Dec 2016 Win10 updates cause lag and missing, empty context menus

Bemused · 13 Dec 2016

Hi
Thanks everyone for the ad. I have a previously stable quad core Asus MB PC which since the most recent Aniversary updates has become almost unusable. Right click menus only display the shadow line and are otherwise invisible. Moving the mouse over them leaves a pointer trail resembling a PaintshopPro paint tube. Hovering over the top right close box sometimes restores the text but this can take up to a minute. Folders in tree menus in Explorer or Outlook don't highlight so one can't be sure if they are selected and even desktop icons are affected, moving one doesn't appear to work but after a [long delay the icon will jump to it's new position. I'm assuming the updates were the culprit as I have reverted to a month old image which doesn't seem affected, however the updates reinstall and it becomes unusable. At the moment I'm using the old image on wifi with metered chosen to hopefully block the automatic updates. I tend to use the Microsoft onscreen keyboard for banking etc and that displays as an empty pane with just a shadow indicating its size. The PC is an H81-M Plus with a Haswell quad processor, 16g DDR3 and a Samsung SSD C: drive. I did use the Asus windows EZ updater on the Bios a few days earlier [rather than direct USB] but it seemed to go ok. I even put in a GT730 video card [1G] in case the onboard video I'd been using wasn't compatible [no drivers since 2015] but that didn't help. Any suggestions would be most welcome..by the way programs seem unaffected the problem seeming to be 'overlays' for the want of a better description. I've been assuming it's windows updates causing the problem but After a day of using the trouble free image, the problem is reoccuring so perhaps updating the Bios through windows has fritzed it? Thanks to any replies in advance, short of buying a new MB and starting again I'm stumped.

Caledon Ken · 13 Dec 2016

Welcome.

You didn't mention resetting your BIOS (UEFI) so ...

If you think it is BIOS have you reset it by removing power cord, removing CMOS battery and holding power button for 20 seconds. I saw in one manual for a board like yours they suggested placing jumper on CLRTC headers instead of using power button. Check your manual for "Approved" method.

bro67 · 13 Dec 2016

Caledon Ken said:

Welcome.

You didn't mention resetting your BIOS (UEFI) so ...

If you think it is BIOS have you reset it by removing power cord, removing CMOS battery and holding power button for 20 seconds. I saw in one manual for a board like yours they suggested placing jumper on CLRTC headers instead of using power button. Check your manual for "Approved" method.

The bios settings are not going to cause the issues that the OP is having.

bro67 · 13 Dec 2016

Did you reinstall the motherboard drivers from ASUS for the Network drivers? All of the extra ASUS software like ezupdater are not needed, nor are any other type of setup programs. You do not need a new Motherboard, just because Windows updates installed a bad set of drivers.

You need to set in System in Control panel that Windows update does not update device drivers. You can also roll back to before the update, or use a image to restore from if you have any type of backup software running.

Usually the problem is pre-existing and not even from the latest update. The problems just tend to rear their ugly head when Microsoft tries to fix a flaw with Windows.

Caledon Ken · 13 Dec 2016

Certainly not to argue however the Asus manual, and it warns you must follow these instructions to complete a task, states in the update instructions "Ensure to load the BIOS default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability". Bemused also said he later added a video card. There are those on the Asus forum that even suggest loading defaults before and after the BIOS update and resetting when adding hardware to allow the motherboard to sense all changes. The power reset ensures everything is cleared and set to default.

If I could please ask, after seeing all the drivers Asus specifies for their board on Windows 10 why just the Asus network driver. They specify drivers for all sorts of components on the H81M-P Plus for chipsets, MEI, graphics through storage for Windows 10. Thank you.

bro67 · 13 Dec 2016

Again the Bios does not need flashed in this case. It has zero affect on the updates that is giving the OP problems. The Bios can be set to Legacy and no security and the computer will just run fine.

Windows Update has been known to place incorrect drivers on computers, that has caused machines to crash. This has been going on since Windows 2k.

Bemused · 14 Dec 2016

Thanks for the reply Ken, no I didn't in fact first time of Bios update so I just followed Asus directions and no mention of resetting! The 81-M Plus doesn't use the USB flash method, only an updater app in Windows which I took to mean no need to take the case apart. I'll look into that today ....and thanks

You didn't mention resetting your BIOS (UEFI) so ...

If you think it is BIOS have you reset it by removing power cord, removing CMOS battery and holding power button for 20 seconds. I saw in one manual for a board like yours they suggested placing jumper on CLRTC headers instead of using power button. Check your manual for "Approved" method.[/QUOTE]

Bemused · 14 Dec 2016

Thanks Bro67, I did download and install the available drivers from Asus [chipset, LAN etc] which didn't help. For some reason the most recent video driver was 2015 which is what prompted me to buy a GT730 video card which came with Win10 drivers...also didn't help. A reverted image does work initially but seems to degrade within a day the errors mounting slowly. Currently hovering over the top right close button seems to restore otherwise invisible missing context menus but copying such things as email addresses or ebay item numbers is impossible as the lag is too great. So you feel it's a driver issue?

bro67 said:

Did you reinstall the motherboard drivers from ASUS for the Network drivers? All of the extra ASUS software like ezupdater are not needed, nor are any other type of setup programs. You do not need a new Motherboard, just because Windows updates installed a bad set of drivers.

You need to set in System in Control panel that Windows update does not update device drivers. You can also roll back to before the update, or use a image to restore from if you have any type of backup software running.

Usually the problem is pre-existing and not even from the latest update. The problems just tend to rear their ugly head when Microsoft tries to fix a flaw with Windows.

Bemused · 14 Dec 2016

I took your helpful replies on board and reverted to my saved image. Turned off the automatic driver updates " No I'll do it myself" or words to that effect. and by refusing the wealth of Logitech etc driver updates, so far so good. Desktop icons move instantly and all menus are visible....so far.

Caledon Ken · 14 Dec 2016

Great news.

Usually you don't have to take case apart to update BIOS. There is an option within BIOS to load Optimized Defaults. The full reset is to be absolutely sure.

The procedure is outlined in your manual found here http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/H81...lpDesk_Manual/
on page 1-10 Section 1-6 Clear RTC Ram. You may also want to check section 2.1.2.