What is the "iexplore.exe" process on windows 7? Is the "iexplore.exe" process a virus? Can I terminate the "iexplore.exe" process? Why where are multiple "iexplore.exe" process?

"iexplore.exe" process represents "Internet Explorer" program. "iexplore.exe" process is the Internet Explorer Web browser you are running on the desktop.

"iexplore.exe" process is normally running under the parent process "explorer" as shown in the process tree below:

Boot
   explorer
      iexplore

"iexplore.exe" process is created by "explorer.exe" when you launch Internet Explorer. "iexplore.exe" creates child "iexplore.exe" processes to make Automatic Crash Recovery possible. This is why you will see multiple "iexplore.exe" processes on the Processes tab of "Task Manager".

Image Name                 Memory   Description
--------------------   ----------   -----------
iexplore.exe             50,708 K   Internet Explorer
iexplore.exe             20,128 K   Internet Explorer
...

Additional information about "iexplore.exe" process:

Command line:
   "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" 

Programe file information:
   Name: iexplore.exe
   Location: C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
   Description: Internet Explorer
   Version: 11.00.9600.16428 (winblue_gdr.131013-1700)
   Size: 815304 bytes
   Last modified: 10/27/2016 11:14:00 PM
   Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
   
Some data files used:
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\en-US\iexplore.exe.mui
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\ieframe.dll.mui
C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft.windows.common-controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.7601.18837_none_fa3b1e3d17594757
C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft.windows.common-controls_6595b64144ccf1df_5.82.7601.18837_none_a4d981ff711297b6
C:\Users\fyicenter\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\counters.dat
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\shell32.dll.mui
C:\Windows\System32\en-US\mpr.dll.mui
C:\Users\fyicenter\Desktop
C:\Users\fyicenter\AppData\Local\Temp\~DFFB4CF8D186042A82.TMP
C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft.windows.common-controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.7601.18837_none_fa3b1e3d17594757

Some registry keys used:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\Cache
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Sorting\Versions
HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SESSION MANAGER
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MAIN\FeatureControl
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies
HKCU\Software\Policies
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{905E63B6-C1BF-494E-B29C-65B732D3D21A}\PropertyBag

Some DLL libraries used:
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\wow64.dll
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\wow64win.dll
C:\windows\SYSTEM32\wow64cpu.dll
C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\windows\SysWOW64\ntdll.dll
C:\windows\syswow64\kernel32.dll
C:\windows\syswow64\KERNELBASE.dll
C:\windows\syswow64\msvcrt.dll
C:\windows\syswow64\api-ms-win-downlevel-advapi32-l1-1-0.dll

"iexplore.exe" process is not a virus. You should not terminate "iexplore.exe" process. It will go away after you close Internet Explore.

 

⇒Application Program Processes on Windows 7

⇒⇒Windows 7 Processes Tutorials