Solved Game performance on my Windows 10 PC tanks UNLESS task manager is open, but task manager closes after a few moments. What seems to be my issue?

[desmae]

Hi, I got a new computer a couple of months ago, and it seemed to be working fine. My important specs (which are also a potential cause of the issue) are:

GeForce RTX 3060
16 GB RAM
11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11700F @ 2.50GHz

I began to notice this with Elden Ring, but other games experience this too. My game performance would be... not optimal. It wouldn't be strong at all, and in fact, it would drop to as low as 30 frames in a lot of video games, in certain areas and scenarios. But the interesting thing is that it only tanks UNLESS task manager is open, so I decided to keep task manager open for a while, and it would work. Suddenly, Elden Ring and even Minecraft would go from frequent frame drops (to 30 frames) would now output gameplay at steady capped framerates (60-75 because my monitor is 75Hz). But something else would happen after a bit of time had passed. My task manager would mysteriously close itself after a few moments. And the moment that it would close is completely random too. Sometimes I would go an hour without it X-ing out, and other times it would take 5-10 minutes and it's gone. One thing I noticed before it would exit itself is the fact that the CPU flares up to 80% then 90% then when it reaches roughly 99% to 100%, it shuts off. Could this be an issue with my CPU, or is there a virus of some sort on my computer, somehow hiding itself when I open task manager, closing it so it can keep siphoning data / use my computer? Some games are somehow unaffected by this, at least it seems so, since they don't drop as hard, or don't appear to have hindered performance.

Please let me know, this is such a weird problem since there are no answers for it online!!!

Thank you.

 

[Malnutrition]

is there a virus of some sort on my computer

We can check for malware/virus...

Please download the FRST 32 bit or FRST 64bit version to suit your operating system. It is important FRST is downloaded to your desktop.

If you are unsure if your operating system is 32 or 64 Bit please go HERE.
Once downloaded right click the FRST desktop icon and select "Run as administrator" from the menu"

If you receive any security warnings, or the User Account Control warning opens at any time whilst using FRST you can safely allow FRST to proceed.
FRST will open with two dialogue boxes, accept the disclaimer.

1. Accept the default whitelist options,
2. If the additions.txt options box is not checked please select it.
3. Then select Scan

Frst will take a few minutes to scan your computer, and when finished will produce two log files on your desktop, FRST.txt, and Addition.txt. They will display immediately on the desktop, but can be reopened later as a notepad file.

Please Attach the contents of these logs in your next post for review by our Security Team

 

[desmae]

Here you go.

 

[Malnutrition]

Ok, while I look over the logs, please run the two tools below.

Step 1: Adware Removal Tool Scan.



Download Adware removal tool to your desktop, right click the icon and select Run as Administrator.
Click Scan
Hit Ok.
Hit next make sure to leave all items checked, for removal.
Click Next
The Program will close all open programs to complete the removal, so save any work and hit OK.
Then hit OK after the removal process is complete, thenOK again to finish up.
Post log generated by tool.

Step2: Adware Cleaner Scan.


Adware Cleaner

• Download AdwCleaner and save it to your Desktop
• Right-click on AdwCleaner.exeand select
• 
  Run as Administrator
• Accept the EULA (I accept), then click on Scan Now
• Let the scan complete
• Once the scan completes, make sure that every item listed in the different tabs is checked and click on the Clean & Repair button
• Subsequently you may be asked to Run Basic Repair. This is optional. I would suggest holding off on this for now.
• Once the cleaning process is complete, AdwCleaner will ask you to restart your computer
• Close all other open windows and allow it to restart
• After the restart, Notepad will open with the AdwCleaner cleaning log
• Please Attach the contents of that log into your next reply to me

 

[desmae]

Adware Removal Tool doesn't download properly. It asks for .NET Framework 3.5, and once I try to download that, it sends me tI will attempt to move on with your second download option.

 

[desmae]

Adwcleaner does not ask me to restart my computer, as well. Do I restart it manually, anyways? My scans showed that everything is running fine.

 

[Malnutrition]

Uninstall the following programs with Geek Uninstaller, please use force mode if needed.


µTorrent (HKU\S-1-5-21-397104529-2177462372-707066247-1004\...\uTorrent) (Version: 3.5.5.46206 - BitTorrent Inc.)
Mozilla Maintenance Service (HKLM\...\MozillaMaintenanceService) (Version: 96.0 - Mozilla)
uTorrent Web (HKU\S-1-5-21-397104529-2177462372-707066247-1004\...\utweb) (Version: 1.2.7 - BitTorrent, Inc.)

FRST Fix.
Download attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop. NOTE. It's important that both files, FRST/FRST64 and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work. NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to your operating system Run FRST/FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait. If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run. When finished FRST will generate a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt). Please post it to your reply.

 

[Malnutrition]

Do I restart it manually, anyways?

Nope. Skip that.

 

[desmae]

Here is the fix log in case you need it.

 

[Malnutrition]

How is the machine performing now?


Step 1: ZHP cleaner Scan.


Please download Zhp Cleaner to your desktop. Right Click the icon and select run as administrator.
Once you have started the program, you will need to click the scanner button.
The program will close all open browsers!
Once the scan is completed, the you will want to click the Repair button.
At the end of the process you may be asked to reboot your machine.
After you reboot a report will open on your desktop.
Attach the report here in your next reply.

---

Step 2: ZHP Diag Scan

Click here to download.
Save to your desktop.
Right Click Run as Admin.
Click the Options button.
Click on Check All
Then click close.
Click the Scanner button.
When complete please push the report button.
A notepad will open... attach the report in your next reply.

 

[Malnutrition]

@desmae Has the fixlist helped? Still having issues?

 

[desmae]

So far have not tried to open Elden Ring, but Minecraft is immediately running better than before. I will try the ZHP cleaner and scans later today.

 

[Malnutrition]

@desmae OK, sounds good. I use Zhp as sort of a mop up tool, as it looks in different areas than FRST for malware, I will create a final fix list for you via ZHP

 

[Malnutrition]

@desmae

How are you moving along with the instructions? Have you got an update for us?
Please update this thread within 48 hours, or it will be closed. You can however have it re-opened at any time, by sending a private message to a staff member.

 

[Malnutrition]

Minecraft is immediately running better than before.

Thread marked as solved and closed.