50+ 'explorer.exe' in Task Manager

[silversmith]

My Win 7 Dell desktop can't do anything because it is deluged by overload. It boots, but the opening shortcut icons are only generic and the turning circle always stays on. Task Manager shows 50+ "explorer.exe" entries, and seems to be growing! Same is true in Safe Mode. Scans by Rescue Boot disks downloaded from the usual free vendors don't help (including MS Stand Alone Sweeper which finds stuff but hung -twice!- when trying to erase the found items).
Please help! Thanks.

[oldman960]

Hi silversmith, welcome to the forum.

To make cleaning this machine easier
Please do not uninstall/install any programs unless asked to
It is more difficult when files/programs are appearing in/disappearing from the logs.
Please do not run any scans other than those requested
Please follow all instructions in the order posted
All logs/reports, etc.. must be posted in Notepad. Please ensure that word wrap is unchecked. In notepad click format, uncheck word wrap if it is checked.
Do not attach any logs/reports, etc.. unless specifically requested to do so.
If you have problems with or do not understand the instructions, Please ask before continuing.
Please stay with this thread until given the All Clear. A absence of symptoms does not mean a clean machine.


Download OTL (http://oldtimer.geekstogo.com/OTL.exe) to your desktop.

Right click on OTL.exe and click "Run as Administrator" to run it. Make sure all other windows are closed and to let it run uninterrupted.
When the window appears, underneath Output at the top change it to Minimal Output
Check the boxes beside LOP Check and Purity Check.
In the window under Custom Scans/Fixes copy and paste the following


netsvcs
%SYSTEMDRIVE%\*.*
%systemroot%\Fonts\*.com
%systemroot%\Fonts\*.dll
%systemroot%\Fonts\*.ini
%systemroot%\Fonts\*.ini2
%systemroot%\Fonts\*.exe
%systemroot%\system32\spool\prtprocs\w32x86\*.*
%systemroot%\REPAIR\*.bak1
%systemroot%\REPAIR\*.ini
%systemroot%\system32\*.jpg
%systemroot%\*.jpg
%systemroot%\*.png
%systemroot%\*.scr
%systemroot%\*._sy
%APPDATA%\Adobe\Update\*.*
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Favorites\*.*
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\*.*
%PROGRAMFILES%\*.*
%APPDATA%\Update\*.*
%systemroot%\*. /mp /s
CREATERESTOREPOINT
%systemroot%\System32\config\*.sav
%PROGRAMFILES%\bak. /s
%systemroot%\system32\bak. /s
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\*.lîk /x
%systemroot%\system32\config\systemprofile\*.dat /x
%systemroot%\*.config
%systemroot%\system32\*.db
%PROGRAMFILES%\Internet Explorer\*.dat
%APPDATA%\Mikzosoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\*.lnk /x
%USERPROFILE%\Deskuop\*.exe
%PROGRAMFILES%\Common Files\*.*
%systemroot%\*.src
%systemroot%\install\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\DLL\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\HelpFiles\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\rundll\*.*
%systemroot%\winn32\*.*
%systemroot%\Java\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\test\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\Rundll32\*.*
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\Results\Install|LastSuccessTime /rs
%USERPROFILE%\..|smtmp;true;true;true /FP
%temp%\smtmp\*.* /s
/md5start
iexplore.*
explorer.*
winlogon.*
dll
zx.dll
hlp.dat
consrv.dll
/md5stop


Click the Run Scan button. Do not change any settings unless otherwise told to do so. The scan wont take long.

When the scan completes, it will open two notepad windows. OTL.Txt and Extras.Txt. These are saved in the same location as OTL.

Please copy (Edit->Select All, Edit->Copy) the contents of these files, one at a time, and post it with your next reply. You may need two posts to fit them all in.


Next

Download aswMBR.exe (http://public.avast.com/~gmerek/aswMBR.exe) to your desktop.

Right click aswMBR.exe and click "Run as Administrator" to run it

Click the "Scan" button to start scan
http://public.avast.com/~gmerek/aswMBR1.png

On completion of the scan click save log, save it to your desktop and post in your next reply
http://public.avast.com/~gmerek/aswMBR2.png

There shall also be a file on your desktop named MBR.dat. Right click that file and select Send To>Compressed (zipped) folder. Please attach that zipped file in your next reply.

Please post back with
both OTL logs
aswmbr log
mbr.zip (attached)
Please tell me all the symptoms you are experiencing.

[silversmith]

Thanks so much for your interest.

With the CPU 99% busy with the 100 explorer.exe's the computer can not execute a file -- so I could not create any log file.
I could not even do an "in place" win 7 repair, since the "setup.exe" could not run. I had to wipe and re-install. What a pain!

Aganm, than you for your responsiveness.

Peter

[oldman960]

Hi silversmith,

I take it you have resolved the issues by reinstalling?

[oldman960]

Since this issue appears to be resolved ... this Topic has been closed.