BleepingComputer.com: explorer.exe found by Autoruns

Hello,
I am a newbie and trying to help out my slow computer. (Window XP) I am using the autoruns tool and have a question about an entry I found (explorer.exe). I searched your database for the entry and it has pages of options and all of the entries seem undesirable. My problem: I can't find one exactly like mine. (Or I don't know what I'm doing, which is a very real possibility).

This is my entry:

explorer.exe Windows Explorer Microsoft Corporation c:\windows\explorer.exe

It seems to me that the name and the file name are exactly the same and that option doesn't seem to be listed in the database. If this is a legitimate file, then it seems to indicate it isn't supposed to be in the startup list unless it was put there manually. Can anyone educate me, please?

Thanks

This post has been edited by 2kph9: 06 February 2009 - 06:18 PM

This is the user shell, which we see as the familiar taskbar, desktop, and so forth.

The explorer.exe file is and should be located in the folder C:\Windows. In other cases, if explorer.exe is located in any other folders. There is a good chance it is a virus, spyware, trojan or worm!

OK, I think I understand. It shouldn't be found where it is (?), but it does seem to be in the folder c:\windows. So is it something I should investigate and find out how to get rid of or not? Thanks again.

I seem to have a situation similar to the other newbie. The filename matches many unwanted filenames in the database but none of the names match. It is located in windows, however. There is nothing listed regarding anything like this file which is said to be needed, so it seems likely that even if it isn't malicious, it shouldn't be necessary for startup. The question I have is, should I uncheck the box?
The file is shown below.
Thanks in advance for any help that anyone can offer.

Explorer.exeWindows Explorer Microsoft Corporation c:\windows\explorer.exe

The valid "explorer.exe" will always be located in C:\Windows or C:\Winnt

okay, so that means I should leave the box checked. Will do. Thank you.