I've noticed that if I open Windows Explorer or Internet Explorer their tasks will stay open even after I have closed those programs. I.e. if I open Windows Explorer 3 times and then close it I will find 3 explorer.exe (apart from the default one always running) tasks still running in the system. By the way I can manually kill those tasks if wanted. What the hell is going on?

I do not have the lingering iexplore.exe process problem you are having with IE8 & I'm also unable to replicate the multiple explorer.exe processes you alluded to when multiple Windows Explorer frames are open. Are you running Win7 Beta, RC or RTM? Windows 7 News!

I am running the Italian Build 7600 x86 retail MSDN version. And I am alluding to when you open one frame of Windows Explorer then you close it then after a while you open it again and then you close it. After the above example you will find two explorer.exe tasks still running (apart from the default one always running).

I'm still unable to replicate the problem you are having. Windows 7 News!

Maybe it's because of a third-part program running in my system? I am 100% sure it's not a virus/trojan issue as I did a deep control with several different programs.

If you suspect something else is causing the handle problems, I suggest you try YAPM to see if it helps you nail down the culprit. You need to be running an x86 version of Win7 to use YAPM. Windows 7 News!