explorer.exe taking up a buttload of memory

Jenny · 10-17-2005, 12:33 AM

First, system stats:

Operating System: WinXP Professional 5.1 Service Pack 2 (Build #2600))

Memory Usage: Usage: 338/639MB (52.90%) (according to my checker on mirc)

CPU Info: 2 CPU's - Intel Pentium 4, 2.39 GHz, L1: 8KB L2: 512KB

Hard Disks: Total/Free: 223.55/163.33GB ¤ Total/Free space on: C: 186.31/126.15GB ¤ D: 37.24/37.18GB

Problem:
I use Firefox. Right now, am using 1.0.7 but have had this issue sine I started using it several versions ago. A lot of the time for work stuff, I'll have 2 Firefox windows open. When they have been open for several hours, stuff will slow down horribly. Firefox memory goes to 100+MB and explorer.exe goes to 40+MB. Closing the Firefox windows will take care of the firefox memory usage of course, but only rebooting fixes explorer.exe. I can stop the task and restart it, but it only drops to about 26MB.

From reading on the Mozilla forum, the memory leak is known, but no fixes have come out, that I can see. And not even the newest version has it fixed.

Anyone have any suggestions?

TIA.

gwilks98 · 10-17-2005, 03:39 PM

Sounds like you've got it figured out. I can't really fix a mem leak, that's mozilla's job.

Something you could try:
Go to sysinternals.com and download their free Process Explorer. It's a LOT more advanced than the task manager. You can dig inside each process and kill specific threads. It may help you diagnose which part of explorer is sucking up the memory. Or it may cause the system to be really unstable and you'll be forced to reboot.

C'est le vie....

Jenny · 10-17-2005, 05:19 PM

lol Thanks, will give it a try.

sho.gun · 10-18-2005, 09:42 PM

Do you have any firefox plugins installed? It could be a badly coded plugin...

Jenny · 10-18-2005, 10:09 PM

Yep, and I checked the FF forums and the ones I have installed shouldn't have issues.

I rebooted just now and with nothing running, here were the numbers:
Commit Charge: 194M / 1561M
explorer.exe = 21,096K
svchost.exe = 18,940K

wtf.

InfiniteNothing · 10-20-2005, 10:49 AM

Can someone explain why a firefox leak would cause explorer to be big?

I say just use safari

Jenny · 10-20-2005, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InfiniteNothing

Can someone explain why a firefox leak would cause explorer to be big?

That's kinda what I was wondering. heh

What does explorer.exe normally run at for everyone else?

Quote:

Originally Posted by InfiniteNothing

I say just use safari

I'm about to that point. I absolutely love Firefox. Except for this one blasted thing. bah. heh

Airencracken · 10-20-2005, 01:40 PM

Firefox does the same thing to me sometimes. I don't know why. Sometimes just firefox itself is taking up like 80 megs of memory.

Jenny · 10-20-2005, 03:12 PM

Oh, my FF gets up to 140MB by itself. It has a serious memory leak. Easily fixed by closing & restarting FF but damn. lol

Jenny · 10-25-2005, 04:09 PM

hrmph. I thought I had it figured out. I stopped using a picture for a wallpaper and am using no wallpaper at all with a plain black bg. And for a few days, explorer.exe was staying like below 8MB. Which was great.

I rebooted today again and suddenly it's running at a minimum of 20MB. wtf.

10-17-2005, 12:33 AM	#1
Jenny Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Kansas City area Posts: 10,947	explorer.exe taking up a buttload of memory First, system stats: Operating System: WinXP Professional 5.1 Service Pack 2 (Build #2600)) Memory Usage: Usage: 338/639MB (52.90%) (according to my checker on mirc) CPU Info: 2 CPU's - Intel Pentium 4, 2.39 GHz, L1: 8KB L2: 512KB Hard Disks: Total/Free: 223.55/163.33GB ¤ Total/Free space on: C: 186.31/126.15GB ¤ D: 37.24/37.18GB Problem: I use Firefox. Right now, am using 1.0.7 but have had this issue sine I started using it several versions ago. A lot of the time for work stuff, I'll have 2 Firefox windows open. When they have been open for several hours, stuff will slow down horribly. Firefox memory goes to 100+MB and explorer.exe goes to 40+MB. Closing the Firefox windows will take care of the firefox memory usage of course, but only rebooting fixes explorer.exe. I can stop the task and restart it, but it only drops to about 26MB. From reading on the Mozilla forum, the memory leak is known, but no fixes have come out, that I can see. And not even the newest version has it fixed. Anyone have any suggestions? TIA. __________________ Check out my spoilers for over 20 shows @ SpoilerFix.com Check out my TV blog, where I post weekly & daily TV schedules, TV news, interviews with TV stars & more! All new TV forums as well @ TV Is My Pacifier

10-20-2005, 10:49 AM	#6
InfiniteNothing Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Diego Posts: 10,086	Can someone explain why a firefox leak would cause explorer to be big? I say just use safari __________________ As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.

10-20-2005, 01:40 PM	#8
Airencracken Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: California Posts: 6,681	Firefox does the same thing to me sometimes. I don't know why. Sometimes just firefox itself is taking up like 80 megs of memory. __________________ "I remember my first orgasm, I just wish someone was there to share it with me..."11-05-2003 05:33 AM - Topane They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, & the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opiate of the masses. - Karl Marx Hell is other people - Jean-Paul Sartre

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-17-2005, 03:39 PM	#2
gwilks98 Vice Admiral Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: StL Posts: 4,300	Sounds like you've got it figured out. I can't really fix a mem leak, that's mozilla's job. Something you could try: Go to sysinternals.com and download their free Process Explorer. It's a LOT more advanced than the task manager. You can dig inside each process and kill specific threads. It may help you diagnose which part of explorer is sucking up the memory. Or it may cause the system to be really unstable and you'll be forced to reboot. C'est le vie.... __________________ "I know the pieces fit, cause I watched them fall away." "Cold silence has A tendancy to Atrophy any Sense of compassion." MJK

10-17-2005, 05:19 PM	#3
Jenny Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Kansas City area Posts: 10,947	lol Thanks, will give it a try.

10-18-2005, 09:42 PM	#4
sho.gun the lemonizer Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Calabasas, CA Posts: 5,373	Do you have any firefox plugins installed? It could be a badly coded plugin...

10-18-2005, 10:09 PM	#5
Jenny Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Kansas City area Posts: 10,947	Yep, and I checked the FF forums and the ones I have installed shouldn't have issues. I rebooted just now and with nothing running, here were the numbers: Commit Charge: 194M / 1561M explorer.exe = 21,096K svchost.exe = 18,940K wtf.

10-20-2005, 03:12 PM	#9
Jenny Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Kansas City area Posts: 10,947	Oh, my FF gets up to 140MB by itself. It has a serious memory leak. Easily fixed by closing & restarting FF but damn. lol

10-25-2005, 04:09 PM	#10
Jenny Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Kansas City area Posts: 10,947	hrmph. I thought I had it figured out. I stopped using a picture for a wallpaper and am using no wallpaper at all with a plain black bg. And for a few days, explorer.exe was staying like below 8MB. Which was great. I rebooted today again and suddenly it's running at a minimum of 20MB. wtf.

User Name
Password
Remember Me?