IEExplorer.exe using up all the CPU cycles

I'm a having a problem with slow downs, seemly caused by ieexplorer.exe. Even when I'm not running IE, it will use up to 99% of the cycles. When shutting down Windows, a window pops up saying IEExporer.exe is not responding. When I shut that down, another pops up saying that a site I visited earlier is not responding. If I try to shut down MSN Messenger, even though there is no IE running, it won't shut down, saying something else is using it. If I go into Windows Task Manager, and shut down IEExplorer.exe, it goes back to normal. Any ideas as to what is causing this, and a fix, would be most appreciated. Thanks.
I am using Windows XP Home , with service pack 1. I have all other updates, other than SP2.

 

Not upgrading to SP2 can leave your pc more vunerable to attack by hackers and viruses, have you considered upgrading?
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/update/sp2.mspx

Also to fix your IE problem try these tools:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFIX.htm
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Dial-a-fix_Full_d4899.html

 

Thanks for the links, I will try them later. I have thought of upgrading to SP2, but on my wife's comp, none of the video programs or the tv tuner work, and there are other problems. Not sure if they are related to SP2, but I didn't have any of those problems with the same software, and the tuner card works. On hers, even Windows Movie Maker will not work. That is the subject of another thread, however. Thanks again.

 

BillD,

iexplore.exe is the program that runs Internet Explorer
NOT IEEXPLORER.EXE. I think you may have a nasty on your PC.

Check out google link
http://www.google.com/search?as_q=IEEXPLORER.EXE&num=20&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=lang_en&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&safe=images

Go to MG tutorial on cleaning your PC of nasties.
READ ME FIRST BEFORE ASKING FOR SUPPORT: Basic Spyware, Trojan And Virus Removal. See MG thread 35407.
Carry out the steps as outlined in
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

Hope this helps. Bazza

===

 

Thanks for the reply bigbazza, and your right it is iexploer.exe. I misread. I ran IEFix, as suggested below (turns out I already had it on the comp, although an older version). I downloaded the newer version, ran it and so far the CPU usage is not going up. Thanks for the help bazza, and bladesofhalo.

 

I spoke too soon, as after it seeming to work for a nuber of sites, with no increase, it went up to 98%. Back to the drawing board.