Launch IE6 as part of the Windows Explorer task and save 15mb of memory! Here's how

[Semjon Katatschkow]

I found out how you can use IE as part of the Windows Explorer process.
Usually when you start IE, a new process is created, meaning you are losing
at least 15mb of memory with every new IE window. But if you start IE as
part of WE task, only a few IE specific libraries will be loaded
additionally into Windows Explorer and then you are ready to go. It's
great - a IE window when started within WE only eats 300kb of memory, as
opposed to other useless browsers like firefox, that eats 30 mb of memory by
itself. Plus, IE, when started this way, only takes 2 seconds to start! Yes,
you heard me right, only 2 sec., because in fact no IE instance is created
(iexplore.exe will be unloaded from memory immediately after the launch,
check the task manager), just another Windows Explorer is opened that looks
exactly like your IE, so it takes just as much time to load as a common
Windows explorer window, just 2 seconds. For comparison, firefox takes 15
sec. to start and Opera at least 7 sec. Not to mention their poor rendering
abilities.
And here's what you have to do. First, import the following key into
registry:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\BrowseNewProcess]
"BrowseNewProcess"="no"

Then restart Windows Explorer (important!). Crash it through the task
manager and start it anew using the task manager, or restart your computer,
doesn't matter.

Now you have to configure Windows Explorer a little. Most settings are taken
over from your IE preferences, but specific settings like the WinXP SP2
security settings have to be added specifically for the Windows Explorer
process, e.g.:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet
Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN]
@=""
"explorer.exe"=dword:00000000

Allow Windows Explorer access to the net in your firewall and you are ready
to go. Oh, and btw, don't forget to throw Opera and Firefox into the
recycling bin. hehehe. No standalone browser could ever compete with the
above mentioned memory usage and launch time of IE, when started the way
described above. Perfect solution for computers with a small amount of
physical memory

 

[PA Bear]

Usually when you start IE, a new process is created, meaning you are

losing
at least 15mb of memory with every new IE window.

What are you smoking?
--
~PA Bear

I found out how you can use IE as part of the Windows Explorer process.
Usually when you start IE, a new process is created, meaning you are
losing
at least 15mb of memory with every new IE window. But if you start IE as
part of WE task, only a few IE specific libraries will be loaded
additionally into Windows Explorer and then you are ready to go. It's
great - a IE window when started within WE only eats 300kb of memory, as
opposed to other useless browsers like firefox, that eats 30 mb of memory
by
itself. Plus, IE, when started this way, only takes 2 seconds to start!
Yes,
you heard me right, only 2 sec., because in fact no IE instance is created
(iexplore.exe will be unloaded from memory immediately after the launch,
check the task manager), just another Windows Explorer is opened that
looks
exactly like your IE, so it takes just as much time to load as a common
Windows explorer window, just 2 seconds. For comparison, firefox takes 15
sec. to start and Opera at least 7 sec. Not to mention their poor
rendering
abilities.
And here's what you have to do. First, import the following key into
registry:

<snip>

 

[Semjon Katatschkow]

Why don't you open the task manager and look at the iexplore.exe processes
in the list.

 

[PA Bear]

Memory's there to be used, d00d.

Why don't you open the task manager and look at the iexplore.exe processes
in the list.

 

[Semjon Katatschkow]

....and money is there to be spent. Yet if you haven't got any, you can't buy
additional memory. I've got 256mb and have to find ways to live with it. If
you are so rich go boast some place else. I am sure there are enough people
here who own old computers and are desperately seeking for ways to reduce
physical memory usage.