Hard Drive Keeps Freezing, BUT, Thumb Drive Works

I'll start with the current news of today... I took a video from my hard drive (C:) and dragged it onto an old thumb drive, and it worked!

__________________

I would have posted this days ago, but I hate asking for help, but I've had the flu for almost 2 weeks, and my laptop is really screwed up, and it's kinda my life, especially during this quarantine and all this free time.

I've done all the scandisks, windows defender, anti-virus and it all comes clean. I've tried to do a Recovery, but it keeps failing, and its screwed up search settings and other things I'll hold off for another time. I've uninstalled programs, resets browsers, cache, cookies (so many password, ugh) defrag, optimize, disk cleanup.

It's odd how I can't play a song on winamp (it keeps freezing, sometimes for a short while, sometimes for a really long time where I have to restart), which takes no RAM, and the videos that I have on my desktop for example, yet... videos work much better on YouTube. It was always the other way around, because of my slow internet connection. I can't even play a simple game like Age of Empires II, which I've had for many years.


Barely over a year.
AMD A-9-9420; Radeon R5, 5 Computer Cores, 2c+3G... 3.00 GHz
64-bit, x-64 based processor

I have a few things backed up, but I don't have anything more than a thumb drive. I get a lot of "No Responding", and when it comes to music or videos (but online videos work better surprisingly), it freezes up for a while, and then resume for a few seconds, sometimes for up to a minute. Same with a game I used to play. A few nights ago, I went about 5 minutes straight with no video interruptions (I use GOM player, and have tried others, no difference).

I've only had this laptop for a little over a year, and the Norton expired not too long ago, which is what I initially thought. I installed malwarbytes, did a scan - nothing.. I uninstalled and installed AVG - same thing. I've used the RUN command to get rid of worthless programs I couldn't uninstall simply with Control Panels ,but still no difference.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I don't have the resources (or even a debit card) to find some sophisticated program online, so if you know something, I'd be very thankful in this very stressing time for me. Thanks!

Hello
1. Could you start please by explaining which manner of recovery you have tried
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/...covery-options
I realise it cannot of course be the recovery from a drive - image as you say you only have a few things backed up.

2. Do you have another computer available on which to make a usb installation media for windows 10, IF NECESSARY, we would not be using it for installation purposes, at this stage of course, but it may prove useful for other attempts to resolve your problem.

3. Before I start trying to solve your problem it is vital that you backup your personal important data
I know you say

I have a few things backed up, but I don't have anything more than a thumb drive

4. If you do have access to another computer then you can back up to the flash pen and then copy that to the other computer storage. You MAY NOT lose your data in my attempt to solve your problem, but I cannot guarantee that.

5, Presuming for the time being that it will allow you to, your first job is to go settings, apps on left pane and then on main window scroll down, select any reference to Norton, AVG and Malwarebytes choosing one at a time and then click uninstall on that one.
Then when that has completed it will either allow you to progress to the next one OR it will tell you that your system must be restarted to complete uninstallation. In the case of the latter do so and then return to settings - apps and select the next one.

6. Ensure your laptop is on mains power before commencing any of my recommendations please.

7. If you successfully complete the uninstallation restart once more and then go settings - update and security and then on left pane click Windows Security and check on main window that you have green check marks for Virus and Threat protection and Firewall protection. These are the inbuilt Microsoft provided protection with Windows Defender etc.

8. Post back please and let me know the answers to my questions and how you progress

9. Finally it is far too early to make other than an educated guess, but during the time you have been laid up with flu, has this laptop been used on battery only and failed on occasions. Shutting down in the process of updating, when the message appears DO NOT shut down etc, can cause all manner of problems.

Also possibly worthy of mention is that using laptops on soft surfaces where air flow vents are not clear can also cause problems if overheating occurs.

Do either of these have any relevance to your current problems please.

Macboatmaster said:

Hello
1. Could you start please by explaining which manner of recovery you have tried
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/...covery-options
I realise it cannot of course be the recovery from a drive - image as you say you only have a few things backed up.

2. Do you have another computer available on which to make a usb installation media for windows 10, IF NECESSARY, we would not be using it for installation purposes, at this stage of course, but it may prove useful for other attempts to resolve your problem.

3. Before I start trying to solve your problem it is vital that you backup your personal important data
I know you say


4. If you do have access to another computer then you can back up to the flash pen and then copy that to the other computer storage. You MAY NOT lose your data in my attempt to solve your problem, but I cannot guarantee that.

5, Presuming for the time being that it will allow you to, your first job is to go settings, apps on left pane and then on main window scroll down, select any reference to Norton, AVG and Malwarebytes choosing one at a time and then click uninstall on that one.
Then when that has completed it will either allow you to progress to the next one OR it will tell you that your system must be restarted to complete uninstallation. In the case of the latter do so and then return to settings - apps and select the next one.

6. Ensure your laptop is on mains power before commencing any of my recommendations please.

7. If you successfully complete the uninstallation restart once more and then go settings - update and security and then on left pane click Windows Security and check on main window that you have green check marks for Virus and Threat protection and Firewall protection. These are the inbuilt Microsoft provided protection with Windows Defender etc.

8. Post back please and let me know the answers to my questions and how you progress

9. Finally it is far too early to make other than an educated guess, but during the time you have been laid up with flu, has this laptop been used on battery only and failed on occasions. Shutting down in the process of updating, when the message appears DO NOT shut down etc, can cause all manner of problems.

Also possibly worthy of mention is that using laptops on soft surfaces where air flow vents are not clear can also cause problems if overheating occurs.

Do either of these have any relevance to your current problems please.

Thank you so much for replying. My laptop is propped up on 3 milk crates, so it is always cool... I've already uninstalled the anti-virus. Right now, I am uninstalling windows updates, which say can take a while.

I have another laptop, which is in worse shape, but it might still work...

I have many updates, so I'll check back in later. Thanks again!

Right now, I am uninstalling windows updates,

You must do as you wish of course, but please do note that this was not, and is still not part of my recommendations.
If you wish my assistance, it is quiet important to the hopeful success of that, for you to follow my advice.
That may sound a little blunt, but please be assured that generally speaking, uninstalling updates is NOT the correct approach, to the problem you appear to have.

Uninstalling an update is only applicable, when you have reason to suspect that it was an update that caused the problems.

Macboatmaster said:

You must do as you wish of course, but please do note that this was not, and is still not part of my recommendations.
If you wish my assistance, it is quiet important to the hopeful success of that, for you to follow my advice.
That may sound a little blunt, but please be assured that generally speaking, uninstalling updates is NOT the correct approach, to the problem you appear to have.

Uninstalling an update is only applicable, when you have reason to suspect that it was an update that caused the problems.

I don't mind bluntness at all - I appreciate the help... I uninstalled only as far back as I started noticing the problems (2 weeks). I opened a multiple videos file I have on my hard drive, and it didn't skip or freeze, so it could have improved.

Cheers
1. I know you say you have uninstalled the 3rd party Av programs
Please confirm that as asked there is now no reference to any such AV programs in the settings - apps etc I directed you to.
If there is uninstall them
2. Please check that Windows Security again in settings - is shown as I indicated.

3. Open a cmd prompt with admin rights and type at the prompt
sfc /scannow

That is sfc (space)/scannow

to open a cmd prompt with admin rights type cmd in the search on the taskbar and then when it appears above
cmd prompt app - right click it and click run as admin

If it returns errors could not be fixed, close the cmd window reboot and re-open the cmd window
on errors again could not be fixed run it 3 times in total
If still returning errors after 3 runs, when you post back I will give you the next cmd.
I do NOT at this stage need the report indicated in the cmd window - only the result

Kindly indicate in your reply the result of all three items mentioned.

Macboatmaster said:

Cheers
1. I know you say you have uninstalled the 3rd party Av programs
Please confirm that as asked there is now no reference to any such AV programs in the settings - apps etc I directed you to.
If there is uninstall them
2. Please check that Windows Security again in settings - is shown as I indicated.

3. Open a cmd prompt with admin rights and type at the prompt
sfc /scannow

That is sfc (space)/scannow

to open a cmd prompt with admin rights type cmd in the search on the taskbar and then when it appears above
cmd prompt app - right click it and click run as admin

If it returns errors could not be fixed, close the cmd window reboot and re-open the cmd window
on errors again could not be fixed run it 3 times in total
If still returning errors after 3 runs, when you post back I will give you the next cmd.
I do NOT at this stage need the report indicated in the cmd window - only the result

Kindly indicate in your reply the result of all three items mentioned.

1. No traces of any AV.
2. Windows Security - "no action needed" ... Green check marks everywhere.
3. I have tried this before and tried it a second ago.. It flashes the black dos screen for less than a half second, and then disappears.

.

I have tried this before and tried it a second ago.. It flashes the black dos screen for less than a half second, and then disappears.

I suspect you are typing sfc /scannow in the RUN box and not as per my guide.

Macboatmaster said:

.

I suspect you are typing sfc /scannow in the RUN box and not as per my guide.

I typed out exactly what you said. I copied and pasted it.

I am sorry for the apparent confusion, but where did you

I typed out exactly what you said. I copied and pasted it.

type out/copy and paste the sfc /scannow cmd - to, the cmd window OR the run command window

3. Open a cmd prompt with admin rights and type at the prompt
sfc /scannow
That is sfc (space)/scannow
to open a cmd prompt with admin rights type cmd in the search on the taskbar and then when it appears above
cmd prompt app - right click it and click run as admin