On FastCGI Error 258

Using IIS 6 on Server 2003 x86 Standard. 

Config that was working a few days ago started throwing:
 FastCGI Error The FastCGI Handler was unable to process the request. Error
Details: The FastCGI process exceeded configured activity timeout Error Number: 258 (0x80070102).
Error Description: The wait operation timed out.
HTTP Error 500 - Server Error. Internet Information Services (IIS)

Recycling the app pool didn't fix the issue, nor did restarting IIS. No config changes had been made. No errors were being logged by PHP becasue we weren't making it to PHP code. No errors other than the generic 500 were being logged by IIS.

I figured restarting the server would fix it because, hey, this is Windows. But, then - there were all these funny iexplore.exe processes running under NETWORK SERVICE. Why are those there?

Suffice to say - kill 'em. Your PHP will spring, magically, back to life. We all know IE sucks and this is just another nail in that coffin.