Slow web browsers and unable to open Update & Security settings

[Bob Bobberson]

So I have an HP Envy laptop. Recently web browsing has intermittently become painfully slow on both Edge and Chrome (e.g. loading this website hung for a few minutes) and I have many timeouts on websites. This appears to be the case even when I use different Wifi networks. I do not have this problem with my desktop which shares the network.

I was wondering in Windows was in the middle of some update, but when I click on Settings -> Update & Security Settings, the control panel window simply loads a white field on the right and the words: Windows Update, Windows Defender, Backup, Recovery, Activation, Find My Device, and For Developers. I can click on nothing. The control panel often freezes (e.g. if I click on a web browser I cannot click back on its icon, but can see it if I minimize all other applications) and eventually auto-closes. When I search for Advanced Windows Update settings, I get a light blue screen with the control panel icon in the center which promptly auto-closes. I can access all other control panel options, just not anything below Update & Security.

I downloaded Microsoft Security Scanner and ran than across the entire system; no threats were found. I currently am running Windows Defender which last updated itself this early this morning.

I am using Windows 10 version 1511 OS build 10586.104.

I used to be a knowledgeable Windows user, but stop keeping current a couple of versions back. Does this sound like anything familiar or previously seen?

 

[Trouble]

IF you can get this downloaded and then IF you can get it to install properly. It might be worth the effort.
Supposedly it has several fixes in it to address a lot of problems. Not sure if it will address any or all of yours but it might be worth a try.
Be sure to get the correct version for your system architecture ( larger of the two will be for 64 bit and the smaller for 32 bit). And you will likely need to use I.E. maybe Edge will work, but that site doesn't seem to like any third party browsers.
http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB3140743

 

[hTconeM9user]

This is what the latest update brings you

changelog KB3140743

• Improved reliability in numerous areas, including OS and Windows Update installation, start up, installing and configuring Windows for the first time, authentication, resuming from hibernation, shutdown, kernel, Start menu, storage, Windows Hello, display modes, Miracast, App Locker, Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Edge browser, network connectivity and discovery, and File Explorer.
• Improved performance in video thumbnail generation, Net Logon, Windows Store, and standby power consumption.
• Improved support for devices including some wearables, displays, and printer scenarios.
• Reset app default when a registry setting is deleted or corrupted and streamlined notification about the corruption.
• Fixed an issue causing favorites to be lost after updates are installed.
• Fixed several issues that individually could cause certain apps to fail to launch, update, or allow in-app purchases.
• Improved quality of Cortana voices and translations of multiple languages of an Internet Explorer dialog box.
• Improved support for apps, fonts, graphics and display, airplane mode, Group Policy, PowerShell MDM, Windows Journal, Microsoft Edge, printing, touch display, roaming credentials, Push-Button Reset, Windows UX, local and streaming video, audio quality, error reporting, USMT, and VHD creation.

Which will update you to 10586.122

 

[Bob Bobberson]

IF you can get this downloaded and then IF you can get it to install properly. It might be worth the effort.
Supposedly it has several fixes in it to address a lot of problems. Not sure if it will address any or all of yours but it might be worth a try.
Be sure to get the correct version for your system architecture ( larger of the two will be for 64 bit and the smaller for 32 bit). And you will likely need to use I.E. maybe Edge will work, but that site doesn't seem to like any third party browsers.
http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB3140743

I cannot get this to work in Chrome, Edge or IE. Edge directs me to open IE. When I use IE, it says I need to update to IE 6 or later. When I click through to update IE it says I have the latest version of IE.

This is what the latest update brings you

changelog KB3140743

• Improved reliability in numerous areas, including OS and Windows Update installation, start up, installing and configuring Windows for the first time, authentication, resuming from hibernation, shutdown, kernel, Start menu, storage, Windows Hello, display modes, Miracast, App Locker, Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Edge browser, network connectivity and discovery, and File Explorer.
• Improved performance in video thumbnail generation, Net Logon, Windows Store, and standby power consumption.
• Improved support for devices including some wearables, displays, and printer scenarios.
• Reset app default when a registry setting is deleted or corrupted and streamlined notification about the corruption.
• Fixed an issue causing favorites to be lost after updates are installed.
• Fixed several issues that individually could cause certain apps to fail to launch, update, or allow in-app purchases.
• Improved quality of Cortana voices and translations of multiple languages of an Internet Explorer dialog box.
• Improved support for apps, fonts, graphics and display, airplane mode, Group Policy, PowerShell MDM, Windows Journal, Microsoft Edge, printing, touch display, roaming credentials, Push-Button Reset, Windows UX, local and streaming video, audio quality, error reporting, USMT, and VHD creation.

Which will update you to 10586.122

How do I get an update when I cannot access the Update portion of the control panel?

 

[Trouble]

Windows update is no longer a Control Panel applet.
Right click the start button and choose run and in the run dialog box type
ms-settings:windowsupdate
hit enter or click OK
Although it sounded earlier like it displayed as an empty application.

 

[Bob Bobberson]

Windows update is no longer a Control Panel applet.
Right click the start button and choose run and in the run dialog box type
ms-settings:windowsupdate
hit enter or click OK
Although it sounded earlier like it displayed as an empty application.

Thank you, but when I tried this:

A window opens with Settings across the top and the most recent place I was in the control opens.

It then goes "not responding" while I get a nice eternal blue loading circle (I've let it sit for about 4 minutes now).

Update: 5 minutes in - it went to the same setup as when I try to get to updates via the control panel.