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Question

PC slows down two weeks after Microsoft monthly update.

May 2, 2019 5:45AM PDT

My PC runs fine for two weeks following the monthly Microsoft update (2nd Tuesday of the month). Then it starts to slow down and becomes almost unusable the week (or so) prior to the next MS update. The symptoms: switching tasks, initiating new tasks, refreshing a browser screen, saving a file, shutting down, opening a new browser tab (Chrome and Edge), searching a folder, copy/paste, even the start-up, etc. may take 15 seconds during week three and 1-2 or more minutes during the week immediately prior to the update to initiate or complete a new task and the blue circle spins and spins. It takes a long time to display pictures as well. There are occasional warnings about a program “Not Responding” (even Windows) or waiting for cache but I wait it out. I’ve run CCleaner, Glary Utilities, Malwarebytes, cleared cache & cookies, etc. without finding anything that can cure the problem and prevent its reoccurrence. It’s been behaving this way for 8+ months. I can’t think of anything that was newly installed at that time. I’m using an three year old Asus (UX303LB) 2.4GHz notebook, 12MB memory (maximum), SSD (drive C is 190GB, is 70%-75% full, no need to defrag a SSD), Internet running at 86Mbs/7.2Mbps per Speedtest.net. Using Avast anti-virus, Google back-up & sync. All software (Windows 10, 64 bit) and patches are current, removed all but a few programs at start-up. The problem is the same whether I’m running one or 10 programs. I really don’t want to re-install Windows! For the first two weeks after the MS update, it’s a really fast laptop PC… then it starts to slooooow down. It’s has to be software but what’s causing it and how do I cure it?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
My usual is
May 2, 2019 10:01AM PDT

To go back to Windows Defender if changing the following and a Speccy reading doesn't show much.

Do at least item 1 and reboot:
1. https://www.howtogeek.com/224981/how-to-stop-windows-10-from-uploading-updates-to-other-pcs-over-the-internet/
2. Go back to Windows Defender and see if the issue fades. Most AV suites today impose quite the extra load. I have to do this step to figure out if it's the AV suite.
3. Reboot. And 15 seconds is NOT EXCESSIVE as more startup checks do occur. I do not consider this to be an issue.
4. Task Manager. When it slows, what is going on?
5. Is there ample free space on all drives? Let's say 100GB?

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Thank you for the suggestions but...
May 2, 2019 11:54AM PDT

1. there is no other computer on the network
2. the AV suites run fine for the first two (or so) weeks after the MS update. Why would that change?
3. 15 seconds is acceptable but I mentioned longer start-ups as an example to indicate that everything runs slower.
4. Task manager shows the same program running at almost all of the time. Nothing changes during the month.
5. There is the same amount of disk (SSD) space all of the time; generally 50GB.

The questions are: what does the MS update do that returns my PC to it's normal running speed and what causes it to slow-down after two or so weeks? How can the slow-down be prevented???

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I have to disagree.
May 2, 2019 1:10PM PDT

Microsoft does randomly seem to do more checks on startup. This is not a flaw.

You didn't complete item 1. I worry that any other advice will be passed up as well. The computers on the network are on the Internet. But that's your choice here. I made mine.

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Update
May 4, 2019 11:24AM PDT

I didn't realize that MS has the ability to allow you to update PC's outside of your own network. I checked the setting and it's disabled (probably since it was new).

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Answer
Couple of random thoughts
May 4, 2019 1:45AM PDT

How often do you reboot this system? I turn mine off every night, electricity costs money and so I get a relatively clean start every day. It sounds to me that you are building up Windows crud as you go along and it may be slowing you down. On patch Tuesday, Windows update will clear a lot of this rubbish for you.

Second, I have an ASUS laptop, A8000 Quad processor running at 1.9 GHz, turbo 2.9 and it was disappointingly slow. I swapped out the HDD for a SSD and while this helped somewhat, it still wasn't what I'd expected when I bought it. So I wiped it and re-installed a stock Windows ISO from Microsoft, with none of the ASUS Life "enhancements". It was instantly a different machine and doesn't slow down noticeably, however long it's been running. If you still have the enhancements on yours , you might want to try the same. If you do, remember to download the full set of ASUS hardware drivers, so you can replace the stock Microsoft ones.

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Installing a MS update fixes the symptoms, not the cure.
May 4, 2019 11:26AM PDT

Yesterday I tried to uninstall a recent MS update but cancelled it after it was about 25% complete. However, today I discovered that an update was being downloaded and installed. Once it completed, I rebooted my PC and it's now running close-to original speed. So I downloaded a recent MS update and stored it on my PC. When my PC starts to slow down again, I guess I'll simply re-install the update that I downloaded today. That's a workaround but not really getting to the root of the problem. All suggestions greatly appreciated.

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Did you turn off the update sharing?
May 4, 2019 11:45AM PDT

It's just one setting that can affect speed. I read above you opted out.

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update sharing
May 4, 2019 11:54AM PDT

When I checked it (didn't know it existed, thus my ignorant reply above), it was disabled so I presume it's always been that way.

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Boot time is variable.
May 4, 2019 3:02PM PDT

If Windows users think it's a fixed time period they will get upset from time to time.

Diagnosing what is the delay is a deep investigation. I use a few tools but don't do this for machines that boot in 15 seconds. Mostly AUTORUNS, SPECCY and scanning for malware with Grif's help.

-> One of the recurring finds are HDDs with high values in 01 and/or 07. This can really be a time sink as the new user or tech tells us this doesn't matter because it's not the boot drive. "It's a data drive so it shouldn't affect this."

Sorry but I've tracked that one down more often than Elmer Fudd hunts rabbits.