Problem

Applies to

1. Windows 10
   
2. Windows 11
   

Resolution

Step 1 - Check for updates

Run a check for Windows Update to ensure the machine is running with latest operating system updates. 

1. Click Start button, then search Check For Updates and click to launch this result.
2. Then click “Update” button to start the check.
3. When updates are found let them download and then restart the computer to finish installation. If thee are a lot of updates it may be worth running the check again to pick up any that were not downloaded first time. 

Step 2 - Check hard disk health (spinning HDD)

Your computer hard disk is where data is written to and stored, it is also used by Windows for system tasks, if it is not working properly this may cause performance issues. Please use the steps below to test the health of your hard disk. If you are in touch with technical support about an issue please make them aware of the results of the tests.

1. Visit: http://sourceforge.net/projects/gsmartcontrol/files/1.1.3/gsmartcontrol-1.1.3-win64.exe/download
2. Download the installer file and run it.
3. Follow the instructions to install.
4. From the start menu search for "GsmartControl" and run it from the search list when found.
5. It should display at least one active hard disk on your system. Right click this and choose "perform tests" in the context menu.
6. In the next window adjust the drop down for "Test type" to choose Short self-test" and then click "Execute".
7. This process should only take a couple of minutes and may post back either that it passed successfully or with errors. If you find it displays errors contact technical support.
   

Step 3 - Check for malware

ADWCleaner is a free handy tool to run on a machine to see what it can find that maybe causing delays on a system.  

1. Save any open work before proceeding further then visit:  https://toolslib.net/downloads/viewdownload/1-adwcleaner/
2. Download the file and then run it. 
   
3. Click the Agree button when prompted.
   
4. Then click the "Scan" button to have it scan your system.
5. When the scan is complete it will display what it has found, if it has detected Claro on your machine this is a false positive and you do not need to remove it. Otherwise make sure other items are checked then click Clean to remove them. 
6. When prompted restart your system for the changes to take effect and test your system for the defects you had previously.
   

Step 4 - Repair Windows system files

1. Click Start button and search Command Prompt, right click this in the results, then choose Run As Administrator.
   
2. At the prompt copy/paste this command and press ENTER to start it:
   
   DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
   
   
3. After the above command has finished, copy/paste this command and press ENTER to start it:
   
   SFC /Scannow
   
   
4. When both commands are finished close the window and restart the computer, and continue to monitor for the problem.

Step 5 - Reset Windows 10

Warning!

Users are strongly advised to make sure they have a backup of their user files before resetting their machine.

1. Open start menu and Navigate to Settings. ...
2. Select "Update & security"
3. Click "Recovery" in the left pane. ...
4. Click "Get started" under "Reset this PC".
5. Click either "Keep my files" or "Remove everything," depending on whether you want to keep your data files intact.
6. If you choose "Remove everything" please be sure you have a backup of your data, you can choose "Just remove my files" on the next screen.