Win 10 PC problems.
 

This morning, while attempting a PDF download, my computer 'froze'.
I eventually managed to get the task manager going and closed down Firefox but the machine remained unresponsive.

Clicking on the restart option didn't work so I had to resort to a hard shut down.
On restart, clicking on icons in the task bar didn't open programmes eg Mail.
I've had slightly more success when clicking a desktop icon.

I can't see what's going on deeper in the system as calling up task manager now gets only as far as the four options ie swap user etc. and no further.

I'm using my iPad at the minute and the Windows machine, at present showing the Google home page, is extremely slow, to the point of freezing, to open up other sites or programs.

Any thoughts or suggestions as to how to proceed will be welcomed.

Ta!

I would virus scan this first. It's strange that it slows down, but doesn't spit out errors. There may be errors in the error logs, but it's painful to go through those.

It could be a bit of failing hardware that is complaining and causing the system to try to address those issues before moving on to useful work.

Thanks for your reply, UT.

I've managed to close down the Firefox home page but clicking on the AVG icon does not bear fruit. I've also tried right clicking and then the 'Open' option but the beast remains inert.

Interesting that you should mention possible hardware failure in progress.
The machine is now some years old. It was a barebones system to which I added drives (various) and also RAM, if memory serves correctly, so to speak.
I installed Win 7 then the free update to Win 10 and it has soldiered on pretty much uncomplainingly.
I do wonder if it is on its way out though.

Not sure that I want to shell out for a replacement!

In that case I would try reseating the memory sticks first, maybe even swapping them around.

OK, thank you. I'll give that a whirl later this afternoon.

Watch and pray! :eek:

Or, your machine is downloading and installing an update to Windows 10. Unless you've been diligently proactive (like some computer geek) they've been.. Accumulating. And eventually they will be installed.

They can be very large to download and very, very very long to install.

All you can do is suffer patiently.

That's a good point. I remember an occasion with similar symptoms.
I'll give it a chance to return to normal operation but I fear that it might be about to expire this time!

Will right clicking the Start menu icon in the lower left hand corner give you a text menu? If it does, try >Settings>Update & Security>Troubleshoot>Blue Screen... and all of the other categories that may be relevant for the built-in troubleshooter to analyze and repair.

Get to Settings any way you can because the Troubleshooter under Update & Security covers more than just those two things.

Ok finally had time to browse the cellar properly and suddenly realized Win wan't a verb here.....

My thanks go to Undertoad, BigV and sexobon for the time and effort expended to help me out.

Right, here comes the embarrassing bit.

Having gone through all the measures proposed yesterday evening and then again this morning, the penny dropped with a sickening thud.

You'll recall that right clicking on an icon resulted in a menu appearing but left clicking on an option did not bear fruit.

Eventually it occurred to me that the fault might be with my cordless mouse.

After some searching I found a corded mouse, plugged in and, mirabile dictu, all was well.

I'm sorry to have troubled you all. I suppose that its an object lesson in looking for the simplest explanation first.

Also, it spurred me on to backing up documents and pictures to an external drive in the last half an hour or so.

I was truly worried that they might have disappeared forever.

Once again, many thanks. :thumb:

Glad it got sorted out!

There is always this kind of confusion it seems... too many moving parts in a PC. It's why tablets became popular, plus they can easily be factory reset.

Superior computers come with comprehensive diagnostics provided for free. These execute without Windows so as to break a problem down into simple parts. Eliminates confusion. With minimal labor.

In multiple cases, diagnostics even found defective hardware on computers that failed rarely -intermittently. Identified that defect before its warranty expired.

What is the advantage of a wireless mouse? Mouse is only used at that machine. Adds more hardware to fail. And has something very unreliable - batteries.

No wire

Heh, I view that as a disadvantage, as the wire provides power, and acts as a tether if I ever bump it off the desk.

How about a mulligan, tw? Would you like to revise and extend your remarks on this point, or will you double down, as the media pundits like to say?

If you won't revise, would you at least provide a cite so we can assess your assertion?

Correct, and wryly so.

Agreed. :thumb:

Please rewrite sentence that follow so as to be readable.

Meanwhile, why would anyone use a mouse with batteries? Can you answer that simple and relevant question without mumbo jumbo?

Meanwhile, comprehensive hardware diagnostics find such problems quickly with little labor. Only better computers provide them.

My wireless mouse has more features than a corded mouse. I can page forward and back, and I have a button that brings up the start menu. I don't have to worry about shutting it off when I shut down, when my computer goes to sleep it shuts down the mouse. I change my batteries about every 6 months.

None of that has anything to do with wirelessness. My corded mouse has considerably more features than that, I never change its batteries, and it never would have occurred to me to turn off my mouse separately from the computer.

But I can think of a couple of practical advantages:

Most laptops have limited USB ports. This is only an advantage if the wireless mouse doesnt use a dongle.

You often move your workspace around, ie switch output between an office monitor and a TV. Though there is a question of range. And if you don't necessarily have mouse surfaces, I can see a greater benefit for a wireless trackball.

If your desktop machine is placed awkwardly compared to the mouse surface, and there's no good way for the cord to reach.

Plus the non-practical but perfectly valid reason: aesthetics. My mom hates the way cords look.

For me, cords always get in the way, especially in games. I want to have movements in every direction require the same force; I never want to pull down harder to yank the cord out of a position where it's snagging something. And I don't want to lift the mouse to free a cord. Lives depend on it.

Some gamers have a complicated rig to keep the cord in place. (Google "mouse bungee") Ridiculous. I find the Logitech mice do a good job with battery life and I just charge about once a month, overnight.

Ok.

Would you like to revise and extend your remarks on this point, or will you double down, as the media pundits like to say?

If you won't revise, would you at least provide a cite so we can assess your assertion?

Apparently you again do not want to answer for some biased reason.

Fargon demonstrates something unreliable. Batteries fail repeatedly and often. Anything less than 5 years is unreliable. His mouse remains powered because he does not power it off. That may explain premature battery failure.

Those other features are also available on more reliable mice.

Another problem with wireless mice. It sometimes gets lost just like a TV remote.

Meanwhile, comprehensive hardware diagnostics find such problems quickly with little labor. Only better computers provide them. Apparently that is also too hard to comprehend. Or you only want to argue. Which explain now two posts that are vague and irrelevant.

My wireless mouse also functions as a tv remote, takes pictures, and gives me a close shave. It's a Swiss Army Mouse with built in solar charger for the batteries.

hey, I guess I do have the advantage of a hand built computer desk with built-in cord management...