Total system freeze/lock-up consistantly after 5 min idle

It froze again, this time while watching a streaming movie, but significantly while Windows was trying to update something while the film was paused for ca. 5 min. but still very slowly downloading the stream I think. Whastever Windows was trying to update it was more than obviously nothing I either want nor need, likely from Windows Store, from which I never want anything and unfortunately which app I cannot uninstall (Defender indicates "up to date" and Windows Update indicates "no updates are available", so it must be something I do not want or need!!).

CULPRITS: InstallAgentUserBroker + Windows Update (note TIMES)


Time of freeze >
Attachment 160734

Problems >

100%x
Attachment 160735

100%x

1) The logs displayed multiple BSOD however there were no mini dump files collected.
In the left lower corner search type: system > open system control panel > on the left pane click on advanced system settings > on the advanced tab click on settings in startup and recovery > post an image into the thread.

2) Run HDTune on all drive partitions:
http://www.hdtune.com/
to check the health,
scan for errors, no quick scan but full scan
run a benchmark.

It may take some time, but please take the time you need to perform it properly.
When above is done please make screenshots of the following
the health,
the error scan,
the benchmark incl. following
transfer rate,
access time,
burst rate,
cpu usage.
Take Screenshot in Windows 10 General Tips Tutorials

3) Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste chkdsk /r
Run this on all drives.
This may take many hours.
Use the information in this link to find the report in event.vwr and post the results into the thread:
Read Chkdsk Log in Event Viewer in Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials

4) Run memtest86+ version 5.01 for at least 8 passes. Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool
Please make sure you use the Memtest86+ version 5.01 with the link below.
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool
The testing is done not by time but by passes.
The more passes the better.
It sometimes takes passes in the 20's to find malfunctioning RAM.
There are a significant number of false negatives if fewer than 8 passes are made.
A false negative is a test pass when there is malfunctioning RAM.
There is 16 GB of RAM on the computer.
Memtest86+ version 5.01 testing takes approximately 1 - 2 hours /GB RAM
Just 1 error is a fail and you can abort testing.
Then test 1 RAM module at a time in the same DIMM each for 8 or more passes.

5) When Memtest86+ has completed 8 or more passes use a camera or smart phone camera to take a picture and post an image into the thread.

Memory problems. - Microsoft Community
MemTest86+ - Test RAM BSOD Tutorials

OK, first I am neither an expert nor CS/IT pro, in fact I am only barely familiar with PCs and OS's. So there is a bordered limit to what I can or am willing to do in these matters. And it is no major problem for me to deal with freezes with a simple stop/start if I forget and leave it idling too long without putting it in Sleep mode. Further, further, I see nothing in THIS forum that in ANY way has even slightly offered a positive solution to what is clearly to me an issue involving Windows Update trying to get past possible KIS/Defender conflicts as well as ALL the things I have turned off, since I absolutely HATE most of what MS wants me to use and like. And mean really 98% of it, esp. including Windows Store and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, etc.. I see no real help in THIS forum, as opposed to the General Support Forum which did provide some excellent tips which did help a LOT! All I note here is being told this PC has problems. I personally find that extremely unhelpful, since what I need are solutions!

I have worked at General Dynamics as kind of in-house consultant on weird or new problems that no one could or would deal with, so I am usually a good problem solver .... and my logical sense is that Windows Update and InstallAgentUserBroker and whatever relates to them are the major bad actors here

I did try the repair command but it stayed on 12% for around 10 minutes so I bailed on it, as I need to use this machine. Further except for maybe 10 or 20 sec once I think and that was during the time I was messing with forcing driver updates not intended for this system and messing with the Registry, there have only been Blue Screens max 4 or 5 times, only for maybe 3 - 4 seconds "please wait, we are fixing ..." and then off -- and that has NOT happened since -- and NEVER a BSOD!

For now I must actually use this device for things I am working on. The freezes are less of a problem for me than running all these tests with NO offers of actual solutions I am able to use (and I remain unconvinced that even buying WinX all over again -- from a store that is still in business -- will not have the same problems with KIS, my absolute refusal to use or not disable almost all of the vaunted and pushed MS "features", etc,), here is the best I can at this time offer (especially when there are as yet no profferred solutions offered in THIS forum -- as opposed to the General Support Forum -- which I am actually able to use: NO offense implied or intended!)


HDTune info
Attachment 160803

HDTune benchmark
Attachment 160804

HDTune file benchmark
Attachment 160822

HDTune disc monitor
Attachment 160806

HDTune health
Attachment 160808

HDTune error scan
Attachment 160812

... and Install wins with a clear lead 118 : 4 + 3

Attachment 160843

Attachment 160844

This may well be a Red Herring, but MONTHS ago I managed to break Windows Spotlight while trying to get it to work (it seemed to not function) by using online advice to mess with the Registry. There were THEN, months ago, one or two actual BSODs after which I thought the Registry was repaired after eventually TWO in place OS repairs (I had to download and re-install my all my apps incl. Kaspersky Firefox, Skype, etc., each time). Now as noted scannow and dism repair health indicate no missing or corrupt files, etc., and I do NOT use Spotlight.

After those months-old BSOD issues being repaired, through another way, not direct from the normal system download method, I think maybe Edge or Windows Explorer, Spotlight pics were available. I just strongly dislike therm and so do not use Spotlight (instead use my own slideshow and stored photos).

BUT it does seem to be within the realm of possibility that the system is STILL trying to download new Spotlight pictures! So that could be on top of or instead of Windows Store update attempts being at fault now. Or just a Red Herring .....

Thanks, I do know you are doing your best to help here and I understand your response. In continuing attempts to sort this out, I now checked and after allowing Spotlight to display on the Lockscreen I see that Spotlight is STILL stuck on the same photo it had/has been for months. So Spotlight seems to be still broken, perhaps because of my messing with it. And may be what is behind the continuing failed update issues.

I found this link which I will not try in any way expect folowing any expert advice (from you, for ex.): Personalization CSP | Microsoft Docs

"I can take a hint" and will now try do continue with your previous suggestions if I can

B.t.w., my BIOS is the latest from HP (I re-checked)

Lee

This is as far as I got; I can't get it to show anything more (open details)

Attachment 160896

that was after chkdsk/ f

assuming you tell me how to open the logs indicated above to post, I am TOTALLY confused by the memtest bit, have ZERO idea what to download. etc. (b.t.w., this is a 64x system, not 86)

finally, if I can then use memtest, since I have no camera nor smart phone or even any access to one, and assuming I cannot use Snipping Tool for the results, the ONLY camera I could use is the built-in webcam which I can access on Skype "video setting" , use a mirror, take a Snipping Tool screenshot of that and reverse the image in Paint. I can promise that the resulting image will be less than clear ....

Given the above Audacity issue in the above Event Logs, just now after compatibility troubleshooting (& presumably "fixing") Audacity I left blank Firefox & Mobile Partner "on" with no user input for 11 minutes, no issues, put in sleep mode, then exited no prob. Doesn't prove that theoretically previously incompatible Audacity was the sole or partial cause, though.

FWIW, I recently ran the built-in HP long Memory Test (in startup menu) and all OK, so perhaps we can skip the Internet download memtest (which is very problematic for me as noted above)