Sporadic slowness, Win 25H2, no malware, some App store correlation)

I have a now old-ish HP Pavillion X360, Win 25H2 Education Edition, upgraded from WIndows 10 last year.  It's about six years old.

This computer has always been cursed, to a degree.  Even when it was new, still Windows 10 back then, it was never able to be depended on. It was shiny and fast some of the time, and unusably slow others, taking hours to return to operability after waking from hibernation, but sometimes never returning to speediness without rebooting, somtimes a few times.  Thankfully other computers were available, but having spent good money on this one, it's a disappointment that the "fix" was to use a different computer, and ultimately buy a different computer.

Today, it's a spare computer, to a degree:  It was converted from Windows 10 to Windows 24H2 about a year ago, and updated to 25H2 a couple weeks ago.  It still struggles with inconsistency, as it always has, whether Win 10, Win 11.

Today, the behavior is as follows:

• When it decides to be slow after awakening, there is quite often a correlation to the Windows store having updates pending.
  • Going into the store, forcing all updates will often but not always let the computer return to functioning as it should.
  • It often helps, but not always. 
• Turning off SYSMAIN (Superfetch) helps, sometimes instantly.  (It's overall set to Disabled.  Every now and then a windows update turns it back on, so it can be a cat and mouse game, remembering to check and turn it off again. 
• But overall, whether running or not, the computer will start slowing down again a month later regardless.  The inconsistency also means it's "do everything at the same time", so it's not always clear what fixes it temporarily.  WHen it acts up, if I bother with it, I'll apply Microsoft Store updates, make sure Search and Sysmain are off, the works.
• Turning off Windows Search has helped too, but still ultimately, the slowness will return sooner or later.  
• Task Manager typically shows 100 percent disk usage (although to be fair, it's 100 percent disk "activity".
  • Typically, when disk activity is NOT showing 100 percent, it's running OK, except for the times where doing anything at all stars the running slow cycle all over again.
  • Sometimes, going to the Performance tab of Task Manager, the difference between "activity" vs. "disk transfer rate" shows up too, so at times, the disk transfer rate is lowish (not overwhelmed, just fluctuation between 0 to about 100KB), and the computer runs OK while showing 100 percent disk activity.
  • But i do realize task manager shows Disk "Activity", so occasionally it can run fine, while showing 100 percent activity.  (The performance tab shows transfer rate, a better indication of the disk truly being a bottleneck.)
• Troubleshooting I've done (many times)
  • FYI, the Windows store has been reset, reinstalled, all the common fixes have been done.  More than once.
  • Windows update has been reset, 
  • Malwarebytes and also Microsoft Safety Scanner have been run many times over the years.  It's a bold statement to make, but the issue isn't malware
  • SFC /ScanNow and DISM, I bet 100 times.  
  • ScanDisk doesn't show any physical disk problems, nor Smart scans, nor full system troubleshooting scans and the Toshiba disk utility (the disk is a Toshiba MQ040ABF100)
  • Nothing shows any discernible problem.  Except the slowness will return, sooner or later.  No fix has survived longer than a month.
  • Messed with Virtual memory, leaving it at System Managed size and/or making it 1.5 times RAM
• I run Task Manager sometimes, and at times Sysinternals Process explorer, diskmon, others, but nothing shows a true smoking gun.  
• Ultimately though, even with SYSMAIN off, Search off, and running all the WIndows Store updates,it's never more than about a month of sporadic use, before it returns to slowness.  If I'm lucky, applying all pending updates within Windows Store fixes it, but if I'm unlucky, the Windows Store updates will take forever, several hours, the computer will continue to run slowly, and a reboot or two or three will return the computer to running "ok" for another month.

Any advice or tips?  (Being so undependable, this computer remains only occasionally used, due to it's annoying nature, but I'd use it more if I felt like it could be depended on.)

Thanks in advance.

P.S. - There are countless "Disk 100% Utilization" threads all over the internet, and I think I've read them all, tried many of their suggestions.  My issue is related, but it's "disk 100 percent AND computer slow as molasses", not just that I'm worried about the Task manager disk activity reading. 

Edited by johnxtampa, 23 December 2025 - 07:20 AM.

I have a now old-ish HP Pavillion X360, Win 25H2 Education Edition,

 

Mind if I ask how you come to have such a version of Windows on a personal computer, reason I ask is because Windows Education as the name suggests is intended for places of learning such as schools and universities who purchase Windows VLKs  such systems are under the control of a designated Admin who is the go to when a student or tutor is having problems, this is for legal and security reasons such as preventing malware being introduced into the systems network etc.

Edit to add, some additional info Requirements for using a MAK to upgrade from Windows Home to Windows Education

Edited by PhillPower2, 23 December 2025 - 07:48 AM.

 

I have a now old-ish HP Pavillion X360, Win 25H2 Education Edition,

 

 

Mind if I ask how you come to have such a version of Windows on a personal computer, reason I ask is because Windows Education as the name suggests is intended for places of learning such as schools and universities who purchase Windows VLKs  such systems are under the control of a designated Admin who is the go to when a student or tutor is having problems, this is for legal and security reasons such as preventing malware being introduced into the systems network etc.

 

Edit to add, some additional info Requirements for using a MAK to upgrade from Windows Home to Windows Education

 

It began its life as a student computer for an actively enrolled student, so we had the chance to upgrade the standard license it came with to the Education version, mainly for the convenience of being able to access it via remote desktop.   Also (it was good while it lasted), while still actively enrolled (graduated now), was free Office 365 access. 

The slowness has always been there though, coming and going, temporarily running at expected speeds for a while (usually only a month), then returning to problematic behavior.  Both before and after the Education version of windows, and before and after going from 10 to 11. 

Thanks.

 

I may post this as a new separate topic, but for fun, I noticed the Enable Write Cache setting, which is set to yes/enabled.   

Good advice on whether to use Enable Write Caching or not seems to be hard to come by.  Lots of conflicting advice, and no shortage of poorly written posts too.    If anyone has authoritative thoughts, I'd appreciate hearing it.  Given that I have little to lose, I may turn it off the next time (should be in oh, 29 days or so) the computer slows down, see what happens.

If the student is not still enrolled at the place of learning that paid for the Windows licence Windows Education should have been uninstalled as soon as they ceased to have the right to access and use the said OS.

Because you have no legitimate right to be using the present OS all that we can do is advise you is to reinstall the version of Windows that the computer shipped with and then upgrade to Windows 11: Upgrade to Windows 11: FAQ

We are not the Windows police but there are forum rules and licencing laws that we need to observe so as to keep on the right side of the law.

If the student is not still enrolled at the place of learning that paid for the Windows licence Windows Education should have been uninstalled as soon as they ceased to have the right to access and use the said OS.

 

Because you have no legitimate right to be using the present OS all that we can do is advise you is to reinstall the version of Windows that the computer shipped with and then upgrade to Windows 11: Upgrade to Windows 11: FAQ

 

We are not the Windows police but there are forum rules and licencing laws that we need to observe so as to keep on the right side of the law.

I'm not here to argue, but let's make a deal:  Show me where the licensing says that, I'll change the license.  And if  you're wrong, first admit it, then second, stop responding to this thread since you don't seem to have anything to add. 

Thanks. 

We are here to help not argue and fwiw if anything that you have been advised has in some way annoyed you please feel free to report the said content.

Check the attached link where you will find confirmation of what you have been advised and the proof coming from various sources, What are the limitations of windows volume licence keys

We are here to help not argue and fwiw if anything that you have been advised has in some way annoyed you please feel free to report the said content.

 

Check the attached link where you will find confirmation of what you have been advised and the proof coming from various sources, What are the limitations of windows volume licence keys

"Help" implies providing correct information.  Your answer was not correct, and you replied with a generic Google search. I have reported your post as inaccurate, since that is what you want me to do.

I will provide what info I can based on the long opening post.

disk @100% = computer will be as slow as molasses. 

I'll make one suggestion since you clearly know how to get into task manager:  Look for the process that is running, it'll be the one using CPU and RAM when you see disk @100% 

I'll bet a shilling it's something updating (like windows update) or even windows cataloguing. 

Once you see Disk @100% anything that needs to read or write to the disk to function will be very very slow. So loading programs, slow, writing a document, slow.

Frankly at 6 years old probably better retired for a new one. Get an SSD and 32GB RAM to avoid slowdowns. Processor , something like a core i5 unless you are a gamer.

johnxtampa,

The bottom line is that you are running a version of Windows that you have no right to be running, you never paid for it, you are not enrolled at a place of learning that has paid for it and last but not ;east you were offered  a way of correcting this in my reply #5;

Because you have no legitimate right to be using the present OS all that we can do is advise you is to reinstall the version of Windows that the computer shipped with and then upgrade to Windows 11: Upgrade to Windows 11: FAQ

 

We are not the Windows police but there are forum rules and licencing laws that we need to observe so as to keep on the right side of the law.

 

From what you termed a generic Google search;

Windows Volume License Keys (VLKs) are powerful for organizations but have limitations like activation thresholds (e.g., 25 PCs for KMS), periodic reactivation (KMS needs contact every 180 days), strict usage terms (not for personal use, can't resell), and potential deactivation if keys are misused or limits hit. They offer centralized management (KMS/MAK) but demand adherence to Microsoft's rules, or keys get blocked, impacting deployment flexibility. 

 

Key Limitations & Considerations:

 

Organizational Use Only: VLKs are for businesses, schools, etc., not individuals.

 

 

Had you have looked at the various sources such as the Microsoft forums among others you would have found evidence supporting what had been advisedd.

The below from the BC Forum Rules;

 

No subject matter will be allowed whose purpose is to defeat existing copyright or security measures. If a user persists and/or the activity is obviously illegal the moderators reserve the right to remove such content and/or ban the user. This would also mean encouraging the use or continued use of pirated software is not permitted, and subject to the same consequences.

 

I am not the one that is using software that I have no right to be running but I am the one that suggested a way of you getting a  legitimate OS installed, if you think that acting within the law needs reporting then report away.

Edited by PhillPower2, 24 December 2025 - 05:30 AM.

Thanks @aldfort.  When the problem occurs, I'll often have Task Manager opened, sorted descending/highest first by Disk usage, and glancing at the list sorted by highest CPU and Memory too. What first got me started thinking it was Microsoft Store is that wsappx is almost always present when the problem occurs.  Windows update is often present, but not always.  MsMpEng.exe (a scan is actively running) is also always present when it's running slowly, for whatever reason I never really noticed that it's not always present.  (Sometimes it's present when the computer is running fine too... but what I didn't notice until today is that it's not a service that's always active.  That e absence whereas it isn't right now (but Microsoft anti-malware is.) 

With observer effect, I end up glancing at Task Manager more when things are running slow (it's running fine right now, and based on history it'll probably be a week/two/three before it's chronic again.)  I never really noticed that MsMpEng isn't always present though.  That's interesting, seems like a very legit smoking gun.  I'm not sure how or why I never noticed that before.  I gotta give you credit for making that click in my head, thanks!   I'll see if I can find logs for it, maybe there's a folder or something it sticks on.

Regarding the computer being old, you're not wrong, but for it's purpose as a semi-retired spare computer, when it's not running impossibly slow, it's fine.  I can surf and shop and read and use it for Hulu/Netflix just fine, good enough.  When it's slow, it's unusable. 
 

For what it's worth, a few additional observations: 

• Task Manager doesn't slow the computer down, so it's not a self fulfilling prophecy that I run Task Manager, unaware that it's causing problems.  For example, experience tells me I have a week/two/three of the computer running fine.  Task Manager will be open permanently
• I only have one anti-virus, just plain old Windows security

I'll keep looking though, thanks for the thoughtful response.

johnxtampa,

 

The bottom line is that you are running a version of Windows that you have no right to be running, you never paid for it, you are not enrolled at a place of learning that has paid for it and last but not ;east you were offered  a way of correcting this in my reply #5;

 

Because you have no legitimate right to be using the present OS all that we can do is advise you is to reinstall the version of Windows that the computer shipped with and then upgrade to Windows 11: Upgrade to Windows 11: FAQ

 

We are not the Windows police but there are forum rules and licencing laws that we need to observe so as to keep on the right side of the law.

 

 

From what you termed a generic Google search;

 

 

Windows Volume License Keys (VLKs) are powerful for organizations but have limitations like activation thresholds (e.g., 25 PCs for KMS), periodic reactivation (KMS needs contact every 180 days), strict usage terms (not for personal use, can't resell), and potential deactivation if keys are misused or limits hit. They offer centralized management (KMS/MAK) but demand adherence to Microsoft's rules, or keys get blocked, impacting deployment flexibility. 

 

Key Limitations & Considerations:

 

Organizational Use Only: VLKs are for businesses, schools, etc., not individuals.

 

 

 

Had you have looked at the various sources such as the Microsoft forums among others you would have found evidence supporting what had been advisedd.

 

The below from the BC Forum Rules;

 

 

No subject matter will be allowed whose purpose is to defeat existing copyright or security measures. If a user persists and/or the activity is obviously illegal the moderators reserve the right to remove such content and/or ban the user. This would also mean encouraging the use or continued use of pirated software is not permitted, and subject to the same consequences.

 

 

I am not the one that is using software that I have no right to be running but I am the one that suggested a way of you getting a  legitimate OS installed, if you think that acting within the law needs reporting then report away.

@PhillPower2:  I've given you multiple opportunities to find something from Microsoft saying something like "upon graduation, Windows Education must be removed."  Until you do that, you are saying untrue and inaccurate things, speaking about things that you don't know about, but are unwilling to admit.   

So, it should be easy for you:  Find something that says in effect that windows education must be removed once a student/affiliated person (in our case, student) is no longer affiliated with a university.  The fact is, you can't, because there is no such thing.   But you're unwilling to do the honorable thing, which is to say, "Hey, I was wrong!"  

So I'll take on the burden of proof: 

• Here's an article straight from Microsoft on converting Windows Home to Windows education.  https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/education/windows/change-home-to-edu, and the TITLE of the page, is "Upgrade Windows Home to Windows Education on student-owned devices".
  • About halfway down, talk of converting a student/personal computer.  So it's sanctioned by Microsoft, assuming a person is attending a school.  And the verification process involves being a student (or employee, in our case it was student), having a university email address, being verified, and acquiring the license 100 percent within the scope of the WIndows Education edition.
  • You'll notice NOTHING about having to uninstall upon graduation.
  • And your statements sure sound like you're accusing me of having stolen software.  I do not. 
• From within license.rtf in c:/windows/system32
  • "For academic use, you must be a student, faculty or staff of an educational institution at the time of purchase."  That was what this was.  While actively a student for 4 years, window home was upgraded to windows education.  Active student, actively enrolled.  See above.  
  • Nothing whatsoever about uninstalling when no longer at the school.

If you can't find something, anything, saying "remove windows education when you graduate", then you need to admit you have NOTHING of substance, nothing accurate to say on the topic.   If such an article exists, it should be super easy for you.  Why can't you?  Hint: because there's no such thing, no such policy. 

 

Edited by johnxtampa, 24 December 2025 - 06:00 AM.

Really not sure why you will not just accept what you already know to be true which has been as clearly explained as possible, the below is direct from Microsoft and if you have any disagreements with any of it you should take it up with them, enjoy reading the services agreement.

• Licensing: The software is licensed, not sold, and Microsoft retains rights; you can install one copy per device for a single user, with specific terms for pre-installed software.
• Support: Windows 10 (including Education) ends standard support on October 14, 2025, after which you'll need to pay for ESU for continued security updates.
• Updates: Acceptance of license terms is required for updates, including when upgrading to Windows 11, and terms cover features, security, and third-party components.
• Third-Party Apps: Third-party software integrated with Windows has its own licenses, and you assume risks associated with them.
• Eligibility: The Education edition is generally for academic institutions and users; installing it personally might fall under different terms or require specific eligibility. 

• You'll usually encounter the specific EULA text during installation or updates.
• Microsoft's main Services Agreement provides general terms for Microsoft products and services, covering aspects like account use and payments, and you can find links to specific EULAs on Microsoft Learn (like the Supported versions of Windows client page for client info). 

It was yourself that post that the original qualifying person that was entitled to use the OS and support for free had since graduated so why do feel that you should be entitled to continue to use something that the university has paid for.

Edited by PhillPower2, 24 December 2025 - 07:55 AM.

Tuition?

I have spent more than a little time chasing around this question since it was brought to my attention, MS does not make it easy to find definitive answers to any question regarding the minutiae of their T&Cs. In one of my early searches I found the expression 'A non-expiring license' but unhappily I did not note the URL and cannot find it again. This topic from MS Learn is as near as I can get 

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/2336734/got-sold-a-windows-11-pro-education-eventhough-im

 

Potential Issues and Consequences

Using a Windows 11 Pro Education license outside of its intended academic environment can lead to several complications:

 

Licensing Non-Compliance and Audits. This is of more concern to an employer

 

Activation and Functionality: While the operating system might initially activate, it could face issues down the line. Activation for Windows 11 Pro Education often requires a work or school account associated with a qualified educational institution. Future validation checks by Microsoft could potentially deactivate the software or limit its functionality. Furthermore, the device may be inadvertently subjected to the group policies of the educational institution that the license is tied to, leading to unexpected restrictions.

 

Lack of Commercial Support:

 

Ethical and Legal Considerations: Knowingly using a license outside of its terms can be viewed as an unethical practice and, in a broader sense, a misuse

On my reading of this we are left with a gray area. On the one hand MS does not say that the moment you leave academia you must convert an education licence to a different one, but if you work in a different environment you may suffer de-activation.

The conclusion I get from this is that if you originally gained this license as a student of some sort then you can carry on using that license until the computer dies unless it conflicts with your employer's interests but, as an ex-student, you would not qualify for another Education license.

Since so much of this topic has been taken up with well-meant discussion around this point I think the best thing for clarity is for me to close this topic and request that the OP opens a new one on the same subject so that he can get clarity on his problem with out this diversion

Chris Cosgrove