Problems with igfxext.exe

Question

My laptop is a Dell Inspiron 15 5567 Windows 10 Home

I have a problem with igfxext.exe, which on my PC is located:

"C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\igdlh64.inf_amd64_af02201d084badde\igfxext.exe" size 353,048 bytes

I had a a problem maintaining a connection in Google meet, something that I had often done before. Looking in Process Explorer I noticed that 100% of the CPU time was being used, MsMpEng.exe (Windows Defender) was taking 25-50% and igfxext.exe had multiple instances (4-10), continually being created and killed.

I suspended MsMpEng.exe and the CPU settled down and there was one instance of igfxext.exe. As soon as I resumed MsMpEng.exe the problem reoccured.

I installed AVG to test if it was a MsMpEng.exe problem but the same thing happened.

I ran MalwareBytes and that did not find any problem.

I did Google for problems and the one useful site suggested that if it is in a subfolder then it is potentially dangerous. The file is digitally signed by Intel and Microsoft.

I have tried twice to update the drivers using the Dell web site but that hung both times.

I have effected a sort of solution, by hacking the registry. I tried copying/deleting igfxext.exe but both gave me 'Access Denied' I edited the registry entry, changing the name of the executable. This solved the problem and I don't appear to have lossed any functionality.

Can anyone else had similar problems? Can anyone give me anymore information?

DELL-Cares · Answer

We tried reaching you on a private message asking for the Service Tag number to ascertain the warranty but did not receive a response. Please feel free to reply to the private message whenever you are available.

wHansen · Answer

I have the same machine and see multple igfxext processes and ones that continue to come and go.  This corresponds to my tray icons bouncing left and right as well.

Alfcea72 · Answer

I have the same Inspiron 5567 x64 Windows Home laptop with the same problem, observed since early January 2021. I'm using Avast antivirus. I thought it was a virus problem.

Additional to previous described workarounds, I also try to reset Windows (Update / Recovery / Reset this PC) and it didn't work.

Only after wipe out main OS partition C:and perform a clean installation to factory OS (from HDD recovery partition) the igfxext.exe problem disappeared.

But after Windows automatic update, the problem appeared again. So I guess it is an specific issue for igfxext.exe and some hardware component of this specific machines. I also have other HP and Dell laptop models that don't have this problem.

So far, the only permanent fix is to change the name of the igfxexe.exe file on the registry, as previously described.

Jason98798 · Answer

I have a an inspiron 15 5567 and am experiencing this issue as well. It's awful. How did you go about renaming the file in the registry?

Jason98798 · Answer

Thanks, David! Your solution fixed my computer. I was beginning to lose hope; I have been trying for months!

carletto85 · Answer

Hi everybody.

I'm working on this problem that affected a colleague at work since months.

Today probably i found where is the failure ...and that's why most of peolple camplaining because of this it's a DELL COMPUTER owner.

So now...it seems to be something in conflict with another process from DELL that is called "DELL PREMIERCOLOR" (something to adjust colors on screen by Dell)

Stopping that process and than killing the igfxext.exe, it doesn't restart (before was auto-restarting and growing in memory like 5MB per second)

So i uninstalled it and everything seems working fine....

Hope it's helpful!

C.

Inspiron

Problems with igfxext.exe

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