Windows 10: Spinning Wheel, 100% CPU, Blinking Windows

I'm posting this on mobile out of sheer desperation. I have no idea what my computer is doing or why. Without further ado, here's what's up.

COMPUTER DETAILS:
HP ENVY dv6
AMD A4-4300M APU with RADEON HD 2.50GHz
4GB RAM
WINDOWS 10 (64 bit) / upgraded from Windows 8

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
When I boot up my HP ENVY dv6 laptop, everything works fine until I log in. Once the desktop pulls up and loads the spinning "thinking" wheel never goes away. In addition to the wheel constantly spinning and acting like it's loading something, if I pull up a window, the outside of the window blinks as if I'm repeatitivly clicking outside the window and then back on the window. This never ends. In addition to all of this, I cannot scroll. When I attempt to scroll the computer won't stay, just keeps snapping back to where I begin my scrolling from.

In addition to all of this, when I opened my task manager to see what was running in there, I saw that my CPU was constantly running between 90% and 100% without me doing anything.

REPAIR ATTEMPTS:
1.) I've tried running CCLEANER to assist in clean up. I run CCLEANER whenever I finish using my computer for the day to keep everything working. I cleaned both, the registry and the other junk.

RESULT: no change

2.) I've downloaded a program called malware bytes anti malware , ran it numerous times and it found a bunch of files and deleted them. The results were:

- PUP.Optional.TidyNetwork
- PUP.Optional.MindSpark
- PUP.Optional.FindWide
- PUP.Optional.Freshy
- PUP.Optional.TNT
- PUP.Optional.WinYahoo
- PUP.Optional.FindWideTB
- Trojan.FakeDoc

There were multiples of each of the PUP files, at least 5 or 6 of each. There were 2 of the Trojan ones.

RESULT: no change

3.) scanned with MCAFFEE... Found a few threats and removed them.

RESULT: no change

4.) I've ran a defrag, 4 times.

RESULT: no change

5.) I removed every program that I didn't NEED. I have a total of 12 programs downloaded on the computer now such as:
- iTunes
- VLC Player
- DIVX
- Spotify
- CCLEANER
- Malwarebytes
- Utorrent
- Wondershare video editor
- QuickTime
- Winzip
- cyberlink media suite (bloat ware that came with the computer)

That's all I have on my computer at the moment besides very few files in the documents, music, movies and photos sections. I have not had the chance to browse around to see if there has been a related thread with a solved status so I apologize if it's already been solved. But if someone could give me some information it would be great. Also, I can provide screenshots upon request.

Also, I have minimized my start up to about 5 programs. Which are as follows:

- HP CoolSense
- HP message service
- IDT PC AUDIO
- QuickTime Task
- Synaptics touchpad

*if anyone could tell me what those files could be that malware bytes found and what their possible purpose would be that would help too, I'm curious.

:)

 

Wheel beside the pointer continously spins

I know of 2 computers which were upgraded to Windows 10, one from 7 Home Premium and the other from 8.1 Home. The first one is an HP Pavilion (don’t know the number) desktop computer and the other is an HP Envy m6 notebook.

The problem is that both computers, in the past few days, started having the little wheel beside the pointer continue to spin and blink on and off continuously.

What is going on? How can this issue be fixed?

I've looked at Performance Monitor where it shows the CPU, Hard drive, network and RAM on a graph; on the notebook (being my work computer) and it shows both the hard drive and CPU being constantly at about 100%.

Help!

Jeff W

 

Cursor Issue since update

I have done everything suggested. The spinning wheel is still beside the cursor, blinking. After the clean boot it has worked a little better.

 

Hi, if, as might be the case, you have some form of unpleasant malware on your system, you may be better off considering posting a 'hijackthis' (freeware) log on one of the sites dedicated to assisting people with difficult to clean problems.

Apart from that,
1. Can you post a screenshot/photo of your task manager, organised from high CPU use downwards?
2. If you boot to Safe Mode, is all well?
3. Can you download and use Autoruns (Sysinternals) to inspect what is starting, disable anything inappropriate or suspicious?

 

Thanks for your response. I can't post a screenshot at this moment of the status, however, after completing a defeat and running malwarbytes an additional time I got the CPU usage to go down to 60% and hover between that and 80% until I move the mouse, then it skyrockets to 100% again but doesn't lag. When I get time, I'll have to use said computer in order to upload a screenshot since my iPhone won't allow me to post the photo I took a few seconds ago. But if you would like, I can email you the photo if you want to continue discussing the issue in real-time.

Safe mode, safe mode appears to make the computer run like its brand new. The spinning wheel is gone, the mouse doesn't act up and my CPU is down to 6% (while I move the mouse rapidly with open office running aswell) It's running like it just came from the store. Brand new! My task manager is noticeably shorter, I don't see things spiking around on the CPU...

I cannot download the program in which you mentioned due to lack of Internet connection at the moment. However, with the computer acting great in safe mode, would the conclusion of an infection be dismissed?

 

It's good that safe mode at least works. You could also try safe mode with networking (briefly) to download that small program- you wouldn't have a firewall or AV. I can't comment as to what that indicates about malware.

Could you also confirm that after the upgrade to Win 10, your PC was functioning normally for a while, or did you experience this high CPU use immediately after the upgrade, and that it was functioning normally prior to the upgrade?

You could list the top 5 items from the task manager list and % CPU used, e.g.

 

There are several other programs you can try. Install Avast Free 2016, SuperAntiSpyWare, CCleaner and Wise Disc Cleaner. I would recommend going through all the options on the two disc cleaners before using them.

Other than that I would recommend a clean install because you may still be compromised. Did your laptop come with Windows 10? Or did you upgrade? If you upgraded then you can extract your install.esd file and convert it to an iso and then clean install. Let me know if you want to do this.

 

If you wouldn't lose anything much by clean installing, that's an easier way to go.
To consider: did you upgrade from 32 bits or 64?

You can clean install a 32 bit or a 64 bit version of Win 10- activation should be no problem. I have both available and am in transition to 64 bits... could be a good time to do that.

Let's assume for the moment you don't have significant malware (PUP = potentially unwanted program) - = not likely to be serious..

There are plenty of causes for high CPU use other than that.
I found
- windows defender
- Windows customer experience
both using lots of CPU initially.

If you have an AV installed, Windows defender will be disabled.
Also tiledatasrv (Appmodel(2) was a problem - sthg to do with the universal apps.

 

I see you have not run sfc /scannow that fixes a lot of problems.
Don't know whether you can run that in safe mode as never had to try it.
If you can get it to run notice the space between the c and /

meanwhile I will try and think of something you have not done to get your computer back up and running as it should.
Also as another asked you was windows 10 running ok when first installed or did this problem start straight away

 

I've been 64 bit since I bought the computer. Though my computer was a Windows 8 initially, will I still be able to get Windows 10 back by a clean install from my recovery drive? (I don't have a CD, I was one of the ones that got an email and a pop up notification to upgrade free).

Windows defender was disabled because I had Norton, then when that ran out (it was a trial), I downloaded a trial of mcaffee (forgive my spelling lol), so between those both being present, my computer disabled Windows defender. Appmodel(2), I have that in the list of running programs, when I wake up I will see if ending that/ disabling it will have a positive effect on the running system. Thank you for your input. It'll be a while before I can upload screenshots, I've got a lot of work hours on the weekend schedule.

 

Thank you, I will look up scannow and see if that can assist me aswell as the other programs that have been recommended. Windows 10 was running exceptionally well upon installation. I didn't have any issues whatsoever. Installation was a breeze, exploration was a breeze and I (unlike a lot of others) was very pleased with Windows 10. I believe this started after I downloaded VLC media player to play my .mkv files since DIVX was being rebellious and wouldn't work for such files. That's the only major change I made to the PC. During that installation, I remember accidentally installing a tool bar (which I later removed via programs and features). Wether that could be the culprit, I'm unsure. I'm going to try what Dalchina said about the Appmodel program, maybe it's somehow tied to that also. Thanks!

 

Thank you for the list of programs, I will do some investigating. My laptop came with Windows 8, but I got an email to upgrade for free to Windows 10. If I need to do a clean install I will definitely need your assistance with the iso deal since I don't have very much experience in that department. I'm computer savvy to a moderate extent haha.

 

Ill send you a screenshot of the list asap. However the list fluctuates very fast. Put I can tell you all the stats. Maybe even allow you to see it realtime using team viewer or another service app like that. Thank you again!

 

Hi, as you've very little on your PC, backing up what you want to save, and a clean install may be the easiest way to go.

First, run
chkdsk C: /F anyway. This should do a scheduled disk check.

Then (from Safe Mode or when CPU use is low) if you want to try a basic level repair/check of what you have now, run
SFC /Scannow (from an elevated command prompt).

Try a clean boot (search for how to do that if you don't know) now we know Safe Mode is ok and report behaviour.

Please do advise if this problem developed AFTER you upgraded and whether Win 10 has ever run normally for you & post task man info on running processes using most CPU time.

Having activated Win 10 on this PC, you can reinstall any time.
Don't bother trying to disable Appmodel(2)- it's a normal function. An indication of a problem would be if it used a lot of CPU time for more than 10 mins, e.g.

 

Did you completely remove Norton from your laptop.
If not you have to do so as it still could clash with McAfee.
Here is the link to remove Norton completely from your computer
Uninstall your Norton product using Norton Removal Tool
Also if ever you do decide to remove McAfee you have to do the same