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Question

Strange Windows 10 problem

Aug 16, 2017 8:32AM PDT

About 6 months ago my HP computer developed a strange problem. I have a blank screensaver set to come on after 15 minutes of idle time. Before, I would wiggle the mouse and then click the Google Chrome icon and i was off and running instantly. No waiting. Now it takes 3 to 4 minutes for anything on my computer to start. You can't surf the web or open anything! You can't even open the start menu. I went and turned everything to "never". Even the monitor has setting that I set to never. Doesn't matter what I do it won't work correctly. I even experimented and turned off screensaver and that didn't change a thing. I am essentially froze out of my computer every time I leave it and come back. I forget to add that any browser does the same thing.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
There are a lot of causes for this.
Aug 16, 2017 8:44AM PDT

I'd scan the HDD (links to follow) for file system errors and malware to start. After that we can get a Web Speccy report for members to pick on. Here are the links:

1. CHKDSK /F /R /X (will run for hours so do this when you have the time.)
https://www.tekrevue.com/tip/fix-hard-drives-chkdsk-windows-10/

2. Malware scan by Grif. Read
http://www.cnet.com/forums/discussions/how-to-remove-pup-option-603542/#post-f742c795-5881-433b-a29b-6d758efe5cd3

3. Web Speccy report for here. Read how at
https://www.piriform.com/docs/speccy/using-speccy/publishing-a-speccy-profile-to-the-web

All the above is to avoid a nuclear option of a reset. Be sure your backups are current regardless of what you decide.

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Answer
Probably reinstall
Aug 18, 2017 5:09PM PDT

It's been a while, but I have seen Windows get outrageously slow for relatively simple tasks. The one I saw that's closest to yours was anything that went full screen. User Access Control would take 30-60 secs. Sometimes more. YouTube would be similar.

Windows has gotten a lot better about Windows Rot. I used to say that Windows would get stale. I knew people who routinely wiped and reinstalled Windows every six months, back in the Win 9x days.

Did you recently install some new program that's eating your CPU cycles? Filling your hard drive with temp files or log files? If not, then I've found it's usually impossible to track down the specific issue and fix it.

There's a point where it's actually quicker to back everything up. Twice. Don't forget to record serial numbers and unlock codes for programs you use. Then, restore the machine to factory default.

It is a little radical. You have to reinstall all the programs you use regularly. It takes me about two days to get everything set back up the way I like it. But sometimes that's the path of least resistance.

Drake Christensen

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Answer
Perhaps it's a brand problem
Aug 27, 2017 8:47AM PDT

Not to be disrespectful, but as a FORMER HP owner, they have proprietary software and firmware that will in fact disrupt your computing experience if you don't do it "their way". Best advise: Do some research, and build your own machine. I've been doing this for years. It's so disappointing to me when friends who own HP or Dell come to me for help because they can't figure out why their computer suddenly stops working as it once did. Also, be proactive: don't wait for an OS update to auto update, seek and install those updates manually.

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Cites?
Aug 27, 2017 9:54AM PDT

Do you have documented examples where they "disrupt the computing experience?"

I know that HP, Dell and most of the other load their machines with crapware at the factory. But, I've never heard of them actively sabotaging their own machines.