explorer.exe uses 100% of CPU

[Guest]

My system suddenly hangs while going through my outlook folders. Same has
happened while running different applications. Each time I troubleshoot using
task manager, I find out explorer.exe hugs 100% of the CPU even without any
applications running or windows open. My service packs are up to date and my
Norton Antivirus 2006 virus scan yielded no results. What could be the
problem? FYI, I am running Windows XP Home on a Dell Dimension 4500 desktop.
The only way to slove is to end the process but this makes all the task bar
and all the icons disappear. I ahve no choice but to reboot. This is
annoying? Could this be a virus or malware. Any solutions out there.

 

[Leonard Grey]

Norton Antivirus 2006 doesn't check for non-viral malware.

 

[Guest]

Leonard,

Thank you. Do you know if my problem is malware and if so where can I get a
program to delete this malware?

Bravi

 

[Leonard Grey]

Bravi:

You won't know if your problem is malware until you scan your system
/thoroughly/ for malware. Start here:

Kaspersky Online Scanner
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner

Symantec Online Scanner
http://preview.tinyurl.com/3ftaj

 

[Guest]

My system suddenly hangs while going through my outlook folders. Same has
happened while running different applications. Each time I troubleshoot using
task manager, I find out explorer.exe hugs 100% of the CPU even without any
applications running or windows open. My service packs are up to date and my
Norton Antivirus 2006 virus scan yielded no results. What could be the
problem? FYI, I am running Windows XP Home on a Dell Dimension 4500 desktop.
The only way to slove is to end the process but this makes all the task bar
and all the icons disappear. I ahve no choice but to reboot. This is
annoying? Could this be a virus or malware. Any solutions out there.

Go through these cleaning steps:
1... First, try to clean up your caches, Internet files and delete cookies
by doing this:
Click Start >> Control Panel >> Double click Network and Internet
Connections >> Double click Internet Options.
On the IE properties windows you will see these Taps:
General | Security | Privacy | Content | Connections | Programs |
Advanced
Under General Tab clear your History, Internet Files and Cookies.
Then click on Advanced tab and scroll down to under the Browsing Option:
[&] Browsing
[ ] Enable Third-Party browser extensions (Req Rest) uncheck this box.
Then click on Programs Tab and click Manage Add-Ons and Disable all non
Verified Add-Ons (You should Renable them later one-by-one and see the
culprit and update it or remove it.
How to manage Add-Ons:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883256

2... You need to be sure your system is clean from malwares and Viruses by
scanning for them
Scan for malwares from here:
http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php
http://www.safer-networking.org ; for Spybot S&D

=How to perform a clean boot procedure to prevent background programs from
interfering with a game or a program that you currently use
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796
Run Disk CleanUp, and then Open a run command and type in:
sfc /scannow click [OK] get your XP CD handy.
HTH.
Let us know.
Regards,
nass