Selecting certain video files - explorer.exe fills up my free RAM

Hello everyone.
I have an annoying problem with my Windows 7 x64 Ultimate version.

I have a folder acting as a "video dump" with videos encoded in different ways.
The problem is that when I select (single click) on some particular files, explorer.exe will start filling up my available ram up to 98% which obviously slows down Windows a lot.

The interesting thing is that explorer.exe does not behave this way on every video file, only on some which makes me wonder if there's some sort of codec setting or something causing explorer.exe to act up like this (why does explorer.exe even bother going through the files anyway when marking them?).

I have turned of search indexer and I have also optimized the folder to "General items" and also tried optimizing it to "Documents".

Anyone else experienced this?

Each file is over 4 GB and if someone is interested, here's some video information of the files making explorer.exe go crazy:

File A
Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 2
Overall bit rate : 5 930 Kbps
Writing application : mkvmerge v4.2.0 ('No Talking')
Writing library : libebml v1.0.0 + libmatroska v1.0.0

video

Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 5 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 1h 45mn
Bit rate : 4 424 Kbps
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 528 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 2.40:1
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.273
Stream size : 3.17 GiB (73%)
Writing library : x264 core 115 r2008 4c552d8
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:0:0 /

analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 /

mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0

/ deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 /

sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0

/ constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0

/ direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 /

keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=50 /

rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=4424 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 /

qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 /

ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00

audio

Format : DTS
Format/Info : Digital Theater Systems
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : A_DTS
Duration : 1h 45mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 510 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 24 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Delay relative to video : 11ms
Stream size : 1.11 GiB (25%)

---------------------

File B
Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 2
Overall bit rate : 6 707 Kbps
Writing application : mkvmerge v4.2.0 ('No Talking')
Writing library : libebml v1.0.0 + libmatroska v1.0.0

video

Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 5 frames
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 1h 33mn
Bit rate : 5 203 Kbps
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.235
Stream size : 3.30 GiB (76%)
Writing library : x264 core 115 r2008 4c552d8
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:0:0 /

analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 /

mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0

/ deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 /

sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0

/ constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0

/ direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 /

keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=50 /

rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=5203 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 /

qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 /

ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00

audio

Format : DTS
Format/Info : Digital Theater Systems
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : A_DTS
Duration : 1h 33mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 510 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 24 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Delay relative to video : 11ms
Stream size : 1 007 MiB (23%)

---------------------

File C
Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 2
Overall bit rate : 5 625 Kbps
Writing application : mkvmerge v4.4.0 ('Die Wiederkehr')
Writing library : libebml v1.0.0 + libmatroska v1.0.0

video

Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L3.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 5 frames
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 1h 51mn
Bit rate : 4 988 Kbps
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 528 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 2.40:1
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.308
Stream size : 3.78 GiB (87%)
Writing library : x264 core 112 r1834 a51816a
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:0:0 /

analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=umh / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 /

mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0

/ deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 /

sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 /

constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 /

direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 /

keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 /

rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=4988 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 /

qpmin=0 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 /

ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00

audio

Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 1h 51mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 640 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 509 MiB (11%)


-----------------

File D
Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 2
Overall bit rate : 7 501 Kbps
Writing application : mkvmerge v4.6.0 ('Still Crazy After All These Years')
Writing library : libebml v1.2.0 + libmatroska v1.1.0

video
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 5 frames
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 2h 5mn
Bit rate : 5 993 Kbps
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.271
Stream size : 5.11 GiB (78%)
Writing library : x264 core 114 r1913 5fd3dce
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:0:0 /

analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 /

mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0

/ deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 /

sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=0 / interlaced=0 /

constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 /

direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=240 /

keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 /

rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=5993 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 /

qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 /

ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00


audio


Format : DTS
Format/Info : Digital Theater Systems
Muxing mode : Header stripping
Codec ID : A_DTS
Duration : 2h 5mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 510 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 24 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 1.32 GiB (20%)

arkhi said:

Did you install any third-party codecs? It's probably Windows trying to scan said video file for a thumbnail preview. I suggesting either to select a view mode that doesn't display thumbnails (ctrl+scroll wheel), if it works. Or download Shark007's codecs. His codecs are awesome btw.

No, I have no thumbnail view in that particular folder. I'm running it in "Details".

arkhi said:

How about Shark007's codec?

I have not tried it yet but I can try it out after I get home from work. But to be honest, I'm sure that explorer.exe wont load third party tools by just selecting a file, out of a security perspective, well unless there is a third party process in the background waiting for file selection in explorer and I am pretty positive I have no such process running or installed :).

arkhi said:

Well, I just found out that your files are in .mkv format. I have mkv's myself which has sizes similar to use and they're not troubling me.

Another proof that it has something to do with explorer and third-party tools is to uninstall whatever codec you have that allows you to play those .mkv files. If explorer still uses a lot of RAM then we can try looking at other perspectives :)

But please do try the codec and let us know the results as I'm very curious myself.

Much appreciated!

Hello!

I just remembered that ffdshow came bundled with a video tool a long time ago and I hadn't been bothered uninstalling it (it even crashed when playing some files through ps3media server). I uninstalled it and now when I highlight the file my memory isn't being filled anymore. So that means you were right!
Now the question is, why is explorer running codecs on files that are not being executed? I mean, there is no thumbnail view or anything in that particular folder so why would explorer even bother loading the file with the help of a dodgy codec?

Thank you for your help!

If you have the free DivX codecs installed, this is also the problem.

The solution would be to uninstall all DivX software, install the Shark007 Codecs, open the codec Settings Application installed by the Shark007 software using a rightclick on the shortcut and choosing 'Run as Administrator',
go to the MKV TAB and check the box to disable the DivX MF splitter.