Windows Explorer causing CPU usage to 90%

Question

Original Title: Windows Explorer

Every single time i go onto my Windows 7 computer, I lag super hardcore right now and if i take too long, my computer crashes. i open up the task manager and go into processes and i see the CPU usage is at like 90% and the thing that is causing it is Windows Explorer.there is like 5 Processes named explorer.exe and they cause like 50% CPU usage on my computer and i can't stop it unless i get rid of every single explorer.exe processes. that results in no more lag but it gets rid of my desktop shortcuts and my task bar at the bottom. Then i have to restart my computer and the lag is back and everything else is back. It could be my sucky computer but here is the Specs:

MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP 1

Intel Core i3 CPU 540 @ 3.07 GHz

4.0GB RAM

NVIDIA GeForce GT 520

Answer 1

Hello John,

I apologizes for the late response.

I would suggest you to check the event viewer to check the error message.

To do so, follow the steps given below:

1. Click on Start.
2. Type eventvwr.msc /s in the Start search box and press Enter.

List any events that are listed as "Error" in the main window when you go to "Windows Logs" and "Application." There are often a lot of them. Send us whichever ones you see listed for the last couple days. (Please also do for the logs in "System"). When you do, provide us the name of the "Source" and whatever is listed in the description box below the list of logs when you click on one.

For more information about event viewer refer to the articles below:

Open Event Viewerhttp://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Open-Event-Viewer

What information appears in event logs (Event Viewer)?http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-information-appears-in-event-logs-Event-Viewer

Hope the information helps. Let us know if you need further assistance with Windows related issues. We will be happy to help.

Thank you

Answer 2

i've tried getting rid of the explorer.exe processes and getting it back again, I've tried scanning ith a full scan and removing a bunch of files, and more and nothing happened. when i view the event viewer i don't know what to view. and of course if you have skype i can share screens and just show you

Answer 3

Hello Johnson,

Welcome to Microsoft Community Forum.

Before we proceed I would require some more information to assist you better.

1. Do you receive any kind of error message when the computer crashes?
2. Please provide us the event viewer log information. Check if there is any error?

Refer the link: What information appears in event logs? (Event Viewer)

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/what-information-event-logs-event-viewer#1TC=windows-7

I would suggest you to try the following methods:

Method 1:

I would suggest you to kill the explorer.exe process, and then recreate it from task manager and check if the CPU usage is still high.

To do so, follow the steps given below:

1. Open Task Manager by right-clickingthe taskbar, and then clicking Start Task Manager.
2. Click the Applications tab, click the program that isn't responding (select explorer.exe) and then click End Task.
3. Click on File menu.
4. Click on New Task(Run) option.
5. Create New Task Window will be open and then type there “explorer.exe” (without quotes) and press Enter.

Method 2:

Follow the steps mentioned below in the Microsoft articles.

High CPU usage in the Explorer.exe process when you open a folder that contains corrupted .wav files in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976417/en-us

Method 3:

Step 1: Boot the computer in Safe mode with networkingand check if the issue persists.

Safe mode starts Windows with a limited set of files and drivers. Startup programs don't run in safe mode, and only the basic drivers needed to start Windows are installed.

Refer to the link below on instructions to get In Safe Mode with networking.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-computer-safe-mode#start-computer-safe-mode=windows-7

Step 2: If the issue does not persists in Safe Mode then perform a Clean Boot to check if any third party application is causing the issue, as clean boot helps in eliminating software conflicts.

How to perform a clean boot in Windows:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Note: After troubleshooting, refer to this section ‘How to reset the computer to start normally after clean boot troubleshooting’.

Step 3: Run a full computer scan with the Microsoft Safety Scannerto make sure that the computer is virus free.

Microsoft Safety Scanner: http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx

Note: Any data files that are infected may only be cleaned by deleting the file entirely, which means there is a potential for data loss.

Method 4:

Follow the steps mentioned below in the Microsoft articles.

Optimize Windows for better performance

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/optimize-windows-better-performance#optimize-windows-better-performance=windows-7

Note: Any data files that are infected may only be cleaned by deleting the file entirely, which means there is a potential for data loss.

Additional information:

Ways to improve your computer's performance:http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Ways-to-improve-your-computers-performance

Hope this information is helpful. Please do let us know if you need further assistance, we’ll be glad to assist you.

Thank you