explorer.exe using 20% cpu usage on the desktop

[jyestar34]

Okay so I have this weird problem with windows explorer. I have already found what's actually causing it but I need help fixing it. My problem is that explorer.exe uses 20% of my i5-8400 in the background when I have desktop shortcuts on the desktop. I have looked online for all types of solutions and the only one that usually fixes it is to get rid of any .exe's or shortcuts with a missing icon because it makes explorer.exe go in a loop, except I don't have any missing icons. I played around with my shortcuts for a couple hours last night and I found out that it only happens when I have shortcuts on both sides of the screen, proved in this video here: 

Because I normally have my steam game shortcuts on the right and my app shortcuts on the left I couldn't tell what was causing it for a while. I have a logitech G502 hero mouse that is at 1000hz, and I plan on keeping it like that since I play games that really need it, and it doesn't matter anyway since it makes nearly zero difference to the cpu usage. It's not the specific mouse either since I have tried other mice and the problem still occurs. I thought it might have been windows playing up so I completely reinstalled windows and the problem still occurred. I literally have no idea how to fix it. I have tried:

- Reinstalling windows.

- Resetting BIOS.

- Clean Boot and Safe Boot (still happens even in safe boot!)

- Playing around with the desktop shortcuts.

- Rebuilding the icon cache.

- Scanning for malware with Malwarebytes and using CCleaner to fix any registry problems.

- Clearing all temp files.

- Uninstalling drivers and programs that might interfere with the application.

- Creating new shortcuts of the applications.

- Using process explorer to find the problem and it seems to be windows explorer itself.

- Using System File Checker and CHKDSK.

- Using an older BIOS

- Complete format of main drive.

- 3 different mice.

- Changing power options, which changes cpu speed.

- Parking and unparking cpu.

And many more because I have done so many things that I actually can't remember them all

 

I'm on the latest windows version (Windows 10 Pro - Version 1909 - OS Build 18363.535)

I can give more information if you need it.

 

Is this normal or am I going crazy?

 

EDIT: here are my specs:

CPU: Intel i5-8400 @ 3.8ghz all cores
CPU Cooler: ID-COOLING Sweden Series Red LED CPU Cooler
Motherboard: MSI - B360 GAMING PLUS ATX
RAM: Corsair - Vengeance LPX 16GB (4x4GB) DDR4-2666mhz
Storage: 
SSD - Kingston - A400 120 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
HDD - Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
GPU: MSI - GeForce GTX 1070 Ti 8 GB DUKE Video Card
Case: Gamemax G561 Black
PSU: SilverStone 650W Essential Gold Power Supply

 

Edited February 15, 2020 by jyestar34

[Constantin]

Well that's a first time for me.... Weird!!!

[TheBean]

run this in command prompt (run as administrator)

sfc /scannow

 

[jyestar34]

5 hours ago, Saksham said:

run this in command prompt (run as administrator)

sfc /scannow

 

I have already tried this but I will try it again. EDIT: didn't fix the issue

 

[jyestar34]

Ok well I think the only solution to this is to completely reformat my C drive and install windows entirely again. I guess I'll just have to deal with it for now, I don't think it's affecting my gaming performance.

[jyestar34]

Well I completely formatted my ssd and redownloaded windows on the usb I used last time and I thought it might have fixed it, but I was wrong. If this doesn't happen to other people then I have no idea. I must have a dodgy cpu or something, or my specific hardware and drivers interfere with windows. Either that or its my G502 causing the problem. I will find a solution one day...

 

EDIT: I found my old gaming mouse (g403 wired) and the problem still persists. Either a windows problem or my specific cpu problem.