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
    2017-03-04T13:31:58+00:00

    I have this problem apart from i have about 2400 open yes that is 2400 explorer.exe's when i startup

    I have tryed batch files but then it just goes down to the normal like 20 proccesses overall but then it increases all the way to 2400 explorer's PLEASE HELP ME :'(

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-05-15T20:10:47+00:00

    It's a good idea to run Microsoft's Process Explorer to try and find out who is starting these processes. As hinted at in this thread, this seems to be less of a problem with Windows Explorer, and more of an issue with other applications using it wrong.

    In my case, all the excessive explorer.exe tasks (about 30 of them, all consuming 45-50 MB of memory and usually no CPU), were spawned by an instance of the Windows Service Host (svchost.exe). Checking that host's Services page under its Properties dialogue, I saw three services were associated with it: DcomLaunch, Power, and PlugPlay. In this case, given what other users here have already found out, I assume that in my case the plug & play storage devices are the issue. I have recently plugged and unplugged my Sony Xperia smartphone quite a few times – and indeed, every time I replug it, the PlugPlay service will spawn another explorer.exe that won't quit.

    If your variant of this problem is caused by Firefox, BitTorrent, or something else, you should hence see some other pattern in Process Explorer that can help you figure out what's going on.

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