Unresponsive Desktop

Terry98

In the last two days my desktop has become very slow. Programmes take two or three clicks to open and most actions see the blue wheel turning for at least a few seconds.Up until yesterday everything was ok.

It's a Dell Vostro 430 running WIN10 with 4GB RAM.

I have checked for Viruses(Avast) and Malwarebytes and both are clean.

Both hard drives seem ok....I have run chkdisk and optimised them.

I did attach a new monitor yesterday, would that have anything to do with it?

Could it be the RAM? How do I check it?

grumpycrab

1. run windows update; there may be an update in progress - if so install it; update and reboot etc

2. Ctrl-Alt-Del -> Task Manager -> Details column - order on CPU - anything (other than System Idle) running high CPU? Provide a screen print if unsure. If nothing then goto Performance tab - high disk usage? Is so click Resource Monitor and find disk accessing culprit...

3. If still stuck uninstall Avast, reboot and should use Windows Defender (can always add Avast later).

Terry98

Many thanks for your reply.

Windows is up to date.

Looking at Task Manager it seems that 50% of the Memory is being used with Photos and Cortana taking up the most. Is that normal? I am sure I have not got any photos open!

grumpycrab

Terry98 wrote: »

it seems that 50% of the Memory is being used with Photos and Cortana taking up the most.

Regarding "Photos" - need more information - on the Details tab - is something taking up CPU (order on CPU); need the exact name e.g. photos.exe from the left-hand column; or add screenshots.

Regarding Cortana, run the troubleshooter http://aka.ms/diag_StartMenu
(from the following page if you don't trust the download! -> https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/12385/windows-10-troubleshoot-problems-opening-start-menu-cortana )

EDIT: if by "Photos" you mean Photos Background Task Host it may be worth re-registering Photos... (search for Photos)
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3175-apps-reinstall-re-register-windows-8-10-a.html#option2

Terry98

Don't you think it might be one of the memory sticks that is faulty?

grumpycrab

Terry98 wrote: »

Don't you think it might be one of the memory sticks that is faulty?

Unlikely (unless you've been messing around with them...).
Restart the desktop (important - don't do shutdown then startup).
Still a problem? Re-register the Photos app... (search for Photos)
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3175-apps-reinstall-re-register-windows-8-10-a.html#option2

Then check system files :- https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2895-sfc-command-run-windows-10-a.html#option3

If still a problem, we're looking at system restore and then Windows10 reinstall...

bsod

nothing much going on in that (incomplete) screen capture, media monkey is using the most cpu (1.6%). Photos/cortana are using 7% of 4GB rather than 50%. Forget memory, look at cpu

Terry98

grumpycrab wrote: »

Unlikely (unless you've been messing around with them...).
Restart the desktop (important - don't do shutdown then startup).

Still slow

grumpycrab wrote: »

Re-register the Photos app... (search for Photos)
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3175-apps-reinstall-re-register-windows-8-10-a.html#option2.

I did that

grumpycrab wrote: »

Then check system files :- https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2895-sfc-command-run-windows-10-a.html#option3.

No problems with the integrity of files.

It is still unresponsive but only 40% of memory is being used and Photos is nowhere to be seen.

Is it a system restore then?

Terry98

bsod wrote: »

nothing much going on in that (incomplete) screen capture, media monkey is using the most cpu (1.6%). Photos/cortana are using 7% of 4GB rather than 50%

Thanks for pointing that out but is it normal that 50% of memory is being used when the computer is almost idle?

What is the best way to capture the screen?

grumpycrab

You haven't said whether anything is using high CPU (other than system idle). And is anything chewing the disk? (Even if you just look at the desktop disk access light.)

bsod

grumpycrab wrote: »

is something taking up CPU (order on CPU);

by following this