IE9 starting rundll32.exe files upon exiting it,killing cpu and memory

simono1 · 30 Oct 2012

I am running the 64-bit version of Windows 7 along with IE9. I have found that a problem exists for both the 32-bit as well as the 64-bit version of IE9. I find that for the 32-bit IE9 there are 2 "iexplore.exe *32" files running when the program is started. With the 64-bit version of IE9 there are 2 "iexplore.exe" files running but that's not the problem.

I have found that when I have checked the box "Delete browser history on exit" (Tools - Internet Options - General tab - Browsing History) this sets off the problem on IE9 exit. Both of the iexplore.exe disappear but 2 new files rundll32.exe (*32 for the 32 bit version) appear. These 2 new files run for several minutes at 100% cpu and each will have up to 680Mb of memory. If I go back and uncheck the “Delete browser history on exit” these files, rundll32.exe do not appear and the problem goes away.

It appears the problem is with “Delete browser history on exit” function. I've been using IE9 since it came out and never had my computer, which is now freezing while the rundll32.exe are running, happen before. Ran Malwarerbyts, Super anti-spyware, Spybot, MS Essentials, Advanced system care (Just the Malware finder), Argente utilities (Just the Malware finder), System Mechanic (Just the Malware finder) in safe mode and nothing. I also am not using registry cleaners. Has this same problem been asked here before? I couldn't find anything on this specific problem.

A Guy · 04 Nov 2012

This is not an uncommon issue, but usually the "answer" is people realizing it is the Delete browser history, and unticking it. You can confirm what dll is actually being run:

What is rundll32.exe And Why Is It Running?

But I suspect it will just confirm it is

"rundll32.exe C:\windows\System32\inetcpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess xxx"

Is your user an administrator? If not, try seeing if this occurs with the admin user. Or create a new user, and see if it also happens there.

At least I now know why the 2 dlls are launched

Rundll32.exe Command to Clear Internet Explorer Cache is Ineffective in Windows Vista and Higher - The Winhelponline Blog

I'm sorry this is no fix, but it is doing what it is supposed to. Why it uses so much resources is unclear. You might want to untick it, and just run CCleaner manually, or as a task

Setup CCleaner to Automatically Run Each Night in Windows 7, Vista or XP

A Guy

simono1 · 04 Nov 2012

Thanks guy for answering...

Ccleaner is one of my favorite tools and use it often. I want to mention that when manually deleting IE history from the internet options window, at the bottom of your screen, just above the task bar, you would get an extra tan colored bar from IE, pop-up and say: "Enternet Exporer has finished deleting, or running, or has Ended deleting process" or something like that. Now, I see nothing when doing a manual delete, only a smaller than normal hour glass next to the pointer that flickers, and then is gone. No more bar at the bottom and nothing has been deleted from the history but, 3 rundll32.exe files are running wide open in task manager killing the cpu and distroying all the free memory in a matter of seconds. I shut down IE and bring it back up, and still... nothing deleted. Weird, isn't it?