Windows Explorer swallowing CPU

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carpenter

42 posts

Geek

#12871 11-Apr-2007 05:14

I have troubles with strange Windows Explorer behaviour on my notebook (XP SP2). From some strange reason it swallows about 50% of CPU. It happens several times per day and it causes that the notebook starts to heat up to 70 C. When I kill the explorer proces and start it again, the CPU usage falls to standard 5% and temperature to about 55 C; but after several hours explorer makes the same trick again. I can not find out what causes this trouble. However, it is very annoying, so I would welcome any suggestion (no virus or bugs found with Avast, Spybot SearchandDestroy and Ad-Aware...).

lokinz

298 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#66770 11-Apr-2007 06:44

This should solve your problem

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#66774 11-Apr-2007 08:45

Now, this wasn't a helpful reply. Some people might need to use Windows, because of personal preferences (yes, people prefer it, surprised?) or work.

So, next time I read a suggestion like this, which does not address the querstion asked, then it will be considered trolling. And trolls are banned.

Now back on topic... It is not unusual for some CPUs to run hot - that's normal. Older CPUs tend to run hotter, and Intel CPUs seem to run cooler than AMD.

Check your desktop. Is it full of files and folders? I've seem a case with a friend's laptop where Explorer would consume all CPU available and that was because of a large (1GB or more) file he downloaded to the desktop. So check this.

Also make sure you have all the latest Automatic Updates installed.

lokinz

298 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#66815 11-Apr-2007 16:15

I apologies for that statement, I guess you and I have a different sense of humor.

A sense of humour is the ability to experience humour, a quality which all people share, although the extent to which an individual will personally find something humorous depends on a host of absolute and relative variables, including geographical location, culture, maturity, level of education, and context. For example, young children (of any background) particularly favour slapstick, such as Punch and Judy puppet shows. Satire may rely more on understanding the target of the humour, and thus tends to appeal to more mature audiences.

freitasm

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#66818 11-Apr-2007 16:35

I have a very good sense of humour, I can assure you that. But when someone is in trouble, bad jokes don't help.

Back on topic please.

carpenter

42 posts

Geek

#66845 11-Apr-2007 18:51

freitasm:
It is not unusual for some CPUs to run hot - that's normal. Older CPUs tend to run hotter, and Intel CPUs seem to run cooler than AMD.

Check your desktop. Is it full of files and folders? I've seem a case with a friend's laptop where Explorer would consume all CPU available and that was because of a large (1GB or more) file he downloaded to the desktop. So check this.

Also make sure you have all the latest Automatic Updates installed.

Well, my CPU is Intel Core Duo T2300 (1.66 GHz, 667 Mhz FSB, 2MB L2 cache). There are only several shortcuts on the desktop, nothing like big files. I use YahooWidgetEngine with only two widgets on: Shortcut Launcher and Callwave SMS (but these probably are not related to the desktop at all). And yes, all automatic updates downloaded and installed.

carpenter

42 posts

Geek

#66988 12-Apr-2007 23:04

OhOh, so it seems that the troubles are caused by Winamp, which - after every second closing - makes WinExplorer swallow 50%CPU. I have tried now for a couple of time... First close - ok, second close - 50%CPU.

SupA

11 posts

Geek

#68099 23-Apr-2007 00:28

You Will find if you travel yonder through the MSC website a lovely fix for this issue

winamp is lame .. if your just using it for music try using media player (lamer i agree) but its made to parse properly with windows ..

also winamp and others like MMjukebox have always been cpu heavy and rather tardy if your a game who likes to pown to his/her own soundtrack in the background

happy hunting .. all i can say is Thank God for AM2 4600 Dual core :)

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weblordpepe

460 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#68101 23-Apr-2007 02:01

Ok I'm going to come to Winamp's rescue here.

Winamp is one of the better players for Windows. It's been around for donkeys years. Winamp is actually so old I used it on my 486. Even today I run it in classic-mode with the exact same skin as my 486 yet it supports so much stuff.

Typically you'll want to check out the plugins loading in Winamp for cpu faults etc.

One issue I had with Winamp was CPU priority. I had actually let the CPU usage too low for it, and as a result it would skip.
Don't let one little goof-up and a nasty forum post throw you off a good program. Winamp is solid and is always being updated. Even though it's insanely popular, the author still answers his emails.