There are multiple instances of explorer.exe running in task manager (currently 7), each one using between 10-40MB of memory.

Anonymous
2009-11-03T00:15:23+00:00

Different explorer.exe processes are using cpu resources at different times.  I remember reading a while back that this could be a sign of a virus, but I've done a full scan with NIS 2010 and nothing showed up.  Can anyone give me pointers where to start investigating?

I did a clean install of Windows 7 last Friday -formatted HDD and all, so there hasn't been much time for anything bad to happen!

<Original title - There are multiple instances of explorer.exe running in task manager (currently 7), each one using between 10-40MB of memory.  I've never seen this in any previous version, and it doesn't look right to me. >

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Anonymous
2010-10-02T01:12:12+00:00

I found out what is causing the explorer.exe's to hang... If you give ANY arguments to explorer.exe in your shortcut/properties, to try to change the default directory from Libraries, it will hang.  For example, simply using "explorer.exe C:" will cause explorer task to hang whent you close it... by hang, i mean the window closes, but the process remains in memory.  I had 15 explorer.exe's tonight....  There are tips on the net about how to get explorer to default to My Computer (which I was using this tip -- i HATE it defaulting to Libraries which i NEVER use)..... so edit your shortcut, and take off any arguments to explorer.exe.  See if this fixes it!

As expected , the tech support is clueless on this I see.

PS -- I just figured out how to default Explorer to My Computer... Its weird, but it works...  Rightclick drag your My Computer icon on the desktop over to a blank space.  Create a shortcut....  Now unpin any Windows Explorer you have from your Taskbar... Now, left-click drag your My Computer shortcut to the taskbar.    Now, if you just click this, you go to Libraries.... BUT -- if instead you right-click it, you will see the My Computer shortcut, and select this, and it goes to My Computer.... and there are never any EXTRA explorer.exe's hanging around!

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-11-16T17:05:15+00:00

    A simple solution to the multi instance of explorer.exe. The cause is really when you open Windows Explorer with an option (ex "%windir%\explorer.exe D:" to open automatically Explorer showing disk D:).

    If you open without any kind of option ("%windir%\explorer.exe"), this problem doesn't appear, but you do not solve the problem, because you WANT to open Explorer on a specific directory (or disk).

    I found the solution on another forum : in this case, simply put the aim (disk or directory) in the shortcut. For example, instead of "%windir%\explorer.exe D:\tmp", only put "D:\tmp". It works very well and doesn't leave any Explorer process pending in memory.

    Tested on Windows 7 32 and 64 bits, works like a charm.

    Alain

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-12-03T23:52:51+00:00

    Thank you so much !

    for me it was the "open containing folder" in firefox 3.6.18 / winxp pro sp3 eng  that was opening a second explorer.exe

    thanks again !

    bye

    ...............

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\SeparateProcess

    solution (for me)
    i have set this to 0

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-02-23T17:25:38+00:00

    Your best bet (worked for me) would be to first, make a list of every shortcut that is pinned to the task bar, unpin everything and then re-pin everything. That's it. I had no issues after that.

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-08-21T01:47:39+00:00

    I have the same "Out Of memory at Line____. too! I run Windows XP, any suggestions guys?

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