explorer.exe

I'm also using RC build 7100 (x64), and I've had the same issue for a while now, been trying to resolve it for a few weeks, no luck yet though. Screenshot attached for an example.

Here's what I have figured out so far:

- Every instance of explorer (as file manager) that you open adds an instance of explorer.exe to the task manager.

- Whether I have set "launch folder windows in a seperate process" to enabled or not makes no difference - I still get a new instance for each window opened (the seperate process setting simply means that if one of them crashes, it won't bring down all the explorer windows with it).

- From what I can gather, the behaviours above are completely normal.

- However, the PROBLEM is that frequently (usually, in fact), the explorer instances -don't- close in task manager when you close their windows. So for example, if I close all my explorer windows, I should be left with only one instance of explorer.exe in task manager (the windows shell). This does happen occasionally (if I open a window and close it immediately afterward), but most of the time it doesn't, I have no idea why. So I frequently have the issue you can see in the attachment.

I've run Ad-Aware, Malware Bytes, Spybot, I use Avira, have done full scans, I come up clean (and generally I'm quite diligent when it comes to malware and the like).

@lyle, yea i still have the same prob m8, seems to slow my pc down to a crawl have to sheck TM to find out what it is alsways seems to be explorer.exe as the pic shows

S

Im going to ask a dumb question. You dont have a shortcut for explorer anywhere do you?

K

@zigzag, no m8, well not for explorer anyway but just usual stuff!

@lyle

I have the exact same problem. I've actually had the same problem since Vista. Have been looking for a solution for the past couple years with no luck. A bit depressing, but still hopeful.

@agent4054,

Yeah, I've seen the odd thread in my searches on this talking about vista. In a sense, it reminds me a bit of explorer appcrashes, where the behaviour can be uniform, but the causes widely varying. So it may be that it's not a Windows 7 problem exclusively, or maybe it's just some other software (non-malware) affecting explorer, like shell extensions do.

I did a new install to test, and it was still happening, so if it's something else to blame, maybe it's hardware related? Just as a check, here's what I am running, maybe we have something in common?

ATI Radeon 4850 (I upgrade my Catalysts fairly regularly)
Intel DP35DP board (I use it's chipset drivers and Management Engine Interface)
Linksys Compact Wireless-G USB wireless adapter (just using Windows default driver)
Winfast DTV Dongle Gold (driver v8.6.24.1)

I also set up Acronis True Image Echo Workstation fairly immediately upon an install...


@zigzag3143,

I use a shortcut for explorer, would that affect anything?

@zigzag3143,

Wow, I thought that was a left-field question, but I went and did some checking...

I use an explorer shortcut in a toolbar on the taskbar (got used to this in WinXP and just kept doing it) rather than the by default already pinned explorer.

The shortcut has the properties:
%windir%\explorer.exe /n, c:\

Everytime I use that, I get a new instance of explorer.exe, like I mentioned. But just now, reverting to the default explorer shortcut in the start menu, I noticed that I -don't- get more explorer instances in task manager. If I enable launching folder views in a separate process, I get two instances, -maximum-, no matter how many I open. And it appears to be closing consistently when I close all the windows!

I really think you've solved this. Seeing as you obviously knew to ask the question, can I ask what it is about the other shortcut (which by default opens explorer at the root of c drive rather than in the libraries) that causes that behaviour? Is there another way I can do that (it's not great loss if I can't, just curious)?

Many thanks, mate.

I don't know why a shortcut would have any relevance on the issue. I have it pinned to the taskbar though.

as for background processes:
ATI Radeon 4770 Catalyst software (but had an nvidia card before that; no difference in problem)
Kensington trackball software
Avast

It is possible that some third party program is causing issues, just unsure of what. I used to use the blackbox shell in Vista and used to think that was my problem, but ever since I started having this issue in W7 (which, was right from the beginning) I ruled that out.

*shrug*

lylewaggoner said:

@zigzag3143,
The shortcut has the properties:
%windir%\explorer.exe /n, c:\

Hmm... I also use a similar shortcut cmd:
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,F:\

I really like that command, but if it will fix the problem, I might as well try it. =/

I've been looking for information about this for a while now. I was also using a switch (which I found via google) at the end of the shortcut to make it open in Computer instead of Libraries. After a week or so of normal use I would end up with a bunch of explorer.exe processes that wouldn't get released. Interesting.