Help! Computer 'semi-freezes' after each bootup / startup.

[dsinghgill]

I recently built a new computer, and after installing and downloading all of my old software, I noticed that whenever I would turn on my computer or restart it, after everything (on the desktop) loads etc, I notice this semi-freezing of some sorts.

I call it semi because I am able to move my mouse, click on folders, and open stuff .... BUT when this freezing happens, I can't right-click anything and the thumbnail icons do not load.

Now this only happens when I open any folder (like my documents, my pictures, etc).
Up until then, after a startup, the computer runs fine. But once I open any folder, this freezing happens.

Also, this freezing only lasts about 10 seconds or so. And after that, I am able to right click and all the thumbnails load each time I open a folder.

Ok. This problem never happened before to me.
At first I thought it could be a faulty hdd or some software I installed. So I did another clean install of windows 8.1. After a lot of trial and error, I found out it was not hardware causing this problem, but it was a specific software.

Internet Download Manager was causing this.
Everything works fine, no semi-freezing, etc ... but once I install IDM ... this problem happens.

So the obvious thing I did next was to uninstall IDM.
I did that, and I even ran Avast antivirus and Malwarebytes (which removed a couple of stuff, though I'm not sure they were from IDM).

HOWEVER, even after all that (unistalling IDM, etc) ... the freezing still persists.
I know for sure it was IDM causing it, but it's like once I run it, the problem is permanent unless I do another clean install.

So please help me!!!
What to do? I really don' want to start all over again.

FYI, I have ample RAM (8gb), a good cpu (i5 4430), and a good gpu (HD7850).
Plus my hdd is WB Blue .... So it can't be hardware related.

 

[ahmder]

fhfhffhffhhh

 

[IrvSp]

IDM may have changed something in the registry on you or still has part of it around.

One suggestion might be to get an Uninstaller that 'watches' what is installed, like Revo Uninstaller (http://revouninstallerpro.com/) or Advanced Uninstaller (http://www.advanceduninstaller.com/). These will also clean out the registry for remnants of a program removal which is not done by the Windows Uninstaller all the time.

Once you have one of these, get IDM again and do not install it, but use one of the Uninstallers above to install IDM (if you can). I am assuming this is the one you are using, http://www.internetdownloadmanager.com/, and did get it from there (and buy it?). If so, you can use the above program to do the Install and keep a trace of what it put on your system. After install, then use the program to uninstall it, it will remove every part of it.

If you got a copy of IDM from another source you might have gotten something that is hard to remove as the app was changed and infected.

If you did BUY it, I also suggest contacting the program author at the app's link above.

This might be of interest to you, http://www.shouldiremoveit.com/internet-download-manager-5223-program.aspx, 82 files installed it claims, and from the comments, 'cracked' versions seem to have malware. Hope you didn't install one of those.

 

[dsinghgill]

IDM may have changed something in the registry on you or still has part of it around.

One suggestion might be to get an Uninstaller that 'watches' what is installed, like Revo Uninstaller (http://revouninstallerpro.com/) or Advanced Uninstaller (http://www.advanceduninstaller.com/). These will also clean out the registry for remnants of a program removal which is not done by the Windows Uninstaller all the time.

Once you have one of these, get IDM again and do not install it, but use one of the Uninstallers above to install IDM (if you can). I am assuming this is the one you are using, http://www.internetdownloadmanager.com/, and did get it from there (and buy it?). If so, you can use the above program to do the Install and keep a trace of what it put on your system. After install, then use the program to uninstall it, it will remove every part of it.

If you got a copy of IDM from another source you might have gotten something that is hard to remove as the app was changed and infected.

If you did BUY it, I also suggest contacting the program author at the app's link above.

This might be of interest to you, http://www.shouldiremoveit.com/internet-download-manager-5223-program.aspx, 82 files installed it claims, and from the comments, 'cracked' versions seem to have malware. Hope you didn't install one of those.

Thanks for the info!

Knowing this info really helps a lot.
But last night I became too frustrated and just redone my whole computer again.
This time around I didn't even touch IDM, and so far everything works just fine as it should.
(I hope that freezing problem was definitely due to the IDM).

To be honest, I ran a cracked IDM ...
While I am assured there wasn't any virus or something in it, I believe it might have caused something that you mentioned, like the registry change.

I'm not gonna mess with IDM again. (I found a nice free alternative: eagleget).
So, I won't be trying any of those uninstallers.
But thanks for introducing them. I'm sure they would have been helpful had I not redone my PC.

THANKS!

 

[IrvSp]

I would use one of those uninstaller's. One is free the other costs. I use them all the time over Windows one. Even without tracing during an install, when you uninstall an app you'd be surprised how many 'items' are left over by the apps uninstaller. If nothing else, it keeps your system free of unneeded junk, and especially in the registry.

 

[dsinghgill]

Hey there....

The problem started to happen again ... the semi freezing thing that happens when I first open any folder after a fresh boot up.

And I think I know what's causing it.

I didn't install IDM, or any other new program .... so it can't be that.
But what I did install was the windows 8.1 upgrade.

Come to think of it. All those times before when I had this probelm .... I DID have windows 8.1 just installed.
But I never felt to think it was the culprit becuase I didn't expect so.

I had windows 8 (installed from a disc). And last night I installed windows 8.1 from the windows store.
And know the probelm started again.

Do you have any idea why this is happening becuase of 8.1?
Idk, maybe others too have had this probelm. I haven't installed any updates, so I don't know if Microsoft has fixed this (if this is a general probelm). I will install the updates tonight and hopefully the probelm goes away.

Will let you know...

 

[IrvSp]

You CAN uninstall the UPDATE, check here for details --> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/windows-8-1-update-get-now/

Doing so will identify for SURE if the update was the problem or not?

 

[dsinghgill]

Oh cool ... I didn't think that it was possible to downgrade (without starting all over again).

I guess I will first try to uninstall 8.1 and then see if the probelm goes away.

Thanks again, bud!

Will let you know of what happens.