Hi all,
firstable, sorry for my english.

my problem :
on XP startup, explorer.exe is ok, about 00 - 02 %. On the launch of anything that use this process ( Find, Windows Explorer, ... ), the process grow up about 99 % of CPU, and no window appears.

I finally solve this problem with an archaic method.
I 've booted under XP safety mode, and so, i've searched for all files added/modified on date i experimented the trouble : 10/02/2004, about 17h30.
The resolution comes with the suppression of a program called "optimizer.exe".

See if you got it. I deleted it without knowing what kind of role it played, but the fact is that i can now use my Windows Explorer without any problem.

So, i hope this post will be helpfull for all of you.

I had the same problem and yes with video files. it wasn't that the video files were corrupt, it was because when you have the details enabled when viewing the contents of a directory you can run into trouble if the duration field is activated. This is because explorer is trying to calculate how long each movie runs for and that takes up a lot of resources. Disable the duration field and you won't have any more problems. It isn't a hardware issue, just a problem with xp. i have know 3 other people who had explorer running at 99%/100% and they had the duration field activated. once i switched it off on each computer explorer immediately dropped back down to it's normal percentage.

Brendan

See a lot of people having this problem out there. I would assume it does have to do with the video files your trying to play. This should fix it right up.

Start - Run: regedit
File - Export..
Back it up before you mess it up!

Now find the following and remove them and all your problems will be fixed!

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850D C73E}\InProcServer32

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.avi\shellex\PropertyHandler

I'm running a P4 2.54mhz with XP HOME(yea i know its lame) 512RAM and lots of other fun stuff. I started having the problem after some p2p avi downloads. This fixed the problem right up. I would assume it's something microsoft has incorperated into its latest patch that trys to make you use their file formats...

http://www.poopshovel.com

I had a corrupt .AVI file from a p2p network causing this problem when I opened the directory it was in.

The Duration theory sounds right, but I did not have Duration column on my detailed view, only NAME, SIZE, TYPE, DATE fields were visible

I found which file was corrupt by renaming files, the culprit file will not be able to be deleted or renamed.

BTW: the culprit file played fine.
I never would have known it was corrupt except for not being able to rename it.

I deleted it successfully using the DOS del command

* is a wildcard in DOS

if the problem file was named d:\videos\file_hogging resources.avi

DOS Command:
del d:\videos\*hogging*

deletes all files containing "hogging" in that directory


Thanks for the detective work in this thread! Does anyone know what the file was doing? Windows glitch or remote control of system?

Much thanks to a new friend, Mr_Eric Blade (thread above) for suggesting "optimizer.exe", although ONE of my many culprits was named "optimize.exe".

Anyhow, I too experienced high cpu % utilization (95-99%) 02/14/04. The computer will start up without difficulty, but the problem begins when attempting to perform any explorer.exe function, ie., a file or directory lookup, clicking on "My Computer" icon, etc.
I could only avoid the problem by restarting in safe mode. (I am operating W2000, SP4, on a reasonably generic PC with Intel PII-500 and 256mb ram).
My difficulties were foretold with numerous new popups. I then ran Adaware and Spybot and Ad/Subtract. They each found numerous new entries for PowerScan, PeopleOnPage.AproposMedia, and ISTbar.Slotch. I quarantined all of them, but continued to experience the high cpu problem.

Then I reran Adaware, etc. and found new entries from the same spyware, so obviously something was re-generating itself. I deleted those entries again and then from safe mode I attempted to locate Mr Blade's "optimizer.exe" file. As I mentioned I found a file "optimize.exe" which had the exact date & time stamp (02/14/04 at 12:07pm [CST]) as all the spyware entries I mentioned above.
I then performed a search for all entries created or modified at that time + or - 1 minute and found several others which I have listed below and have deleted.
Start your search in that manner and you may begin to solve the problem.
BUT BEWARE, it appears to grow more sinister... I found many other entries clustered by create date & times at approximately each time I attempted to run my computer without safe mode.
When you have sorted your search of files created by date & time you will begin to see other files with gibberish names created at the same moment as the evil ones; you had better consider them evil too.

After deleting all of entries mentioned above and below, I am once again able to click on "My Computer" without fear.

Vielen Dank' an Herrn Blade.

Here is a list of file entries I found that were created at the same time the spyware entities appeared:

administrator@www.trinsic[1].txt
pa2Ag9.ocx
v64e16QdP.exe
ns0f2egy8.dll
apropos_client_loader.exe
optimize.exe
auto_update_uninstall.exe
bundleinstall.exe
istinstall_kart.exe
powerscan.exe
sbinstall.exe
nem214.dll
administrator@popuppers[2].txt
administrator@casalemedia[2].txt
Checks.040214-1245.log
Checks.040214-1252.txt
DyFuCAInternetOptimizer.* (the asterisks are mine
MediaUpdateStats.* there were multiple entries
PowerScan.* with different extensions)
PeopleOnPage.*

Otto and others seem to have identified and interesting situation and i have several similar problems that I plan to follow up. Just a point for improved security Otto the first on your list is administrator hence you are using defaults and using it as an administartor at all times. This has serious security implications. Suggest that you rename the administartor and you use another logon as a power user to help reduce you exposure to someone grabbing your baby. At least if an intruder starts to monster your beast NT systems may just stop unauthorised access to your system config.
Brendan

nevermind

All this mess is a spyware. I have used a "spyware remover" program.. it found many versions of the same spyware (optimizer.exe, dyFacus...") I have deleted them all but this time my "norton-antivirus" program get mad!!! mmm I think spyware remover program deleted some files of "norton antivirus"
Watch out what you download from internet and use a quelified anti-spyware program

Hi Folks,

Interesting thread.

Similar problem but my system locks up when the PC is idle as well as when I'm using it (Word, Excel, AvantBrowser, Freecell) - frequently realise it's locked up when Starfield freezes. Lock up seems to be random and may not not happens for days at a time. Has happened a few times when I've been playing real CDs, CDs copied into Media Player or downloaded videos. Didn't happen before XP (HE) SP1.

No sign of optimize(r).exe and ...CurrentVersion/Run entries seem ok. Will check the 'WakeOnMouseMove' in BIOS but think my m/b is Asus K7 rather than P2.

Thought it might be a problem with DiskKeeper or HD hardware but no sign of disk activity when problem arises. Thought it might be a problem with overheating but AsusProbe reports heat/voltage problems without system lockup. Occasionally will manifest itself whereby moving the mouse will have no affect for 2, 3 or more minutes before mouse pointer moves.

Additionally, system locks up before Win XP splash screen displays. The green XP (HE) progress bars will make 10 or 11 traversals before lockup. System might then die or stutter before loading properly - after anything up to 20 minutes.

I'm running an AMD XP1700+ with 512KB ram and 40GB HD and have XP set up to autodownload all updates. I have ZoneAlarm and AVG (free editions) which are kept up to date, as are AdAware and SpyBot. On one occasion AdAware found some tracking cookies, which I deleted, but I think that was just coincidental.

All responses gratefully received, and if I sort it out I'll let you all know how,

John

there's a lot of spyware and trojan horses you can catch on the Internet,

use jv power tools 1.4 to check start up programs (all pograms running after log on to system) and remove everything what is suspicious (there's a back up tool, too)

than use ad-aware 6 pro to check for spyware and analyze running proceses, easy to use tool

when your explorer.exe is running higher then 4% and no special program is running and you don't even touch the mouse, with 99,9% probability it's spyware or virus scanning your HDD or resources,

to avoid this, install also firewall like zone alarm pro 5.538, - than you will see what is trying to access your HDD from outher internet and simply deny access!


... besides, optimizer.exe is one of them, ... do not invite warez sites , there's a quantum of malicious software you can catch there

use Process Explorer (it's freeware) - explorer.exe is using the file, - deleted the explorer.exe reference to the file in question with Process Explorer, - problem solved

THANKYOU!!!! I have fixed the problem and it was Otto and Eric that had the answer for me. Bloody spyware. I spent ages looking for a fix. Adaware 6 found it (optimizer.exe) and others. Removed but still using 99% resources. Manually deleted stuff that was added, and removed from startup, problem solved. I think I got this crap from the following website ..... http://www.trinsic.org or http://www.andr.net. DO NOT GO THERE UNLESS U ARE LOOKING FURTHER INTO THIS SPYWARE STUFF......YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. They are warez sites and never had this prob but one of them is now a porn/spyware loading site. Bastards)

Thanks again
Homer

MMMMMMMM ..................... BEER

OK HERE IS THE SOLUTION, AT LEAST THIS WORKED FOR ME. START YOUR SYSTEM IS SAFE MODE, IN C:\WINDOWS ARRANGE ITEMS BY DATE MODIFIED , YOU HAVE TO REMOVE EXECUTABLE FILES WHERE DATE CREATED IS MATCHING DATE AND (IF KNOWN) TIME YOUR PROBLEM WITH EXPLORER.EXE STARTED , BEST IF YOU MOVE THEM TO DIFFERENT FOLDER JUST IN CASE. I HAD SOME SPYWARE AND SOME OTHER CRAP MAGICALLY APPEAR IN THAT FOLDER AND THAT WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. GOOD LUCK MP



XP HOME

Hi all,

I had this problem caused by corrupt avi video file. Go to http://personal-computer-tutor.com/abc3/v31/vic31.htm
I used the second method and it worked a treat. File gone and pc back to normal.
Hope this helps.
Dal.

Very similar issue, explorer.exe caused high CPU utilization whenever I right clicked on a folder, file, etc. and the only way to fix was to end the explorer.exe process and then run the DOS command, "explorer" to start another instance. I created numerous Profiles, copied all files, etc. to the new profiles, ran spybot, pestpatrol and adaware, nothing seemed to fix it. Turned out that upon installation of the Google Toolbar, "third party browser extensions" in Internet Explorer has to be enabled for it to work. For some reason, explorer.exe doesn't seem to like that on my machine. I'm running Windows 2K3 Advanced Server on my laptop as well as quite a few other products so I'm not sure which software is causing the issue to be honest. Once I disabled that, can be found under Internet Explorer v. 6, Tools Menu, Internet Options, Advanced tab, Browsing section, "Enable third party browser extensions (requires restart)", the problem went away, unfortunately I can't do my Google searches from the toolbar though. Hope this helps someone out there.

James

I've been having a problem with explorer.exe consuming about 10-30% of the CPU in pulses. I did all the usual spybot/adaware/antivirus stuff, to no avail. Then I used FileMon from http://www.sysinternals.com to try to see what it was doing. (FileMon is a wonderful - and free - tool that has saved me countless hours of headscratching at work.) FileMon showed explorer.exe accessing these files (among others) over and over again: SETUPAPI.dll, and SysSetup.dll.

I finally figured out that it may be trying to do plug & play installs of some USB devices on my USB hub. As soon as I unplugged the hub, the pulsing CPU usage stopped. I suspect its to do with my new iPod, but I have a little more research to do...

My windows XP worked fine except I could not install any type of scanner or cam.
I ended up installing a new windows XP Op system. everything works now except
if I right click on my desktop, explorer.exe takes up 95 - 99 % of CPU and frezes
up the system for about 2 min and then its back to normal.
I can right click on a folder or in a folder no problems it works fine. It only jacks up
every time when I right click on my desktop. Any one know how to fix this one ,
help would be greatly appreciated . mac.

Deleted C drive, formated, reinstalled Win XP and all my programs, Microsoft Work, my saved Documents,
Printer/Scanner, Virus sortware . Everything works fine again.I have no updates yet, Win SR1, ext...
Will let you know what happens after I do up date one at a time to see what does what. Cross my fingers.

My problem was definitely a video file, however, the reason why a video file would hang explorer eluded me...

There has been a potential vulnerability for this issue posted:

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/9892/discussion/

i had a couple of those corrupt video files from kazaa that messed up my system awhile back and whats
worse is that i had a hell of a time trying to delete them-after i did though windows explorer returned to normal