Clean install of Win10 misbehaving

I updated my 2018 laptop from Win8.1 to Win10 using a Win10 ISO USB. It seemed to go well.
I then downloaded and installed all the software updates.

Judging by the cursor movement the device now runs for a second then freezes for a second repeatedly.
According to Task Manager the System task is running at 18% when idle and the CPU graphic shows a triangle waveform cycling at around a 1s interval (HDD usage 0%). I'm hoping I haven't broken it and somebody can advise on how to get it running smoothly.

System details:

HP Pavilion
CPU: AMD A4-5000 APU with Radeon Graphics 1.50GHz.
HDD: 466GB
RAM: 12 GB
OS: Win10 Home 22H2 Build 19045.3031
Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19041.1000.0

Did you try a Clean boot?

Megahertz said:

Did you try a Clean boot?

Well I got myself into a fix now. I started working through the Clean Boot procedure.

Disabling neither of the 2 system services cured the fault to I moved on to all services.

The machine is running so slowly that I deviated from the recipe... I disabled all but the 45 it wouldn't let me disable and then restarted.

When I tried to sign back in with my PIN it told me "Something happened and your PIN isn't available. Click to set up your pin again." ... but it just keeps bringing me back to this error message.
EDIT: Access regained by entering BIOS, rearranging boot order, and booting up from ISO file again.

Subject : Clean install of Win10 misbehaving
Opening para : I updated my 2018 laptop from Win8.1 to Win10 ...

For clarification, was this a clean install (drive completely wiped clean), or an in-situ upgrade over the top of Win8.x (the latter option which may explain the problems)?

You are going to wipe the boot drive so make sure all your data is backed up.

A upgrade would be upgrading to Windows 10 from inside Windows 8.1. It is easier and faster but sometimes has problems. In that case it is better to do a clean install of Windows 10.

A clean install of Windows 10 is:

1. Boot from a flash drive with the Windows 10 setup program
2. Select custom setup
3. Delete all partitions on boot drive. The drive then only has one large unallocated space.
4. Install Windows 10

idgat said:

Subject : Clean install of Win10 misbehaving
Opening para : I updated my 2018 laptop from Win8.1 to Win10 ...

For clarification, was this a clean install (drive completely wiped clean), or an in-situ upgrade over the top of Win8.x (the latter option which may explain the problems)?

Hi idgat and thanks for responding. I was unaware that I might be using terminology incorrectly. I have a Win10 ISO USB that I've used successfully on previous occasions (different laptops) so I didn't expect problems. I went to Settings>Update&Security>Recovery>AdvancedStartup and kicked off the process.

- - - Updated - - -

MisterEd said:

You are going to wipe the boot drive so make sure all your data is backed up.

A upgrade would be upgrading to Windows 10 from inside Windows 8.1. It is easier and faster but sometimes has problems. In that case it is better to do a clean install of Windows 10.

A clean install of Windows 10 is:

1. Boot from a flash drive with the Windows 10 setup program
2. Select custom setup
3. Delete all partitions on boot drive. The drive then only has one large unallocated space.
4. Install Windows 10

I used Settings>Recovery>AdvancedStartup using my Win10 ISO USD, but I accepted the default partition structure.
But now I can't even repeat that process because it gives me an error message saying my PIN isn't available (so it won't let me in).
Is there some way to reset the laptop without having to sign in?
EDIT: Access regained by entering BIOS, rearranging boot order, and booting up from ISO file again.

Andy Kay said:

Hi idgat and thanks for responding. I was unaware that I might be using terminology incorrectly. I have a Win10 ISO USB that I've used successfully on previous occasions (different laptops) so I didn't expect problems. I went to Settings>Update&Security>Recovery>AdvancedStartup and kicked off the process.

- - - Updated - - -



I used Settings>Recovery>AdvancedStartup using my Win10 ISO USD, but I accepted the default partition structure.
But now I can't even repeat that process because it gives me an error message saying my PIN isn't available (so it won't let me in).
Is there some way to reset the laptop without having to sign in?

I think you shouldbe considering a true "clean install", which involves wiping the drive and re-installing all software.

Andy Kay said:

Hi idgat and thanks for responding. I was unaware that I might be using terminology incorrectly. I have a Win10 ISO USB that I've used successfully on previous occasions (different laptops) so I didn't expect problems. I went to Settings>Update&Security>Recovery>AdvancedStartup and kicked off the process.

I used Settings>Recovery>AdvancedStartup using my Win10 ISO USD, but I accepted the default partition structure.
But now I can't even repeat that process because it gives me an error message saying my PIN isn't available (so it won't let me in).
Is there some way to reset the laptop without having to sign in?

If you boot from the flash drive and delete all the partitions none of that matters. That is because even the recovery partition is deleted. After that there is no recovery partition on the computer anymore. You are committed to doing your own recovery.

Andy Kay said:

Sounds scary. I don't want to end up with an illicit version of Win10.

Some computers have a recovery partition that is used to reinstall Windows to the way it was when the computer was new. If that is not a option then the only choice is to start wipe everything and and do a clean install of Windows. There is nothing illicit about doing that since Windows on the computer is already activated online. If you do a clean install it will be automatically activated again.

BTW, if your computer's boot drive failed and you had to replace it with a new one you would be in the same position. You would start with an empty drive on which to install Windows. Like in the previous case Windows would automatically activate.

If you decide to do a clean install of Windows and you are unsure how to do that then just ask. Someone will point you in the right direction on how to do that.