Memory usage extremely high on Windows 7 OS

Log out and log back in.

Or kill explorer (with task manager open) and then relaunch it.

@Lee,

Ok, I logged out/in and now is fine.

However my intended question was, since I had to close all my App, is there a way to find out what's the cause of it and just fix it, so in the future I will not have to close everything?

Thanks,
Ben

Try using a more advanced Process Explorer to view sub-tasks attached to explorer. exe.
See Sysinternals downloads https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb842062.aspx

@Peter,

I got a whole list of files/app.

See attached.

Which one should I install?

Thanks,
Ben
Untitled.png

bfuchs--
Process Explorer
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653

@jcimarron,

Dont see an option to view details of that explorer process.

See attached.

Thanks,
Ben
Untitled.png

explorer.exe is a virus. IE is iexplore.exe.

Open Process Explorer (above).

Go down the left side tree under Explorer and see if there are any strange alphanumeric processes.

Kill These and DO NOT RESTART.

Now run Malwarebytes to remove the viruses.

@John,

I see things are starting to get exited here..

See attached whats under explorer.exe

Thanks,
Ben

There is no attachment. Did you see the strange processes?

bfuchs----
The items under explorer.exe are already shown (e.g. chrome.exe, MsMpEng.exe, exe).

Explorer.exe is Windows Explorer.  Iexplore.exe is Internet Explorer.
explorer.exe is only rarely a virus.

In my system, Windows Explorer shows as Windows Explorer. There is no explorer.exe in Task Manager.

John Hurst--
On my Win 7 Task Manager explorer.exe is showing.
http://www.neuber.com/taskmanager/process/explorer.exe.html

Thanks. I am using Windows 10. I gave up on Windows 7.

Still, Ben, look under the Explorer line in Process Explorer. Are there strange looking processes?

I'm on windows 7 as well and Explorer.exe is listed as such in my taskmaster processes
Check if you have windows updates pending and if not manually go to control panel windows updates and check for updates and then install them, could be outdated software.
Try clearing your thumbnail cache, using the disk cleanup tool in your start menu all programs accessories/ system tools
If and when the thumbnails cache grow really large can cause windows explorer to use more ram.
The fact it's the ram and not cpu have you tinkered with any settings in the pagefile?
Right click computer >properties>>advanced>performance>adjust for better performance temporarily.
In this same area at the top click on Advanced again >and adjust for best performance programs.

When explorer runs high memory I feel it's highly likely you have a lot of dead registry keys as well.
I would suggest running ccleaner and clean out old reg keys that are nolonger needed
Ccleaner guide
Check you computer power supply unit for dust /cpu fan for dust, any dust build up on the video card and fans inside the motherboard?
Dust contributes to stress to the system.
How old is the HDD?
There are so many possibilities that cause this so if your system comes up clean from malware and does not require windows updates  the simplest way is to run a repair install.
A repair reinstall cleans out your registry.

@John,

Not sure why the attachment had fallen out, here it is.

FYI- Just scanned my pc with AVG, no threats found.

@Merete,

Since I have AVG, dont think its a good idea to install ccleaner or any other virus protection that may clash with AVG.

As mentioned earlier, I did logoff and logged in again, now the problem is gone.

"My main question is, how to solve it in the future w/o the need to logoff or close all my open apps.?"

The only thing that possible is, there are some windows updates downloaded waiting to get installed.

Just wondering, if they were the cause, why did the problem disappear before me installing them?

Thanks,
Ben
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OK Experts, so we finally got an answer.

Thanks to all participants!

Ben

Thankyou Ben now that you know this and to look out for it your question here>"My main question is, how to solve it in the future w/o the need to logoff or close all my open apps.?"<< sorry you have to reboot.
Windows updates run on Tuesday of every month.
Unless there is critical updates then you will see the icon on your shutdown tab shows the shield of updates pending , the reason why we must reboot is to refresh the registry, WU modifies the registry.
Glad it solved and that simple.
Merete

Hi Merete,

Quick question.

Now my memory was low again, after closing most apps I still remained with 49%.

This time explorer.exe is only 1/16 of the full capacity (8 GB RAM), See attached.

How can I figure out what else is eating up my memory?

Thanks,
Ben
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bfuchs--
How can I figure out what else is eating up my memory?

Consider my posts http:#a41501975 and http:#a41502052

@jcimarron,

See attached what I get from process explorer.

Dont see anything significant more than windows task manager.

Besides currently is using 69% of my memory, I think if I add them all up, it will not come close 3GB, which should be about 35% of 8GB, half the amount its currently showing there..

Thanks,
Ben
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From experience Ben high cpu usage with windows explorer ( windows) is either caused by background programs running a scheduled scan, windows updates pending still, too many temp files or old edits in the registry a virus or spyware.
Scroll down in your task manager and see if Windows Updates is still running. Sometimes there are a few updates and even after rebooting it will continue to download for a while then it reports to you there are updates ready to install again.
I cant see it in your screen shot as it is further down.
Have a look in your startup group and stop Drop box from running at boot you dont need it to start with windows, it seems to be using a bit of memory so it could be constantly syncing ??
I use Drop Box and dont have it running at all until I open the web page.
Go to run then type in msconfig >enter start-up untick Dropbox.
Outlook Exe is also using a lot of CPU i


My task manager

To check the performance monitor resource monitor, open your taskmanager then  click on performance at the top
open a new panel, now look at the bottom you see Resource Monitor

@Merete,

OK, originally since I sorted by max memory usage therefore I tought it only important to show the top,

Attaching now 2 screenshots from the bottom section.

My main point here is, that something is happening that is not visible thru those monitors, as mentioned the total usage does not match up with the quantity of all the details displayed.

Also I dont see drop box or outlook making a big difference in the counts.

Thanks,
Ben
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Untitled1.png

@jcimarron,

Actually I just played around little with the process explorer and saw there is a column avail virtual size in memory section (whatever that means), and look what its showing there..

That explains little better how do I come to this total.

Thanks,
Ben
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WU is still running bfuchs so you have new updates available wait till all your windows updates are installed and rebooted and it nolonger running
I bet your process explorer will return to a reasonable normal then we can check what Dropbox and any others running,  why logmein is running in two instances etc the programs that are effecting windows, WU really peaks out your windows resources such as explorer which is windows,
from what I can see in process explorer systinternals you have considerable programs running that are not necessary. Microsoft access.exe is using a lot why do you have all these programs open or runing?
May I suggest go to your start all programs accessories system tools and run a disc cleanup later on run a defrag of your HDD
Regards Merete