Users are reporting that after installing this week's Microsoft's April 2019 Patch Tuesday updates, Windows has suddenly become slow and programs are taking forever to open.
Yesterday, we reported that there is a conflict between the latest Windows updates and Sophos, Avast, and Avira antivirus software that is causing Windows to freeze or updates to not finish installing.
Since then, we have received emails and seen reports from users who have stated that this week's updates are also causing Windows to become very slow. The reports we have seen have been from users running Windows 7 and Windows 10.
The issues that users are experiencing include Windows taking a long time to start or reboot, unable to start programs, lag in games, excessive disk activity, video streaming issues, and other similar problems.
For example, in a comment at BleepingComputer a reader has stated that their Windows 10 computer has become extremely slow and that rebooting/starting Windows takes forever.
Users on Reddit [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] and elsewhere [1,2] are also complaining that Windows has become very slow since installing the updates.
While I have not been able to verify this on my own Windows 10 computer, one user on Reddit stated that the issues were being caused by Windows Defender.
Normally when a user has an antivirus program, Windows defender will disable its real time protection. It seem for this user at least, Windows Defender is being enabled automatically even though the user had Avira installed on the machine.
Having two antivirus programs performing real-time protection could definitely cause slowdowns and other issues.
At this time there is nothing from Microsoft that states they are aware of the reported issues. The only reference to Windows being slow since the updates is from a support article posted yesterday by Avira that is simply titled "Why does my system run very slow?".
This article states that if Windows 10 has become slow, you should remove the KB4493509 update. For Windows 7 users, they state that you should remove KB4493472 and KB4493448 updates for Windows 7.
As these instructions are for users of their software, it may not apply to everyone.
BleepingComputer has contacted Microsoft to see if they are aware of these issues, but have not heard back as of yet.
It should be noted that I personally have no issues after installing these updates for Windows 10 and running ESET Nod32. If you are having issues, can you please leave a comment and let us know if Windows Defender is enabled along with your AV software or other things you have tried to resolve the issue.
Update: 4/12/19 6:54 PM EST: Woody Leonhard also reported on Computerworld that he is seeing users have slowdown issues on Windows 10 after installing these updates.
Update: 4/12/19 8:05 PM EST: BleepingComputer has been told by a source familiar with the matter, that these issues are being caused by conflicts between the recent updates and antivirus software. While Microsoft originally reported that the antivirus conflicts were only causing Windows to freeze, it appears that there could be other symptoms. You can read more about the antivirus conflicts at this article.
Comments
GT500 - 5 years ago
I wonder if disabling Windows Defender would resolve these issues.
Lawrence Abrams - 5 years ago
Looks like people have tried and Windows reenables on boot.
Shahzad19 - 5 years ago
Mine also freezed after I turned off my Laptop while installing yesterdays windows updates....
Then it showed "restoring to previous version of windows" and then nothing but freezed at startup....
What to do...
Please help
ron_hazlett - 5 years ago
Anytime you are updating on Win-7 or Win-10, if you have an installed Anti-virus program(Avira, Norton, etc.) uninstall it(at least until you have finished update). Don't worry Win. Defender will keep you protected in the meantime. You have two Anti-viral programs trying to compete for the same space, and it will cause multiple problems. Once youn are finished, if you do not like your protection from Windows Defender, reinstall your program(it will be the default AV program-WD acts as backup) If you still have issues, download Malwarebytes and run a scan, if there are issues present it can be quarantined. I am a Windows Insider(since 2016)and I have dealt with most of the issues I've read on this forum(I have build 18875), and while I am not an expert with computers, I can help you get through some of your complaints or I can lead you to someone who can. Btw.: NEVER shutdown your computer during an update! Not only will it damage your computer, it can come to you in your next dream and make your life a living hell on earth!
Daelv - 5 years ago
Finding several MS programs run by default that can't be unstarted.
Cortana, Skype, movies and TV and maybe one or two others. I always try to minimize start up progs cause of my older laptop. Too much new stuff foisted on users without asking. No BSOD BUT FROZE when using Franklin county auditor smart map embedded app. Screen black or frozen. Hard reboot.
Daelv - 5 years ago
Also start up takes a while to settle to low cpu usage.. best to wait before launching your own apps. Ctrl-shft-esc and watch cpu.
Al_Capella - 5 years ago
I have my 3 Win 10 Pro (2 are1803, 1 is 1809) PCs set to wait 30 days to install quality updates. On Tuesday they all happily and seamlessly updated to the March update. I expect the same will happen next month when they update to the April update. I'm not a Microsoft beta tester but a big "thank you" to those who are.
fthomas - 5 years ago
Come on Microsoft! Makes me want to change to a Mac!
anomomuss - 5 years ago
Browser pages loading slower.
Fish_and_Flowers - 5 years ago
My "October feature update" (2018) did not come until the first week of March this year. Immediately after that update completed the 2 shift keys on my keyboard stopped working. I had seen this problem (I thought) before with a windows update that for some reason had installed numerous copies of Microsoft's "generic HID compliant" input device. At that time if I ran OSK (on screen keyboard - thank goodness for this) I would see pressing the shift key was blinking the key at the "typematic" rate. Removing the extra / "bogus" copies of drivers and leaving only the "PS/2 style keyboard" driver cured the problem that time. Now the shift keys don't work again but there are no extra drivers installed, and no indication of function when running OSK. But the update did create 2 extra copies of my printer labeled "copy 1" & "copy2" which I am not certain if I should remove...
Licht92 - 5 years ago
windows 7 here, I updated and no problem
i'm using windows live essentials antivirus
shisbn - 5 years ago
I am using Win10 1809 with TrendMirco Maximum Security installed. Everything works as usual!
I can not find Windows Defender running.
gmalone - 5 years ago
Worse update ever! (spoken in Simpsons Comic Book Guy). More than just slowed down -- also seeing freezes, apps locking up, mouse input not being recognized, totally awful. And no roll-back option... says "It's been longer than 10 days" -- WTF?! Any word from Microsoft???
40391 - 5 years ago
That's because Microsoft infinite policy of microcode software updates.
Use InSpectre app to disable Spectre and Meltdown and your PC it will come to life!
https://www.grc.com/inspectre.htm
gmalone - 5 years ago
Thanks for the inSpectre tip. After doing due diligence to verify the authority of the inSpectre app (passes muster, approved by top PC gurus), I ran it and found that my device (Surface Pro 4) is protected fully from those evils. So, my current dilemma with a severely impacted system is due to other causes related to the recent April update. Damn.
noelprg4 - 4 years ago
well I installed the April 2019 rollup update [KB4493472] on some of my Windows 7 computers and I am getting the opposite effect. Instead of Windows 7 being slower, the KB4493472 update seems to make my Win7 PCs boot up faster causing shorter startup times. hmmm.