Problem with the Windows taskbar not functioning properly.
Problem with the Windows taskbar not functioning properly.
Over the past weeks, my task bar has occasionally stopped responding, and after about ten seconds everything I clicked seems to take effect later. On my second screen with desktop shortcuts, I've noticed random flashes of default window icons before they settle into their usual positions. With a 10900k system, I suspect it's not just a slow computer, but I'm unsure what might be causing the problem.
Next time it occurs, launch Task Manager and terminate the explorer.exe process in the Details section. Then restart it via File > Run New Task. To identify the cause, check what other programs are active—beyond just those on your desktop—and observe the system tray for additional processes. In Task Manager, look for spikes during unresponsive taskbar activity. Determine if the issue stems from a spinning disk or an SSD/NVME drive.
The operating system runs on a NVMe SSD. I also have two USB hard drives connected and an additional NVMe M.2 drive for extra space.
Consider disconnecting the two USB drives and checking if the problem disappears. If it does, that would be straightforward to handle.