Internet & Windows Explorer Stops Working

[Guest]

After my system has been running for 45 minutes or so I can no longer open
Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer or the Control Panel. When looking at
Task Manager, the programs briefly execute and then unload. Explorer.exe is
still running but gradually uses large amounts of memory (at one instance
over 115,000K). I can reboot and things begin working again.

Other programs continue to work properly (Firefox, Outlook, etc.). CPU
utilization is nil and there are no entries in the event logs. The trouble
appeared to start about a week ago after loading the last security updates
from MS. I did a system restore to several days prior to the updates and the
problem still existed so in retrospect I do not think that it is associated
with the updates.

System is up-to-date on all patches, is firewalled and has Spy Sweeper
running at all times. I also use Norton Antivirus. The system is clean and
the registry checks okay with both Registry Mechanic and jv16 PowerTools.

Not sure where else to look...any suggestions?

 

[Guest]

Definately appears to be related to explorer.exe. When the problems begin I
can open Task Manager and End Process for explorer.exe. The desktop will
disappear and a new instance of explorer.exe loads and things work again.
Strangely enough, the original instance of explorer.exe is still showing up
under the Task Manager so then two instances are running but at least I can
gain control of IE, Windows Explorer and Control Panel without rebooting.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Let me see if I have this straight.

You use Task Manager to kill explorer.exe.

And a new instance of explorer.exe loads by itself without you doing
anything?

Is that correct?

If you kill explorer.exe with the Task Manager, your Desktop, Taskbar and
all programs
should disappear. Explorer.exe should *not* reappear in Task Manager until
you start it again by typing explorer in the Open box in Create New Task
(The Run command).

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

Correct. Use Task Manager to kill explorer.exe. Although the desktop,
taskbar, etc. disappears and another instance of explorer.exe loads as it
would if explorer.exe crashed (It has been my experience with XP that if OS
detects that explorer.exe crashes, it will kill previous version and
automatically start a new explorer.exe).

So, what I have afterwards is two copies of explorer.exe running; the one
that was killed and the new instance that now allows items such as IE,
Windows Explorer and Control Panel to open. Yep...I know, very strange.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

There should *not* be two instances of explorer.exe running.

If there are no instances of explorer.exe running, the first one that you
start should bring back your Desktop, etc. The second one that you start
should open My Documents. Explorer.exe should only appear once, no matter
how many times that you start it again.

Wait a minute.

Do you have "Launch folder windows in a separate process" selected in Folder
Options | View tab?

Launch folder windows in a separate process
[[Specifies that each folder is opened in a separate part of memory. When
you open each folder in a separate part of memory, the stability of Windows
can be increased. However, your computer's performance might decrease
slightly.]]

If you do, unselect it and reboot and see what happens.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

There should *not* be two instances of explorer.exe running.

You are correct but...below is a link to a screen capture showing two
instances of explorer.exe running.

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6816/capturexz2.jpg

This was after IE/WE/CP would no longer open and I ended task on
explorer.exe. The desktop went away sans Firefox. Did a run > explorer.exe
and the second instance opened the desktop and I can then use IE/WE/CP with
no problems.

And the item you referenced was not checked.

Thanks for helping...this one is really weird.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

I believe what you're saying, I do not know why it is happening.

It should be obvious that I do not know what is causing the problem.

Can you log on as another user?

If you can, what happens? Same thing?

Do a Search for explorer.exe on your machine.

HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302347

As far as I know, there should be only two.

One in C:\WINDOWS and one in C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache. The one in
C:\WINDOWS is the one that runs.

I am assuming that you're malware free like you originally stated.

However...

Update your antivirus software and run a full system scan.

Update whatever anti-spyware applications that you have and run a full
system scan with each one.

You might want to start in Safe Mode to run your antivirus and anti-spyware
software.

Running a full system antivirus scan or anti-spyware scan in Safe Mode can
be a good idea. Some viruses and other malware like to conceal themselves
in areas Windows protects while using them. Safe mode will prevent those
applications access and therefore unprotect the viruses or other malware
allowing for easier removal.

How to start Windows in Safe Mode Windows XP
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=61#winxo

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

Corrected the problem.

First I changed the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\BrowseNewProcess = yes

Set to yes so that each individual instance of IEXPLORE.EXE would open and
not be linked to EXPLORER.EXE.

Second I did a system file scan (sfc /scannow).

Seems to have taken care of the problems. I also ran several malware scans
in safe mode just to make sure nothing was there. Also cleaned up with
CCleaner.

What appeared to be happening is that as I used IE, EXPLORER.EXE consumed
more and more memory until it started having trouble and would lock. The
more instances of IE, the more memory was consumed and not released.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

I think you hit the nail on the head with BrowseNewProcess.

The purpose of BrowseNewProcess seems to be that if you have one instance of
IE lock up or crash it won't affect any other instance.

But it seems to have its disadvantages also.

Keep having fun.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In