File Explorer (explorer.exe) loading at startup

angelavdavis

Hi all,

A couple of months ago, I found that File Explorer started loading on startup after a system update.

I have looked relentlessly on the internet to see if there was a fix, and have looked at services.msc to see what is loading and can find nothing. I have also looked at msconfig and there don't appear to be any services that could be loading explorer.exe (even dummy processes that could have been loaded by spyware/malware/trojans, etc).

I am using XP SP3, Avast and Ad-Aware.

Any ideas?

tomsutton529

explorer.exe should run at startup. its the windows shell.

FireFox

As TS says, Explorer is an integral part of Windows and as such loads automatically every time you start Windows. As well as giving you access to your files and folders it allows you to use such things as the desktop, the taskbar and all associated shortcuts etc.
If you want you could try stopping the process but I wouldn't advise it and I doubt you''ll enjoy life without it.

angelavdavis

Sorry - obviously not making myself clear. Explorer.exe is loading and opening a window displaying my documents every time I restart the PC.

tomsutton529

http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windows/t-21035-My-Documents-Folder-Opens-on-Boot-winxp-sp2.html


that seems to make alot of sense. Read all the posts bellow as some contain other/extra fixes.

angelavdavis

Thanks Tom, will check it out.:D