I have Windows 8.1 Pro (x64) installed on Alienware M17x. The slowdown mostly appears as slow response in the situation such as open a folder/window, open/close/switch tabs in IE, drag window, and there's also cursor lag. It gradually slows down after system boot, noticeable after 3-4 hours, really slow after 8-9 hours.

I have thought about many possible processes which can cause this issue, and then I found out that it's caused by "explorer.exe". If I kill "explorer.exe", the speed suddenly becomes normal. Then, I restart explorer.exe again, it stays normal, and then it still gradually slows down again after hours.

I have checked driver or software compatibility. Also, CPU usage and Disk usage is normal.

Please give some advises, reasoning, or solutions.

• Edited by Polyhedron Riddle 6 hours 32 minutes ago

Hi,

Actually, for this problem, it would be better to use Process Explorer to monitor Explorer.exe process, beacuse it contains plenty of sub-process. When this problem occures, open Process Explorer and check which application of Explorer occupy more system source.

Download Process Explorer: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-in/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

I have checked the task manager before, and the resource usage or explorer.exe seems normal. Then, I used Process Explorer to check the threads status, and also appears to be normal. (I have compared these data between when explorer.exe just starts and when it runs for hours.)