Question Computer opens programs, files and links slowly (video included)

[jbear0000]

This problem started for me just a few days ago (video below). When I select a file I get the loading cursor for 5-10 seconds, but often just the first file I select, some times after that I can select others okay, but not always. If I open a file it opens slow, opening links is slow and opening programs is slow. Once something is opened it runs perfectly fine, no lag, no slowness, no crashes, nothing. Just a delay when I open something or just select a file. It's like a scan is being done or data is being gathered before my computer will allow the file, program or link to open, but I don't know, that is just how it seems, I have no evidence to support that. Here is what I tried so far:

• Restarted multiple times through this process
• ZoneAlarm scans, found nothing
• Malwarebytes, found nothing
• CCleaner to clean the registry, no help
• rkill, nothing
• adwcleaner, nothing
• hitmanpro, nothing
• Hijack This, I posted the log below since I have no idea what to do with it
• Memory scan, clean
• Updated drivers, no help
• Windows 10 is updated to Version 10.0.19045, Build 19045
• I have 68GB of free space, cleaned up junk files already
• Defragged my SSD, no help
• Scanned the hard drive for errors, nothing
• Closed everything extra, even ZoneAlarm and Malwarebytes to see if things would open faster in case they were scanning everything, didn't help

The only thing the scans ever found was tracking cookies and Chrome extension left over junk from bad extensions I had already removed.

I recorded a video showing what is happening:

What other information should I provide here to get help? I have no idea if this is a software or hardware issue so I might not even be posting in the right place.

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.5
Scan saved at 12:06:38 AM, on 7/8/2023
Platform: Unknown Windows (WinNT 6.02.1008)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v11.0 (11.00.19041.1566)

Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\NvNode\NVIDIA Web Helper.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\CheckPoint\ZoneAlarm\zatray.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\CheckPoint\Endpoint Security\TPCommon\Cipolla\ZAAR.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\DllHost.exe
C:\Users\Jason\Downloads\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=255141
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=255141
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=255141
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = %11%\blank.htm
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\Windows\SysWOW64\blank.htm
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
O2 - BHO: IEToEdge BHO - {1FD49718-1D00-4B19-AF5F-070AF6D5D54C} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\114.0.1823.67\BHO\ie_to_edge_bho.dll
O2 - BHO: ExplorerBHO Class - {449D0D6E-2412-4E61-B68F-1CB625CD9E52} - C:\Program Files\Classic Shell\ClassicExplorer32.dll
O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - {72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\GR469A~1.DLL
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In SSV Helper - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre-1.8\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: ArcPluginIEBHO - {84BFE29A-8139-402a-B2A4-C23AE9E1A75F} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre-1.8\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: ClassicIEBHO Class - {EA801577-E6AD-4BD5-8F71-4BE0154331A4} - C:\Program Files\Classic Shell\ClassicIEDLL_32.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Classic Explorer Bar - {553891B7-A0D5-4526-BE18-D3CE461D6310} - C:\Program Files\Classic Shell\ClassicExplorer32.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GrooveMonitor] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZoneAlarm] C:\Program Files (x86)\CheckPoint\ZoneAlarm\zatray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZaAntiRansomware] "C:\Program Files (x86)\CheckPoint\Endpoint Security\TPCommon\Cipolla\ZAAR.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [OneDrive] "C:\Users\Jason\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive\OneDrive.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Discord] "C:\Users\Jason\AppData\Local\Discord\Update.exe" --processStart Discord.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Steam] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam.exe" -silent
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [GoogleDriveSync] "C:\Program Files\Google\Drive\googledrivesync.exe" /autostart
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [GogGalaxy] C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\GalaxyClient.exe /launchViaAutoStart
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [GoogleDriveFS] C:\Program Files\Google\Drive File Stream\77.0.3.0\GoogleDriveFS.exe --startup_mode
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [NoxMultiPlayer] "D:\Program Files\Nox\bin\MultiPlayerManager.exe" -startSource:auto_start
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [EADM] "C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\EA Desktop\EA Desktop\EALauncher.exe" -silent
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [GoogleChromeAutoLaunch_EBF55E2D20B0831DD9C62517F8BC1054] "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --no-startup-window /prefetch:5
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CCleaner Smart Cleaning] "C:\Program Files\CCleaner\CCleaner64.exe" /MONITOR
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [OneDriveSetup] C:\Windows\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe /thfirstsetup (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [GoogleDriveFS] C:\Program Files\Google\Drive File Stream\77.0.3.0\GoogleDriveFS.exe --startup_mode (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [OneDriveSetup] C:\Windows\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe /thfirstsetup (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [GoogleDriveFS] C:\Program Files\Google\Drive File Stream\77.0.3.0\GoogleDriveFS.exe --startup_mode (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [GoogleDriveFS] C:\Program Files\Google\Drive File Stream\77.0.3.0\GoogleDriveFS.exe --startup_mode (User 'Default user')
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {56753E59-AF1D-4FBA-9E15-31557124ADA2} - C:\Program Files\Classic Shell\ClassicIE_32.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Classic IE Settings - {56753E59-AF1D-4FBA-9E15-31557124ADA2} - C:\Program Files\Classic Shell\ClassicIE_32.exe
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O11 - Options group: [ACCELERATED_GRAPHICS] Accelerated graphics
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.hola.org
O18 - Protocol: grooveLocalGWS - {88FED34C-F0CA-4636-A375-3CB6248B04CD} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\GRA32A~1.DLL
O18 - Protocol: tbauth - {14654CA6-5711-491D-B89A-58E571679951} - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\tbauth.dll
O18 - Protocol: windows.tbauth - {14654CA6-5711-491D-B89A-58E571679951} - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\tbauth.dll
O23 - Service: Adobe Acrobat Update Service (AdobeARMservice) - Adobe Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\armsvc.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Arc Service (ArcService) - Gearbox Publishing - C:\Program Files (x86)\Arc\ArcService.exe
O23 - Service: CCleaner Performance Optimizer Service (CCleanerPerformanceOptimizerService) - Piriform Software Ltd - C:\Program Files\CCleaner\CCleanerPerformanceOptimizerService.exe
O23 - Service: Check Point Endpoint EFR (CPEFR) - Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. - C:\Program Files (x86)\CheckPoint\Endpoint Security\EFR\EFRService.exe
O23 - Service: Check Point Sandblast Agent Cipolla (CpSbaCipolla) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\CheckPoint\Endpoint Security\TPCommon\Cipolla\SBACipollaSrvHost.exe
O23 - Service: Check Point Sandblast Agent Updater (CpSbaUpdater) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\CheckPoint\Endpoint Security\TPCommon\Cipolla\SBACipollaSrvHost.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\CredentialEnrollmentManager.exe,-100 (CredentialEnrollmentManagerUserSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\CredentialEnrollmentManager.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: CredentialEnrollmentManagerUserSvc_39b4b7 - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\CredentialEnrollmentManager.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\DiagSvcs\DiagnosticsHub.StandardCollector.ServiceRes.dll,-1000 (diagnosticshub.standardcollector.service) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\DiagSvcs\DiagnosticsHub.StandardCollector.Service.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: EABackgroundService - Electronic Arts - C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\EA Desktop\EA Desktop\EABackgroundService.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\efssvc.dll,-100 (EFS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\fxsresm.dll,-118 (Fax) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\fxssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: NVIDIA FrameView SDK service (FvSvc) - NVIDIA - C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\FrameViewSDK\nvfvsdksvc_x64.exe
O23 - Service: GalaxyClientService - GOG.com - C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\GalaxyClientService.exe
O23 - Service: GalaxyCommunication - GOG.com - C:\ProgramData\GOG.com\Galaxy\redists\GalaxyCommunication.exe
O23 - Service: Google Chrome Elevation Service (GoogleChromeElevationService) (GoogleChromeElevationService) - Google LLC - C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\114.0.5735.199\elevation_service.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdate) (gupdate) - Google LLC - C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdatem) (gupdatem) - Google LLC - C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Malwarebytes Service (MBAMService) - Malwarebytes - C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\Anti-Malware\MBAMService.exe
O23 - Service: Mozilla Maintenance Service (MozillaMaintenance) - Mozilla Foundation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Maintenance Service\maintenanceservice.exe
O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: NVIDIA LocalSystem Container (NvContainerLocalSystem) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NvContainer\nvcontainer.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Container LS (NVDisplay.ContainerLocalSystem) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_5b6e4554b945d508\Display.NvContainer\NVDisplay.Container.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\PerceptionSimulation\PerceptionSimulationService.exe,-101 (perceptionsimulation) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\PerceptionSimulation\PerceptionSimulationService.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Check Point Endpoint Remediation (RemediationService) - Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. - C:\Program Files (x86)\CheckPoint\Endpoint Security\Remediation\RemediationService.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Realtek Audio Universal Service (RtkAudioUniversalService) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\RtkAudUService64.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\SecurityHealthAgent.dll,-1002 (SecurityHealthService) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\SecurityHealthService.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\SensorDataService.exe,-101 (SensorDataService) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\SensorDataService.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\SgrmBroker.exe,-100 (SgrmBroker) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\SgrmBroker.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @firewallapi.dll,-50323 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spectrum.exe,-101 (spectrum) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\spectrum.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\sppsvc.exe,-101 (sppsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\sppsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Steam Client Service - Valve Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Steam\SteamService.exe
O23 - Service: TeamViewer - TeamViewer Germany GmbH - C:\Program Files (x86)\TeamViewer\TeamViewer_Service.exe
O23 - Service: Check Point SandBlast Agent Threat Emulation (TESvc) - Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. - C:\Program Files (x86)\CheckPoint\Endpoint Security\Threat Emulation\TESvc.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\TieringEngineService.exe,-702 (TieringEngineService) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\TieringEngineService.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vaultsvc.dll,-1003 (VaultSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. - C:\Program Files (x86)\CheckPoint\ZoneAlarm\vsmon.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\wbengine.exe,-104 (wbengine) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbengine.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MpAsDesc.dll,-320 (WdNisSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Defender\NisSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MpAsDesc.dll,-310 (WinDefend) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Defender\MsMpEng.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101 (WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: ZoneAlarm ICM NET Service (ZA NET ICM Service) - Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. - C:\Program Files (x86)\CheckPoint\ICM\ICM-Service-NET.exe
O23 - Service: ZAAR Update Service (ZAARUpdateService) - Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. - C:\Program Files (x86)\CheckPoint\Endpoint Security\TPCommon\Cipolla\ZAARUpdateService.exe
O23 - Service: ZoneAlarm Privacy Service (ZAPrivacyService) - Check Point Software Technologies, Ltd. - C:\Program Files (x86)\CheckPoint\ZoneAlarm\ZaPrivacyService.exe

--
End of file - 14147 bytes

 

[Aeacus]

Boot into Safe Mode and look if you have the same slowness there or not.

If you do not, then some add-on software (drivers, apps), make it run slow.
If you do experience same kind of slowness even in Safe Mode, issue is either with Windows kernel or hardware.

Guide on how to get into Safe Mode,
link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...-windows-92c27cff-db89-8644-1ce4-b3e5e56fe234

Post your findings with 2nd reply.

 

[jbear0000]

Boot into Safe Mode and look if you have the same slowness there or not.

If you do not, then some add-on software (drivers, apps), make it run slow.
If you do experience same kind of slowness even in Safe Mode, issue is either with Windows kernel or hardware.

Guide on how to get into Safe Mode,
link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...-windows-92c27cff-db89-8644-1ce4-b3e5e56fe234

Post your findings with 2nd reply.

Thank you for your help, I appreciate it. I started up in safe mode as you suggested. I didn't have any problems while in safe mode. While in safe mode I did some scans and adwcleaner removed a few things, a tracking cookie and chrome extension remnants again, then I had it do the basic repair.

I'm not sure what you mean by:

then some add-on software (drivers, apps), make it run slow

After trying things out in safe mode I restarted normally and everything boots up quickly. Steam and Discord both start up when I start my computer and they loaded very fast. In the first minute or so I can open programs and files normally, but then they start opening slowly like I described in my first message. Even a very simple program like notepad takes 10-20 seconds to open when in the past it was always instant.

 

[Aeacus]

I'm not sure what you mean by

Safe Mode boots up only Windows kernel, without any 3rd party apps and drivers. If Safe Mode runs fine, then it means that one (or some) of the programs that didn't get turned on/activated within Safe Mode, is/are the reason of your system being slow.

but then they start opening slowly like I described in my first message. Even a very simple program like notepad takes 10-20 seconds to open when in the past it was always instant.

Could be memory leak and/or high RAM usage. This usually slows the PC to a crawl, when your dedicated RAM is filled and it overflows to pagefile.sys, which is considerably slower that dedicated RAM.

To see which programs could be the issue, download and run Process Explorer,
link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

Guide on how to understand it,
link: https://www.howtogeek.com/school/sysinternals-pro/lesson2/

 

[jbear0000]

Safe Mode boots up only Windows kernel, without any 3rd party apps and drivers. If Safe Mode runs fine, then it means that one (or some) of the programs that didn't get turned on/activated within Safe Mode, is/are the reason of your system being slow.


Could be memory leak and/or high RAM usage. This usually slows the PC to a crawl, when your dedicated RAM is filled and it overflows to pagefile.sys, which is considerably slower that dedicated RAM.

To see which programs could be the issue, download and run Process Explorer,
link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

Guide on how to understand it,
link: https://www.howtogeek.com/school/sysinternals-pro/lesson2/

I have Process Explorer and I've looked through everything it shows me, nothing jumps out as suspicious. I did the "check virustotal" thing on each process running and they all show as clear. I read the guide on how to use it, but don't know what else to do with it to identify a problem.

As for my memory, my computer has 16GB of ram, right now I have Chrome and Firefox both open which have multiple extensions. I have Discord and Steam running in my system tray. Malwarebytes, Zone Alarm and CCleaner are all also in the system tray. Other than that I have Process Explorer and Fire Explorer open. About 10GB of memory is being used and my pagefile.sys is 22.7GB. Why would the pagefile.sys be that high? Is this maybe pointing to my problem? Even when I close everything I can close I still have this issue.

 

[Aeacus]

About 10GB of memory is being used and my pagefile.sys is 22.7GB. Why would the pagefile.sys be that high? Is this maybe pointing to my problem? Even when I close everything I can close I still have this issue.

My pagefile.sys is same as my RAM amount, 16GB (16384 MB). So, with RAM + pagefile.sys combined i have total of 32GB of "RAM". More than enough since my PC idles around ~7GB RAM used.
Pagefile.sys being any higher than what the actual RAM amount is, wouldn't make much sense. It just takes up too much space on disk and if you'd have lack of RAM issues, better to buy more RAM, than allocating it to pagefile.sys.

As of why yours is bigger than your dedicated RAM, hard to say. Could be that pagefile.sys isn't limited, instead, OS can decide how big it gets. Here, i suggest limiting it, or the very least, put it to 16GB, same as your dedicated RAM amount. Note, pagefile.sys amount is in MB, so to get 16GB, you could either multiply 1024 by 16, or enter 16384.
Guide: https://www.tomshardware.com/news/how-to-manage-virtual-memory-pagefile-windows-10,36929.html

I advise against deleting pagefile.sys completely, since it can corrupt your OS.

Even when I close everything I can close I still have this issue.

When the issue is going on, how much RAM utilization there is? Same as usual or higher? Also, what are the CPU utilization values? Same as usual or higher?

I didn't have any problems while in safe mode.

Since PC works fine in Safe Mode, we now need to find out what program slows your PC to a crawl.

I'd start by looking at programs starting during normal boot up. For that, you can either use Win own settings,
guide: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-start-and-stop-services-windows-10
or dedicated software. I'm using more sophisticated software known as Autoruns, to configure which programs automatically start when PC boots into OS,
link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns

guide: https://www.markiiisys.com/blog/aut...ws-performance-startup-processes-and-malware/

Idea is to find the troublesome program (service) and disable it, so that your PC won't slow down again.

Edit:
Oh, what "sfc /scannow" says?

If you don't know what it is, or how to run it, further reading,
link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...em-files-79aa86cb-ca52-166a-92a3-966e85d4094e

Defragged my SSD, no help

Never defragment SSD since it doesn't need it. Only HDDs need defragment. With SSDs, you'd only wear down the SSD even more, by unnecessarily forcing it to do read/write cycles. And SSDs have limited amount of write cycles before they are toast (drive falls into read-only mode. Basically like CD/DVD disc.).

 

[jbear0000]

When the issue is going on, how much RAM utilization there is? Same as usual or higher? Also, what are the CPU utilization values? Same as usual or higher?

The amount of RAM being used depends on what other programs I have open. With everything open it was around 10GB, but then I shut down everything extra and got down to just 3.9GB in use and when the problem happens there is no noticeable change in RAM usage. No obviously huge spikes or anything.

Edit:
Oh, what "sfc /scannow" says?

It said "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations."

we now need to find out what program slows your PC to a crawl.

I found the culprit! I used Autoruns and went through disabling the programs that started at login. Turning them all off solved the problem and so then I went though they systematically to find which one was the problem. Of all things it was Discord. So I have it disabled for now. I think I'm going to try uninstalling it and reinstalling it and see if that helps fix the issue, but even if it doesn't I can just turn it on when I need it since I don't really use it that often.

Thanks for your help! I don't think I could have solved this on my own.

 

[Aeacus]

I found the culprit! I used Autoruns and went through disabling the programs that started at login. Turning them all off solved the problem and so then I went though they systematically to find which one was the problem. Of all things it was Discord. So I have it disabled for now. I think I'm going to try uninstalling it and reinstalling it and see if that helps fix the issue, but even if it doesn't I can just turn it on when I need it since I don't really use it that often.

Thanks for your help! I don't think I could have solved this on my own.

Nice to hear that you found the culprit.

Autoruns is very solid program, and great to be used alongside Process Explorer. After all, both belong to the Sysinternals package of power user tools.

Btw, you can use Discord within the browser as well, rather than dedicated app. Just use the "open in browser" option,
link: https://discord.com/

This should mitigate the app faults, while you still being able to access Discord.