I've been experiencing some strange issues with my Windows 11 laptop for the past few days. It all started when I returned home to find that my laptop never actually shut down. Since then, Task Manager sometimes opens without icons, freezes, or takes ages to load performance graphs. This also causes shutdowns and restarts to hang for a long time. On occasion, games like Minecraft won't launch if Task Manager is in this weird state. The issue is quite inconsistent—after a fresh boot, everything might work fine, but it eventually goes back to being unresponsive. Even third-party task managers freeze up.
I've tried several troubleshooting methods, including running sfc, DISM, and WMI checks, as well as scanning for malware with Windows Defender and Malwarebytes without any issues found. I even removed third-party overlays, mods, and video editing software just in case. I've noticed my BIOS load time has also increased slightly, going from about 7-8 seconds to around 9.5 seconds, but I'm not sure if that's connected. I'd like to avoid reinstalling Windows or creating a new user profile since I have important files on my laptop. Has anyone else faced similar issues or know what might be causing this?
5 Answers
Honestly, if it keeps acting up, I suggest considering switching to Linux. It could be a refreshing change. But I get that might not be ideal if your mother uses it as well. If you do want to stick with Windows, maybe create a complete backup just in case while you troubleshoot?
Have you checked your system's health with a tool like Spec-ify? That tool can provide a detailed report on what might be going wrong. Just share the link here, and we can help more once we see what your laptop is dealing with. You can usually find your model in the system information app.
Your issue could potentially be linked to some background processes or services causing conflicts. Have you looked into the Task Manager itself (when it works) to see if anything unusual is running? You might also want to boot into safe mode and see if the issue persists there. If everything runs smoothly in safe mode, it’s likely a third-party software causing the problems. That could allow you to narrow down what’s wrong without doing a full reinstall.
Good point! Safe mode is a handy way to troubleshoot. If the issue stops in safe mode, it could save you a ton of headache trying to identify the problematic app.
One drastic option would be to wipe Windows entirely and start fresh, but I know that’s not practical for everyone. Have you thought about backing up your important files and giving that a shot? It could solve a lot of issues in the long run.
It sounds like a frustrating issue! You mentioned that you’ve already done some troubleshooting, which is great. Have you tried checking your BIOS settings? Sometimes, resetting them to default can help resolve startup-related problems. Also, make sure your drivers, especially for the graphics card, are all updated. An outdated driver can mess with how programs like Task Manager function. Lastly, ensure that your Windows OS is up to date. Microsoft frequently rolls out fixes for odd bugs like these.
Resetting BIOS settings worked for me in the past! Just be careful—you want to make sure to document any settings before changing them.
I would seriously consider it if it didn’t have to work for my mom as well! Just want to get this fixed without going through that hassle.