I just got a new PC and did a clean install. Randomly a window appears but disappears right away so i dont even know where it is coming from. It happens fairly often, at least twice per hr or so. Is there someway to find out which processes or files have recently been loaded so i can quickly look as soon as it happens again?
Hi, you can capture activity using Sysinternals Procmon (free from MS)
Initially you will get a LOT of activity and a long log.
If you set the Filter (maybe 20 or more items) to filter out common system processes, the displayed log can be reduced to almost nothing.
If your window originates from a different process or event, then all you will see (more or less) will be activity related to that.
This may take a bit of iteration.
You can also note the time at which the window appears, and use the time stamp in the log as a guide to where to look.
You could install Autoruns and check to see what programs / tasks / services are being run on startup. Disable those third party items you don't need.
Last edited by Steve C; 04 May 2017 at 02:11.
Yes, you can try a process of elimination of any programs you have installed since your clean install.
If the window looks like a command prompt window, there are a couple of threads on such windows appearing and disappearing.
I got the proc mon to check, i dont really have anything installed aside from chrome, foxit and ms office
I do kind of think its some sort of command prompt window but i shall find out soon enough
Examples:
Empty Command Window popping up and disappearing - Solved - Windows 10 Forums
A grey box appears then disappears when signing into microsoft account - - Windows 10 Forums
Mysterious Command Prompt popups - please help - Solved - Windows 10 Forums
- which may or may not be relevant of course...
This is my task manager list, i didnt find anything there that seemed out of place and the window just appeared 5 mins ago but there is nothing that shows it happening recently
It might be a scheduled task. If it only appears momentarily, looking at the task man isn't likely to help.
But Procmon captures everything. Just hard to find what you want.
Basic process of elimination.
1. Does it happen in Safe Mode?
2. Does it happen after a clean boot?
Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 10 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials
part 1
3. If not, proceed from there, and progressively enable thing until it does.
If it does, then check scheduled tasks.
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