Windows 10 Q's

(1) What is the typical Restart Time of a computer with Windows 10?

(2) How long should a typical Windows 10 Update take?

(3) Does Windows 10 in its default state prompt the user to install a newer version when they are released?

This past weekend while I was at my sister's house, her laptop started acting up. From what I think I understand, before I got there, she had clicked on some prompt to update "something." She's not sure what that something was.

Nevertheless, then for ohhh around 5 hours or so as we were having a yard sale, the laptop did nothing but display some circling dots like something was being updated. No text indicated what it was doing. I could only guess that maybe it was updating the Windows 10 since it was taking so long. It eventually turned itself off.

After powering it back up, it would power itself down. I proceeded to remove all power, including the battery for around 5 minutes. It then came up properly, but then proceeded to inform that it was reverting back to the previous Windows version. Several minutes later it seemingly finished doing that.

I then proceeed to attempt downloading my software updates onto my Flash Drive. However, it was obvious the Internet connection speed was VERY slow. Resetting the router didn't help. An avast Quick Scan found nothing. A SAS Quick Scan found nothing. AdwCleaner found around 39 issues, some Toolbars and stuff, which I removed. MBAM found 325 PUPs, which I removed. I also cleaned everything with CCleaner, Wise Disk Cleaner, Glary Disk Cleaner and Glary Tracks Eraser.

I then proceeded to check if the Internet speed was any better. It WAS. The Internet speed was now back to normal. However, now my sister informed me today that her laptop was now back to doing nothing but that circling dots thing.

Could the Windows 10 installation possibly have been corrupt as result of the presence of all those PUPs and stuff? Can that app Tweaking.com's Windows Repair possibly fix this? I don't like that as I understand it, unlike previous Windows versions, Windows 10 does not have a Factory partition from which to reinstall Windows. And as for setting it to an earlier System Restore Point ... from what I saw, there was only 1 System Restore Point available and that was from that day when I was there trying to fix the laptop. So that's not an option.

The reason I asked about the typical Windows 10 Restart Time is because not only on this occasion, but also on another occasion when I installed avast ... the Restart function doesn't seem to work properly. Whenever I Restart from the Start / Power button, it just hangs forever. The bootup process never seems to finish. I always wind up having to remove all power, including the battery to get the laptop to boot up after having attempted a Restart from the Start / Power button.

 

1. There is no typical restart duration. It all depends on the reason for doing a restart. Windows Updates restarts normally take longer than others.
2. There is no typical time for a windows update download and install, it depends what the updates are.
3. Windows 10 introduced automatic updating for OS and associated updates so yes.

On the general issue of that laptop without knowing a lot more about the system itself it's difficult to advise further.
However, based on what you post about malware scans, if it was my system I would now have it checked properly by an expert on the MajorGeeks Malware Removal Forum, having first carried out all the steps in the Read & Run Me First Guide.
Once you have established that the system is clear of all malware, it is then possible to look at any software issues after.

 

As to reason for doing a restart? For example, the first time I noticed the extremely long restart was back on that other occasion when all I had done was installed avast anti-virus and now just needed to do the routine restart afterwards. On that occasion, it just hung there at a black screen and the blinking cursor for a long time until I resigned myself to that that couldn't possibly be normal. I performed at least 3 restarts on that occasion and they all just hung there. Powering it down and back up would not help. I would have to wind up having to unplug the power adapter and remove the battery for a couple of minutes. Only then would the laptop cooperate and boot up.

I don't know. She lives so far away. (50 minutes) So she's not likely going to just up and bring me the laptop and I'm not going to jump up and go get it. I only go over there periodically. She had already been resigning herself to that with her laptop's age (around 7 or 8 years old), it was probably getting ready to bite the dust. Depending on how much she starts missing her facebook, she might just take it in to a shop or go buy another one.

We'll see. She'll probably call me today. The last I told her yesterday was that just let the laptop continue its circling dots bit if necessary until they go to bed ... cuz it could conceivably have been in the middle of yet again having been installing the latest Windows 10 Update after having reverted back to the previous version on Saturday. I told her that if the circling dots bit did not stop, then we'd discuss what to do next.

On the extreme least, I'll suggest that she remove the battery for a couple of minutes again to see if the laptop will boot up again so that she can back up whatever she needs to back up. Cuz I seriously doubt she backs up her stuff. I backed up her stuff like 3 years ago, but I doubt after that she's done any backing up.

Thanks for the info, Max.

 

On several systems with Win 10 I'm not seeing undue delay in restarting no matter what it was done for.
So that system clearly has some underlying issues, and ruling out Malware is the first task.
Perhaps you can guide the owner in doing that as you can't be there physically.
If you have any experience of it, you could ask them to grant you remote access.
Otherwise just guiding them maybe via phone is an option.

 

Thanks for the additional info, Max. My sister didn't call yesterday, so I don't know which direction she's leaning towards as far as a solution. I don't know whether she'll want me to look at it some more or whether she'll take it in to a shop or purchase another one. I don't have long distance phone service, so I have to wait until she calls. Tomorrow I should be able to get a hold of her though if she doesn't call today.

 

OK that's fine. If she can follow the Read & Run Me First Guide
then she could do it herself at leisure, and if she has any queries about any part of it the trained experts in the malware forum are great with helping.

 

Got it. Thanks.

 

My sister finally called this morning. She said that the circling dots bit did eventually stop and the computer then worked fine after that. So, I guess it was more than likely as I had theorized there at the end ... that the laptop was again updating itself to the latest Windows 10 version now that the Internet speed was back to normal after having reverted itself to the previous version on Saturday when the Internet speed was down.

So everything's back cool and normal.