Is Disabling Explorer a Safe Fix for Computer Performance Issues?

  • Thread starter Thread starter tribdog
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Disabling Windows Explorer can temporarily improve computer performance by freeing up system resources, as demonstrated by a user who experienced significant lag when connecting online. The user reported that terminating the explorer process via Ctrl-Alt-Del and launching Internet Explorer resulted in smoother operation. However, this method is not recommended as a long-term solution due to potential underlying issues, such as malware infections. Users are advised to run an updated antivirus scan and check for unusual network connections using the "netstat" command.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Windows operating system processes
  • Familiarity with task management tools (e.g., Task Manager)
  • Basic knowledge of command line operations (e.g., Command Prompt)
  • Awareness of malware types and symptoms (e.g., trojans)
NEXT STEPS
  • Run a full system scan using updated antivirus software
  • Learn how to use the "netstat" command to monitor network connections
  • Research methods for optimizing Windows performance without disabling Explorer
  • Explore tools for diagnosing and fixing malware infections
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for IT professionals, computer users experiencing performance issues, and anyone interested in understanding the implications of disabling system processes for performance enhancement.

tribdog
Messages
779
Reaction score
17
This computer my boss gave me seems to get bogged down too easily. especially when I get online. I have to wait for about 5 minutes after connecting before I can do anything. But what I did last time I connected was hit ctrl-alt-del then stop the explorer process. This wiped out my desktop, then I started a new application and started iexplorer. Now it's running like a charm. I don't have a desktop, but everything seems to work fine. Is there any reason why I shouldn't be running the computer in this fashion, other than lack of convienience?
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
tribdog said:
This computer my boss gave me seems to get bogged down too easily. especially when I get online. I have to wait for about 5 minutes after connecting before I can do anything. But what I did last time I connected was hit ctrl-alt-del then stop the explorer process. This wiped out my desktop, then I started a new application and started iexplorer. Now it's running like a charm. I don't have a desktop, but everything seems to work fine. Is there any reason why I shouldn't be running the computer in this fashion, other than lack of convienience?
Sounds like a virus (trojan, actually) - run a scan and make sure the scanner is up to date. A quick way to check is to open a command prompt and type "netstat" - if you get more than a small handful of connections, its a trojan.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
4K
Replies
6
Views
6K
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
4K
Replies
31
Views
5K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
3K