Windows 7 x64 multiple explorer.exe*32's present in task mgr

[drjawn]

I switched to WIN 7 Pro 64 bit more than a year ago. a clean install of a legit copy. When I open windows, I open cmd.exe and task mgr before anything else, and by habit peruse task mgr processes list at start up and periodically.
Recently, I've noticed, besides exlorer.exe, 2 to 5(or more?) additional instances of explorer.exe*32.
with no apps open besides command prompt, chrome browser. no windows folders open
sometimes I can end task a few of them, but not all; once this lead to a windows shutdow, when I persistently tried to close them all;
they are sucking system resources to varying degrees, affecting performance. I have done virus(aVast) and Spybot S&D scans, which found no alarms. Any tips or explanations appreciated.
TIA.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Drjawn,

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Autoruns for Windows - Windows Sysinternals | Microsoft Docs


Roy

 

[drjawn]

Thanks, I will check it out.
could a switch of ISP's be a factor? returned to Comcast cable recently
memory AND CPU are both maxxed or close to, much more so when one or two browsers open.
but as I said, even with nearly no programs running there are extras showing,
checked HDD with OS and no fails or problems were found.
Thanks again

 

[Barman58]

I would not worry, 64 Bit windows versions utilise a virtualisation system to provide support for 32Bit application code. What you are seeing are the Virtual containers for 32 Bit processes that are running on your system ( a lot of processes are still 32 Bit so need this support to allow them to run seamlessly).

If you check your system drive you will see that you now have both a Program Files Folder, ( for 64 Bit Applications), and a Program Files (x86) folder, (for 32 Bit Applications), this is all handled by the operating system without any intervention from the user required

 

[drjawn]

thank you barman for your comment.
my concern is not so much for their presence, but that they seem recently arrived, emphasis on seem, and this recent notice of them by me has coincided with extreme CPU load as well as memory usage, impeding
normal browsing and other activities. if I end task some of these with the higher memory ratings there is a short lived reduction in CPU demand

avast and Spybot scans don't seem to show anything unusual from history since install of WIN 7. the only other recent change was a switch from DSL back to Comcast cable for my connection.

I am testing/end tasking, one by one, some of my less critical processes/programs to see what that reveals, but I am perplexed, as I intentionally keep these to a non-teenybopper minimum anyways. I am not a gamer, other than visits to FaceBook to check msg's, do not participate in "social media" or chat or tweeting or instagramming etc. I am a remnant of the UNIX text/command line only days.

I wonder if there is not a connection to Chrome, or Firefox somehow. But no clear answer yet.