Re: Explorer.exe and RAM usage
 

When reloading the XP theme, it probably didn't put "everything" into the memory, and will probably place it in the memory when it's requested.

Windows theme management can act strange at times :erm:

Re: Explorer.exe and RAM usage
 

And don't I know it...

I'm determined to find out WTF is going on here, but you guys can all have greenies for helping... :)

Re: Explorer.exe and RAM usage
 

Now, 14,596K

Re: Explorer.exe and RAM usage
 

Still in classic or WinXP theme?

EDIT: Just looked at my XP notebook, and it's at 15MB and it only has BOINC running. All settings on performance (including the Windows Classic theme) so I don't think your going to get it much lower than 14MB I'm afraid.

Re: Explorer.exe and RAM usage
 

It could be that you have also started many programs and they havent ended the task in the Task Manager properly.

Re: Explorer.exe and RAM usage
 

That wouldn't effect the kernel. explorer.exe is basically the task bar, anything on it, etc. Do you have a lot of icons on your task bar?

Re: Explorer.exe and RAM usage
 

Explorer is a shell, not the kernel :)

nffc, I don't know much about explorer in XP, but have you thought of trying an alternative shell. Most shell replacements are built to have a smaller memory footprint and be far more flexible/themeable. Some of them are:

Geoshell (I use this one, very easy to set up)
Litestep
Darkstep

and a whole load more listed here

Re: Explorer.exe and RAM usage
 

As I said, in the XP theme.

I can't get why it was hogging so much, when it didn't need it.

As for the icons, surely it doesn't matter as it was the same when in classic...

Re: Explorer.exe and RAM usage
 

No i dont because i disavble alot of programs that are not needed by Windows. I disable them through msconfig.exe and Startup Inspector for Windows which is found at http://www.windowsstartup.com

Re: Explorer.exe and RAM usage
 

8,976K - on the XP theme... :p

Now to fry firefox and its ram usage...