Windows 10 Behaving Extremely Odd, Making It Difficult To Use

Hello all, I found this page through reddit and was hoping to find some support or at least point me in the right direction.

Yesterday, my computer started behaving extremely strangely. The primary "stange behavior" are my taskbar and windows becoming 'non-responsive' accompanied by slow or delayed response times from simple things such as trying to close windows or open the right click menu. Open windows, browsers, and apps aren't crashing or freezing, they seem to be operating fine (applications continue to run, if a video in youtube is open it will continue to play, and I am getting no error or warnings or "Not Responsive"s on Task Manager) I just cannot interact with them, as if my mouse becomes unresponsive. I have tried swapping my mouse out also, though, so I don't believe it is a mouse issue.

This happens both sporadically and consistantly in that, its been happening consistantly since yesterday, but sometimes this "unresponsiveness" happens every couple of minutes or only once or twice an hour, but sporadically in that its hard to tell what triggers it or just when its going to go "unresponsive." The only solution I have found to temporarily alleviate the issue is to restart the computer or SOMETIMES just opening the task manager will bring functionality back temporarily. When the "unresponsiveness" starts, I can open my windows menu, but clicking icons there seems to do nothing (however, oddly enough I can navigate and use the menu using my keyboard). I can only restart via the CTL + ALT + DEL menu. After restarting, the problem starts to come back within a few minutes again.

I have turned off all startup services through my task manager, but I don't know what else to do to troubleshoot the issue. When I run my system in safe mode, things seem to operate normally, except for my mouse which I guess cannot work in safe mode, so the extent of what I can test in safe mode is limited.

Some info about my systen:
I am running Windows 10.0.19045, Intel i710700K CPU, Nvidia Geforce 3070Ti with 32gb of ram. I have had this computer for about 3 or 4 years, with little to no issues whatsoever, especially with performance. I haven't upgraded anything lately, but I did add additional ram last year with no issue. When this problem began yesterday, I was not doing anything unusual on my computer, which I use primarily for working, and occasionally gaming. I have not visited any shady or unsual sites, haven't downloaded anything other than some design assets from sites I use regularly and trust. I use my computer for work primarily and working it has become increasingly hard to impossible as I must constantly reset my system every few minutes sometimes.

I did try gaming last night, and everything was generally working fine, but after 20 or so minutes I found that "some" functions stopped working, namely a couple mouse functions, but generally the game was playing well, I just could not use certain buttons on the mouse. Its a complete guess but it felt less a mouse issue and more a system issue. Additionally I have Malware Bytes installed and Windows Defender running. Malware Bytes detected 1 file which it "quarantined" but didn't seem like it was of much concern, and Windows protection says all is clear. I also ran "sfc /scannow" through PowerShell as an admin and it found no errors or integrity violations.

When I began writing this, my computer was fully "responsive" but now it has gone "nonresponsive," though my Chrome browser is currently working fine (sometime Chrome stops too). To me, just now, the "unresponsiveness" started when I opened up my System info to make sure I was giving the correct info and specs, as Windows opened it fine the first time but when I went to go back to reopen it, i am met with an unresponsive search bar, taskbar and unclickable menus.

Another note is that I had installed several cosmetic UI modifications such as TaskbarX, TClock, and Wallpaper engine, but I have them all currently disabled and the problem is persisting.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I rely on my computer as my source of income, and my clients rely on me! I hope I didn't give too much info, just wanted to lay it all out as this is a very weird situation and I have no idea where to begin looking into it. Thank you so much.

Edited by strottart, 05 April 2024 - 12:52 PM.

Please download MiniToolBox  , save it to your desktop and run it.   Checkmark the following checkboxes:
  List last 10 Event Viewer log
  List Installed Programs
  List Users, Partitions and Memory size.
 
Click Go and paste the content into your next post.
 
Also...please Publish a Snapshot using Speccy,  taking care to post the link of the snapshot in your next post.

   Go to  website, and download the free version on the left.  Click Download from ccleanercom (the FileHippo link requires an extra click). Or if you want to use a portable version of Speccy (which doesn't require installation), click the builds page link and download the portable version. You will now be asked where you want to save the file. The best place to put it is the Desktop, as it will be easy to find later.

    After the file finishes downloading, you are ready to run Speccy. If you downloaded the installer, simply double-click on it and follow the prompts until installation is complete. If you downloaded the portable version, you will need to unzip it before use. Right-click the ZIP file and click Extract all. Click Next. Open up the extracted folder and double-click on Speccy.
 
     Once inside Speccy, it will look similar to this (with your computer's specifications, of course):
 


     Now, at the top, click File > Publish Snapshot.

     Click Yes > then Copy to Clipboard

Now, once you are back in the forum topic you are posting in, click the ADD REPLY or REPLY TO THIS TOPIC button. Right-click in the empty space of the Reply box and click Paste. Then, click Post below the Reply box.

Louis

Please disregard.
@hamluis beat me to it.

:-D

Edited by MoxieMomma, 05 April 2024 - 01:06 PM.

Thank you for responding!
Here is the Speccy snapshot: http://speccy.piriform.com/results/rNiztIZhKPdYBFi6Fwccys6
Here is my finding from MiniToolBox:
 

Edited by hamluis, 05 April 2024 - 02:31 PM.

should I be concerned about the message about Antivirus that keeps stopping? 

Thanks for those reports.

Until the more "techy" folks weigh in, a few things jump out.


1 question: have you been using the registry cleaner feature of CCleaner?

Several recommendations:
- Get rid of CCleaner & Armoury Crate
- Update your BIOS using your system serial number at the manufacturer's support site
- Free up space on your C: drive (you have barely 20% free, the minimum Windows needs to run well)
- Try a diagnostic, reversible troubleshooting procedure called a "clean boot" to help exclude a software conflict:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd

Additional recommendations after that :-)

Edited for typo

Edited by MoxieMomma, 05 April 2024 - 01:36 PM.

I may have ran the registry cleaner once recently, I was trying to clean some stuff out and just ran through the program but I couldn't tell you 100% which features I specifically used. 
I have found CCleaner to be mostly a hindrance though, despite someone recommending me download to keep my drive in order, I will uninstall it.
I thought I -did- get rid of ArmouryCrate, it came packaged with software for an accessory I no longer use anymore, I believe I have attempted to get rid of it once or twice before, but I will try again.
I will work on all the other recommendations you made, and report my results.
Thank you.

Edited by hamluis, 05 April 2024 - 02:32 PM.

FWIW, the OP is also being actively helped here:
https://www.tenforums.com/general-support/212359-windows-10-behaving-extremely-odd-making-difficult-use.html


@strottart:
It is entirely your prerogative to seek help in multiple venues.
Doing so simultaneously potentially creates duplicated effort, confusion for everyone involved & a chance of harm to your system, should conflicting advice be offered inadvertently and unbeknownst to helpers elsewhere.

For a problem such as the one you report, the underlying cause & fix *may* be complicated.

I respectfully suggest you choose to work in ONLY ONE help site at a time.

Hi, Welcome to BC.

 

Please do not use the Quote All Box.  If need to Quote use the tool in the toolbar to draw attention to a specific.  We do not talk that way so......... Thanks.  "  "

 

Speccy

======

Please Update your BIOS from Version : 1208    Date:  7/21/2020   to possibly last version ever : 1621   Date : 2021/11/23

https://www.asus.com/us/supportonly/prime%20z490-v/helpdesk_bios/    NOTE : All missed updates are contained in the current version.

Missed : "Improve system performance and stability    Improve ReSizable BAR compatibility for NVIDIA RTX30 series graphics cards"

Repair some know issues for Aura Sync.,   Support Windows 11 by default, no settings changes required in the UEFI BIOS. and : Improve system’s compatibility.

 

Please update any missed drivers as well especially the Chipset,  SATA, Intel VGA, Armoury Crate & Aura Creator Installer

 

Note : Armoury Crate & Aura Creator Installer if you had this installed and opened it, clicked on the Gear (settings) then the Update Tab you would have not been behind.

 

NOTE : Monitor MAG325CQRF-QD¤ : has Drivers and Firmware when and only when you update to Win11

https://www.msi.com/Monitor/MAG-325CQRF-QD/support#driver

 

If have not installed the Dashboard for your Western Digital SSD's please do so and run tests or update firmware :

https://support-en.wd.com/app/products/downloads/softwaredownloads

 

Windows stuff you mention is normal when you interrupt it. Will look further later but you have Malwarebytes Installed which is now also a full blown Anti-virus Program.

It has turned off Defender A/V.

Suggest go back to Defender by doing this (note is a little different as is not for the new interface.)   Essentially turn it of from Registering with Windows Security Center.

https://www.howtogeek.com/230158/how-to-run-malwarebytes-alongside-another-antivirus/

 

MBAM will remain as Malware Protection.  You can stick this in your Browser for added protection : https://www.malwarebytes.com/browserguard do not use it's ad blocker

 

If want further this is from a Developer that now works for MBAM and it brings out hidden controls in Defender Firewall : https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/windows_firewall_control.html

There is this to bring out hidden controls in Defender A/V : https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/configuredefender.html

 

In Task Scheduler :  HPCustParticipation HP Officejet Pro 8100  It is not needed. Maybe turn off in the Printer Software

 

CCleaner : The use of CCleaner is not recommended in this Forum.  It can cause problems when cleans wrong stuff.

Use Disk CleanUp on the Start Menu since 1995. Run it, then run it again and click on Clean System Files.

 

Do not take Drivers from Microsoft Update, especially Video Drivers., Use your Support Page or Maker, If have issues use Support Page.

If need latest and greatest drivers then get a new system.

 

To come : MTB Report.

Note : as OP is getting help at other forum I withdraw .  (note inadequate info has got in other form.  WD Tools will check the drive  No need for Crystal disk info at this point IMHO due to info is good in Speccy Report.

 

Decide where you are going.   Conflicting help places does no one any good.   As well it is impolite to post in 2 forums.

There is no need for a Registry Cleaner.  Win10 .11 do some repair, but if use a Uninstaller such as Geek or Revo it is not needed.  Note paid version gets even more (I have bought it myself and get nothing for mentioning it.

Get rid of the Wallpaper engine

 

Your : Mullvad VPN is causing issues with : SteelSeries GG Update Service Proxy  and Defender

Allow it to go through or stop it in Steel Series if possible if can not allow things find another.

 

qBittorrent  will be a issue if any of the games or programs are cracked.  Remove them.

 

If your Adobe Program is cracked remove it.

AdobeCollabSync.exe Exception code: 0xc0000409'
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/adobecollabsyncexe-start-booting-problem/e2e5d481-75bc-4bd1-85cd-fe5bb540fef4

 

Windows has a font explorer : why have this : フォントエクスプローラー ->

 

All most at max capacity of C:.    Need to have 15% or more free at all times.

 

Volume Shadow Copy Service  Go to System Restore and turn it off which will delete all Restore Points when you reboot. 

Go back in after reboot and turn it back on.

 

 Service Control Manager) (EventID: 7023 GameInput Service service terminated with the following error:
%%2147680517 = The compound file %1 was produced with a newer version of storage

 

What is the make and model, age and wattage of your PSU ??

Edited by Pkshadow, 05 April 2024 - 03:01 PM.

I am trying to update my BIOS, i downloaded the file from ASUS from the link provided, which gives me 2 .CAP files and a BiosRenamer.exe. I ran the .exe but it didn't seem to do anything? The ASUS site just says to use the .cap files to "update the bios manually" but I don't understand what that means. Do I need to download the "AI Suite" from ASUS to run these? I am also having problems getting some of the other drivers running. I thought I knew how to do this stuff but I am unfamiliar with some of these filetypes. My monitor driver gives me a .cat, .icm, and .inf file, I don't know what to do with them! I had this computer for several years, but I am coming from using Mac OS for a long time, so I don't really remember how to do some of this stuff I guess.

Apologize for my confusion here. and i will not use quote all again, thanks!

Edited by strottart, 05 April 2024 - 02:54 PM.

@strottart:

"Too many cooks spoil the soup"

To reduce confusion, I'm bowing out.

I hope you resolve your issue.

Cheers

I did post on other forums because I am in a moment of desperation, if that is frowned upon, I apologize and will retract my posts from other sites. I have strictly been following instructions given to me from this forum only, as everyone here has been fast and gracious in their response. I hope not everyone has bowed out of helping me here and I apologize if I have overstepped in my search for support, I am sweating rather heavily here. Thanks for any and all support into my case. I did not understand that posting my question elsewhere was problematic, I hope I did not take advantage of any kindness that has been extended to me. 

Edited by strottart, 05 April 2024 - 03:06 PM.