Chrome, Task Manager, and other Applications won't open.

[dino304]

I have a self-built Windows 8 PC.

Whenever I try to open applications such as Chrome, Task Manager, and most desktop shortcuts, nothing happens.

Chrome: when i click the chrome icon (Or even going into the folder and running the executable as an administrator) absolutely nothing happens. The icon will light up, the mouse will rotate as if its loading, and then: Nothing. The lit up icon un-lights, the mouse goes back to normal, and nothing happens.
BUT: one day, after frustratingly trying to start my browser and giving up, I came back about 30 mins later and Google Chrome actually opened... about 10 windows (because that's how many times i clicked it trying to open it).
NOTE: Chrome used to open fast and responsively but out of nowhere, now doesnt anymore.
Yes, I have tried clearing the cache, cookies, everything (I mean, when my cleaner decides to even open).

Task Manager: When trying to open task manager (Through Ctrl+Alt+Del or the executable in itself) again, nothing happens.
NOTE: after about 30 mins I receive an error message stating "Task manager failed to open in a timely fashion". (Obviously, since a 4.4GHz Processor shouldn't take freaking half an hour to fail to open Task Manager, a Windows incorporated feature).

Basically the same thing happens with almost any application EXCEPT Internet Explorer (ew), MS Office, and others.
NOTE: All of these used to work fine about a month ago.

Chrome is my biggest concern, so I would appreciate any help in this matter.

Thank you so much,

Dino B.

 

[JobCreator]

I'd run a virus scan.

1. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
2. Glary Utilities (One-Click Maintenance)
3. Combfix
4. Hitman Pro
5. Adware Cleaner

 

[Tom Tancredi]

Let's do some basics:

Did you install all Windows Updates? Including OPTIONAL except BING? Check them and repeat till ALL are installed.

Download and run Slim Drivers, install all the latest updates but you don't need to reboot until you do the last update

Download Malwarebytes do a full system scan (AV doesn't pick up alot of malware) - this resolved almost ALL other similiar posts to date as most had Malware the AV didn't pick up.

Remove whatever AV your using and go to www.filehippo.com and download AVIRA, AVG, Comodo or Panda and do a full system scan - this repeatedly has resolved alot of people issue relying on MS Essentials.
Repeat the AV/Malware scans till the system comes up clean.

Follow this http://superuser.com/questions/497252/how-to-access-the-administrator-command-prompt-in-windows-8 to open a CMD prompt with Admin rights. Then in the CMD (DOS) box type SFC /SCANNOW and hit enter.

Download and run SPECCY, copy and paste the first tab to show your idle temps

Open Computer, Can Air dust out the bunnies and use paint brush on the vents, coolers, fans, etc.

 

[dino304]

Let's do some basics:

Did you install all Windows Updates? Including OPTIONAL except BING? Check them and repeat till ALL are installed.

Download and run Slim Drivers, install all the latest updates but you don't need to reboot until you do the last update

Download Malwarebytes do a full system scan (AV doesn't pick up alot of malware) - this resolved almost ALL other similiar posts to date as most had Malware the AV didn't pick up.

Remove whatever AV your using and go to www.filehippo.com and download AVIRA, AVG, Comodo or Panda and do a full system scan - this repeatedly has resolved alot of people issue relying on MS Essentials.
Repeat the AV/Malware scans till the system comes up clean.

Follow this http://superuser.com/questions/497252/how-to-access-the-administrator-command-prompt-in-windows-8 to open a CMD prompt with Admin rights. Then in the CMD (DOS) box type SFC /SCANNOW and hit enter.

Download and run SPECCY, copy and paste the first tab to show your idle temps

Open Computer, Can Air dust out the bunnies and use paint brush on the vents, coolers, fans, etc.

Awesome, thank you for being so elaborate. I believe the issue indeed was malware. Could I ask you for what AV you suggest is best? I have tried a few here and there including AVG and Avast.

 

[dino304]

Let's do some basics:

Did you install all Windows Updates? Including OPTIONAL except BING? Check them and repeat till ALL are installed.

Download and run Slim Drivers, install all the latest updates but you don't need to reboot until you do the last update

Download Malwarebytes do a full system scan (AV doesn't pick up alot of malware) - this resolved almost ALL other similiar posts to date as most had Malware the AV didn't pick up.

Remove whatever AV your using and go to www.filehippo.com and download AVIRA, AVG, Comodo or Panda and do a full system scan - this repeatedly has resolved alot of people issue relying on MS Essentials.
Repeat the AV/Malware scans till the system comes up clean.

Follow this http://superuser.com/questions/497252/how-to-access-the-administrator-command-prompt-in-windows-8 to open a CMD prompt with Admin rights. Then in the CMD (DOS) box type SFC /SCANNOW and hit enter.

Download and run SPECCY, copy and paste the first tab to show your idle temps

Open Computer, Can Air dust out the bunnies and use paint brush on the vents, coolers, fans, etc.

Btw, I've already been doing everything listed above exxcept the malware. All temps are good, cleaned internally with duster monthly.

 

[Tom Tancredi]

...Awesome, thank you for being so elaborate. I believe the issue indeed was malware. Could I ask you for what AV you suggest is best? I have tried a few here and there including AVG and Avast.

Well any antivirus solution will NOT resolve malware, as they look for a totally different pattern. Is why i suggest then weekly or monthly scanning with Malwarebytes manually, and as you identified malware, then I would go under the CUSTOM options for a SCAN and set it to do the ENTIRE drive not just a 'look for most likely' spots.

AVAST! was great for a long time until they were hacked since then they haven't been reliable / working correctly. I use Avira now as one of the top solutions, based on a monthly testing cycle done by a independent testing lab of all antivirus.