Windows 7 unresponsive at times

[MTL777]

There are times when Windows 7 (Professional 64-Bit) is unresponsive. I can move the mouse but when I click or double-click on anything, such as an icon or the start button, it does not respond. Then later, maybe 3 minutes later, all of the things that I clicked/double-clicked begin responding. It's as if all my clicks were stored in a stack and processed later after some higher priority process had finished. It seems that this "higher priority process" that hogs the machine for a moment is the Windows Update because whenever this happens I see the notification, "New Windows updates are available", and then my prior clicks begin to respond.

I have Windows Update set to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download or install them". Is what I'm experiencing normal? It's so annoying, I wish it didn't behave this way. Can someone please help me with this problem?

Thanks in advance for your much appreciated help!

 

[TechnoMage2016]

MS has more or less declared Win-7 'Persona non grata', so any updates they put out may do more harm than good, trying to prompt us to dump it for Windows 10.


So what I and many other users have done is to just SHUT OFF MS updates.


As XP was getting old, many of MS's updates were basically trashing the OS. I had to repair several PC's that were effectively DEAD after an MS update, and then I just turned MS Updates OFF....end of problems.


Just a suggestion, from a retired PC Service Tech.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi MTL777,

It seems that this "higher priority process" that hogs the machine for a moment is the Windows Update because whenever this happens I see the notification, "New Windows updates are available", and then my prior clicks begin to respond.

I have Windows Update set to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download or install them". Is what I'm experiencing normal? It's so annoying, I wish it didn't behave this way. Can someone please help me with this problem?

Depending on the specifications of your computer, Windows Update can very well be the cause of this.
Most of us set WU to Never check for updates (not recommended).

I hope this helps!

 

[MTL777]

Thank you so much, Techno and Paul! I guess that's just what I'll do -- turn off Windows updates. Or maybe I can turn it on once in a while to see what's available but install only any new Windows Defender definition updates.



BTW do you use Windows Defender as your anti-virus? Is Windows Defender a no-no too?



Are you completely turning Windows Update off and never turn it on again, ever? And you never have concerns about any new security holes in the OS that may come up?

 

[Megahertz07]

I have turned WU to Never check for updates
Once a month I install the Security ONLY updates and run WU manually to see if there is any Office updates.
You find the Security ONLY updates here

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I doubt WU is the prroblem. I've shut off WU back in December (actually, I was forced to restore back to then) and I started to get the same hang up the OP has around a couple of monhs ago. It happens, maybe, once every week or two and lasts for only a minute or less.

I suspect some program, such as an AV, etc. may have had a bad update.

 

[MTL777]

I have turned WU to Never check for updates
Once a month I install the Security ONLY updates and run WU manually to see if there is any Office updates.
You find the Security ONLY updates here

Thank you for this good info! I'll do the same thing as you.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi MTL777,

Or maybe I can turn it on once in a while to see what's available but install only any new Windows Defender definition updates.

Are you completely turning Windows Update off and never turn it on again, ever? And you never have concerns about any new security holes in the OS that may come up?

After setting WU to Never check for updates (not recommended), you can run WU manually when you want to. Then install any updates that you feel are necessary. Most people who go along this route install the Security Only Updates, and of course .NET Framework and IE maybe!

I hope this helps!

 

[spacereaper82]

I have turned WU to Never check for updates
Once a month I install the Security ONLY updates and run WU manually to see if there is any Office updates.
You find the Security ONLY updates here

Actually, as I did. Nothing affects W7 as negatively as updating does

 

[Megahertz07]

MTL777, did you find a solution to your issue (Windows 7 unresponsive at times)?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

MTL777, did you find a solution to your issue (Windows 7 unresponsive at times)?

I'm also curious since it happened to me again recently. I'm still convinced Windows Updates has nothing to do with it since I haven't any Windows updates of any kind installed since December (actually, I restored an image from December on my machines since several updates since Decembers were breaking them and I got fed up).

 

[Megahertz07]

I've 0nce faced a delay as described.
It wasn't an update file. It was the SEARCH for update that was running forever and kept the computer so busy that was causing the delays.
So I set, under services, WU to manual and on WU page to never check and the problem has gone.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I've 0nce faced a delay as described.
It wasn't an update file. It was the SEARCH for update that was running forever and kept the computer so busy that was causing the delays.
So I set, under services, WU to manual and on WU page to never check and the problem has gone.

That's how my computer is set. Still happens.

 

[Megahertz07]

Antivirus can block an action till it ends a scan.
Do you have Malwarebytes?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Antivirus can block an action till it ends a scan.
Do you have Malwarebytes?

Yes, but there is no report of a scan popping up after one of the brief freezes.

 

[Megahertz07]

Quite old but...
https://www.********.com/2018/malwarebytes-big-problem/

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Quite old but...
https://www.********.com/2018/malwarebytes-big-problem/

Bad link.

 

[Megahertz07]

Sorry, 7 forum it's modifying my link

Massive ongoing Malwarebytes issue affecting all users - Anti-Virus, Anti-Malware, and Privacy Software

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Sorry, 7 forum it's modifying my link

Massive ongoing Malwarebytes issue affecting all users - Anti-Virus, Anti-Malware, and Privacy Software

That was back in January. This has been going on for only a couple, three months.

 

[Megahertz07]

Unfortunately antivirus is a "must have" despite I had never had a virus on my computer. All them slow down the computer.
On an old laptop with Win XP I found out that with antivirus and it's low memory, it's quite impossible to use. It has no antivirus and it works fine. (made a disk image for backup, just in case.)
I think a good firewall is more important than an antivirus. I have almost 10 attempts every day blocked by the firewall.