Explorer.exe Process Uses Many CPU Cycles When Windows Is Idle (317751)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
This article was previously published under Q317751

SYMPTOMS

Under certain circumstances, the Explorer.exe process uses an excessive number of CPU cycles when Windows is idle, and as a result, Windows performance is degraded.

NOTE: To view the CPU cycles that the Explorer.exe process uses, right-click a blank area on the taskbar, click Task Manager on the shortcut menu that appears, and then click the Processes tab.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 How to Obtain the Latest Windows XP Service Pack

The English-language version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later: 
   Date         Time   Version      Size     File name
   ---------------------------------------------------
   15-Feb-2002  13:39  5.1.2600.28  293,888  Msctf.dll
   15-Feb-2002  13:39  5.1.2600.28  209,920  Msutb.dll

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Windows XP Service Pack 1.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/27/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbenv kbbug kbfix kbQFE kbWinXPSP1fix KB317751
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