDVSBJRSOM and then locally I use Avira since AVG went to crap imo. And lastly, there is also McAfee http://home.mcafee.com/Downloads/FreeScan.aspx

If you get through all 3 of those without a virus or malware then you can be sure it's corruption and not a trojan/virus issue.

Symantec and Trendmicro will clean the virii they find. Not sure on bitdefender.

Good luck.