Windows 10: Performed Repair Install but still have some various issues

First time I've tried to use Safe Mode with W10. What a hassle!! I set it up to use F8 as before - much more straightforward.

Everything worked fine in Safe Mode. Does that give you any more clues?

Now I'll read the other suggestions in your last post - and thanks again for your interest and clarity in helping me out.

Bob

 

Here is a screenshot of my Startup programs. Is this of any help? I don't see anything like TweakUI - but I may have installed something similar in Windows 7. However, I don't see it here.

By the way, when I open my Windows directory (or any other), It takes at least 3 to 4 minutes before I can use it (the arrow and hourglass remain and the small mark on the left side of each folder (when you click on it, the folder opens) doesn't show up for that same 3 to 4 minutes.

 

Wow - you have lots of start up programs! You say everything works in Safe Mode so it seems something on start up is causing your problems. I use Autoruns to disable startup programs / services / tasks which are not essential - see https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/.../bb963902.aspx. Run Autoruns in Admin mode and check what is loading for each user.

If that was my PC, I would ditch about 70% of what you are loading. Incidentally, I hate Acronis software with a vengeance for reasons I won't go into here and would never install any of their products.

 

Those startup programs have accumulated over time. My problem is: I don't know what many of them are for (and if they're essential) and if I disable them, I won't know what will happen if they're not enabled. Actually, I was hoping you would make some suggestions - and tell me why they're not essential. I don't use Acronis anymore so I will uninstall any Acronis programs I have. I, also, hate Acronis. Now, I'll go and read the article (above) that you sent to me.

 

Dear Bob/Nisko:
As far as startup items go, you can learn more about them in Task Manager by doing the following:
1. Enter Ctrl-Alt-Esc at the same time to launch Task Manager (or any other way of starting the program you might prefer)
2. On any given entry under Apps or Background Processes, you can right-click the item, then select "Search online" for more information
3. This will open a search on the application or process name, using your default Web browser and default search engine
4. You can read more about the selected item using the various search hits that show up, to help you make the "keep" vs. "eliminate" decision. Of the typical resources that show up, I find systemexplorer.net, Windows 10/8/7/XP file forum, and What is this exe file? Is this file safe? Check here
to be reasonably accurate, useful and informative.

One more thing, if you search on a string such as "how to decide to keep or remove Windows startup items" (here's a Add, Delete, Enable, or Disable Startup Items" also includes lots of useful information on this topic, too.

You have to create and follow a strategy for dealing with start-up items. Here's one I'll proffer as something to ponder:
1. Look over your startup items
2. Decide which ones relate to programs or services you are likely to use shortly after start-up. Keep those.
3. Get rid of everything else, by using Autoruns or the Startup tab in Task Manager to disable them. Make a note of what you've eliminated (or take a screenshot to keep around for future reference).
4. If you find yourself inconvenience by missing items later on, you can selectively add them back to your startup as needed.

HTH,
--Ed--

 

Thanks very much, Ed. A lot of good information you've sent to me. Startup programs/"helpers" is one area I've never had any experience with. Now I can learn (I always like to learn and do things myself as much as possible). Of course, in order to learn, you need good teachers like you and Denis. Thank you, both!!

Uh-oh: New problem: Ctl-Alt-Esc does nothing on my computer - does not bring up the Task Manager.

OK - I found the correct set of keys to open Task Manager.

Question: What happens if I disable a startup "helper" - then try to open the associated app? Will it open the "helper" by itself? If so, I could disable most of the Startup helpers and not be concerned.

 

Ha! Ha! It's always something. Fortunately, there are many ways to launch Task Manager (which I'll abbreviate as TM in this post for brevity of future mention). Here are three others you can try:
1. Right click on the task bar. You should get a pop-up menu that includes TM among its entries.
2. Hit Windows-key-R, then type taskmgr, and hit enter.
3. Type "Task Manager" in the Cortana search box, then select TM from the resulting menu options.
There are yet more ways to do this, but hopefully, one or more of these will work for you. Sorry for your trouble.
--Ed--

 

Question: What happens if I disable a startup "helper" - then try to open the associated app? Will it open the "helper" by itself? If so, I could disable most of the Startup helpers and not be concerned.

 

Yes, in general that's the kind of behavior disabling a startup item causes: the helper simply doesn't load on startup. You can still load and run the parent or related application when and as it's needed. It will just take longer to start up when you do, because the helper hasn't already pre-staged certain elements that need to be running. Hope this makes sense, and thanks for asking,
--Ed--

 

Nisko,

I have now seen your post First time I've tried to use Safe Mode with W10. What a hassle .... I have also read the other posts so am up to date with developments.

About your list of startup programs [and I agree that it is surprisingly long] -
1 I do not know what that Dell utility does.
2 Even if only to investigate the problem, I think you should disable gaming entries such as SetPoint.exe.
3 These should definitely be disabled to see what effect they have on the problem as their names imply some effect on the display - Screenpresses, SnagIt.
4 I do not know what they all are, of course. Unlocker & Reflect struck my eye but I cannot remember why their names should have stuck in my memory. You could disabling them for a while as well.
5 As EdTittel said, you can investigate them using Task manager.
6 I suggest disabling those I have mentioned then drawing up a list of the others and working through each one until you have either confirmed that it is useful or have disabled it as well.
7 Remember that you can try rebooting between each disabling action so you can see their effects quite quickly.

If this does not solve the problem then adopt a more systematic approach - I suggest that you use the procedure in Safe mode and clean boot procedures - how to make use of them - Wiki That's what I've been busy doing all day.

I do think you need to address the unusually slow performance in File explorer but that is a separate issue. It is a shame that you do not have the time to do a clean install.

I quite like Acronis.

Denis

 

Nisko,

I have a Dell laptop and don't use any of their bloatware so you could uninstall most of the Dell utilities - but be sure to check their support page for new drivers every so often. You don't need most of the helpers e.g. Reflect but ensure you don't disable any services they need.

 

Thank you. I'm using a Dell M6800 workstation/laptop.

 

I'd like to get something clear in my mind, please. If my issue stops when I use safe mode, does that definitely mean that either a startup program or corrupt driver is at fault? I can try the startup program shut down one by one easily enough and, if that doesn't work, I can delete each driver one-by-one and install a fresh Dell driver in its' place. My understanding is Safe Mode starts without most drivers and startup programs. If I understand correctly, this method should identify the culprit. Am I correct in my assumption? Or, if that doesn't work, what other differences are there between normal startup mode and safe mode? Thank you.

 

Nisko,

No & No & there is no definitive list of what Safe mode loads & does not load. The explanations in my article and the links in it are all that has been made available. I searched for ages to find more concrete information but to no avail.

Messing about reinstalling drivers at random would just confuse the issue. I really do think you need to approach this more methodically if you are to fix the problem without getting the computer so messed up that a clean install is the only way to get it back to running normally or even adequately.

But you can, if you want to, just go ahead and disable all the startup entries in Task manager - experiment then put them back to normal if disabling them makes no difference. I suggested a couple of entries that look to be likely contenders so disable them first.

All the procedure I gave you the link for does is take you through things in a methodical manner and more comprehensively [Windows services are also included in the items disabled for testing].

Denis

 

Thanks - I'll follow your advice. It's too bad Microsoft doesn't list the things it omits in Safe Mode. However, by all means, point out any likely culprits and start with them first. No harm done. Thank you.