Explorer.exe Eating Memory

[Tykan]

Sometimes when I view what processes I am running it shows
that Explorer.exe is using upwards of 400,000K mem usage
and this typically slows my computer down horribly. What
typically causes this and what could I do to prevent this
mem usage spike?

 

[Malke]

Sometimes when I view what processes I am running it shows
that Explorer.exe is using upwards of 400,000K mem usage
and this typically slows my computer down horribly. What
typically causes this and what could I do to prevent this
mem usage spike?

Since you haven't told us what you've already done to troubleshoot, here
are the normal troubleshooting steps:

1) scan with current antivirus ("current" means a version not earlier
than 2002 but using updated virus definitions); 2) remove spyware with
Spybot Search & Destroy (www.safer-networking.org) and Ad-aware
(www.lavasoftusa.com). These programs are free, so use them both since
they complement each other. Be sure to update these programs before
running, and it is a good idea to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode;
3) delete temporary and Temporary Internet Files; 4) stop unnecessary
services/programs from starting with Windows - see www.blackviper.com
for services info and www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm for
programs info - 5) look in Event Viewer for clues.

Also, make sure your operating system has all security patches applied
by visiting Windows Update.

Malke

 

[Alex Nichol]

Sometimes when I view what processes I am running it shows
that Explorer.exe is using upwards of 400,000K mem usage
and this typically slows my computer down horribly.

Add to Malke's suggestion: check out programs you run at boot. This is
characteristic of some of the ones that purport to 'free up' or
otherwise 'manage' memory. They should be thrown out as far as you can
throw them