Automated Maintenance freezes my PC, how do I identify the specific task causing the problem?

[Fortran77]

After I upgraded my BIOS to the newest version and also updated some Windows 10 (64-bit) stuff my PC started to freeze when idle. I eventually discovered that the PC would freeze whenever the Automatic Maintenance task would run (either when the PC was idle or when run manually). The problem is reproducible. I was able to disable Automated Maintenance using a registry key so the PC will not freeze when idle now, although that is not ideal. The Automated Maintenance is actually about 2 dozen specific tasks in the Task Scheduler. So, my question is how do I identify the specific task in the scheduler so I can disable it and re-enable the overall Automated Maintenance feature? I have already run all of the usual hardware and software diagnostics and refreshed the Windows 10 OS.

[banhien]

@Fortran77 

I did say millions times: playing around with BIOS is the shortest way to brick your machine. Did HPSA ask you to update BIOS  or you just updated for fun ?

Regards.

[Fortran77]

Banheim, the BIOS upgrade did not brick my PC. I have updated the ROM BIOS on my HP Slimline three times in its history. The problem I developed coincided with the BIOS upgrade, but there were other updates at the Windows OS level as well, so I'm not absolutely certain that the new BIOS is the problem. The BIOS upgrade was presented to me in two locations: as an optional upgrade in the Windows Updater; and as a recommended upgrade in the HP Support Assistant. Another upgrade recommended by the HP Support Assistant was the UEFI utility. Unfortunately, this new version of the UEFI does not support rollbacks on the BIOS to the previous version. HP has made the bad decision to deprive consumers of the privilege of rolling back BIOS updates. If you have something useful to recommend, I will be happy to follow your advice. Otherwise, your comment is not helpful. No Kudos for you. Thanks anyway.

[Windy-Bill]

Hi Fortran77,

I believe I have the exact same Issue.  Did you load the f.57 BIOS?  I have not been able to pinpoint the issue as you have.  I had suspected it had something to do with the Task Scheduler, though.  When I open my Task Scheduler, I get 11 error messages about tasks that were not found.  10 of them have to do with Nividia Graphics Card, but I do not have one.  The 11th has to do with HP PC Health. As long as I keep my PC busy, it doesn't freeze, but when it is idle it will usually freeze within 15 minutes or less. There are several people on this site with the same/similar issue.  I hope you get some more helpful responses. 

Thanks for posting your info.

[Fortran77]

Windy-Bill, thanks for your reply. It is helpful. Here are the specifics of my PC and BIOS:

OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Version 10.0.19045 Build 19045
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name DESKTOP-9TKK43S
System Manufacturer HP
System Model HP Slim Desktop 290-a0xxx
System Type x64-based PC
System SKU 2HL09AA#ABA
Processor AMD A9-9425 RADEON R5, 5 COMPUTE CORES 2C+3G, 3100 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date AMI F.34, 11/4/2022
SMBIOS Version 3.2
Embedded Controller Version 0.01
BIOS Mode UEFI
BaseBoard Manufacturer HP
BaseBoard Product 8459
BaseBoard Version 00
Platform Role Desktop
Secure Boot State On

The motherboard is a Cosmos A9 and the BIOS manufacturer is American Megatrends. The version number I upgraded to on my PC is version F34. Your f.57 BIOS must be a different line of software. The behavior you are describing is also what I witness except for the details about the errors records in the Task Scheduler. What I determined was the Automated Maintenance when run manually or when run at idle time will freeze the PC. It is reproducible. The idle time issue is what required a lot of detective work. The question I have now is which of the specific scheduled tasks is the culprit. Thanks again for your reply. Obviously, this sort of issue is commonplace.

[Fortran77]

I performed an empirical experiment. I deliberately and manually ran the Automated Maintenance process and caused my  PC to freeze. I then rebooted the PC and went through the list of Scheduled Tasks that are executed when the Automated Maintenance is run. Each and every one completed successfully. So, what ever is freezing the PC is happening after all these tasks complete.

[Bill_To]

Hi

I am taking a long shot. Your situation may have no relationship to an ongoing Microsoft BIOS update conundrum.

But Windows Update has messed up a lot of PCs using the Sunflower SSID 8433 MB.

You could be a victim of the same issue but with a different MB if the BIOS update from Microsoft, or HP for that matter, is faulty. The problematic BIOS update seems to be offered by Microsoft. However, I have seen some references suggesting HP also offered this update. Now the HP BIOS update is no longer available.

I would avoid all HP firmware updates offered by Microsoft.

Here is the MB SSID 8433 reference thread https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Business-PCs-Workstations-and-Point-of-Sale-Systems/Firmware-Rollback-... if you want to take a look.

[Fortran77]

Bill_To, thanks for your reply. I have read enough of the thread you suggested to realize that this BIOS upgrade and unable to rollback problem is not peculiar to my consumer-grade HP Slimline. The thread and your BIOS version F57 seem to be for business and workstation class PCs. I my case I have traced the problem to the Automatic Maintenance process which runs at a scheduled time as well as when the system is idle. The running of the maintenance when PC is idle is what makes it appear to happen randomly. In fact, the behavior is not random. HP definately needs to identify the bug in the American Megatrends firmware and either bring out a new version that fixes the bug, or else gives customers a rollback tool that actually works.

[Bill_To]

Hi Fortran77

My pleasure.

I was a Cobol fan! 😀

Sounds good. Wanted to give you some food for thought since you did a BIOS update. Now you are having stability issues. I agree, HP should fix the faulty BIOS update. I am sure this will get done.

The link I provided in previous post gives you a way to to bypass the HP BIOS rollback lock.

Rolling back to the previous BIOS would be one additional troubleshooting option to verify the BIOS update is not causing the problem.

Not going to give the "back up data" spiel. I have the impression you have IT experience.

I see you did an OS refresh. Try a clean OS install https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 .

Your PC supports HP Cloud Recovery https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-slim-desktop-pc-290-a0000a/19390529/model/310467... 

Try the factory image using HP Cloud Recovery https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205 . That would be a way to verify the BIOS update is benign.

Did you try a Microsoft System Recovery point prior to the BIOS update before you did the OS refresh? You may now, not have older recovery points after doing the OS refresh.

[Fortran77]

Okay, so this is the status of my investigation after weeks of experimentation and Google searches, I am closer to a solution. What I have learned is my PC freezes when the system is idle. When idle the Automated Maintenance process begins which consists of dozens of tasks in the Task Scheduler. The whole of the Automated Maintenance process can be disabled with a registry hack. The specific task that freezes the PC is the Microsoft\Windows\Time Synchronization\ Synchronize Time task. The task can be disabled so the larger Automated Maintenance process can be enabled again. The reason the Synchronize Time task freezes the PC is because it is executing the W32TM.exe program with the /resync parameter. W32TM can be run with an innocuous set of parameters like /query /source or /? or /query /status, however if you actually try to resync the Windows will freeze. The only Google search that I have found dates back some 6 years and 10 months ago, and the suggested fix does not work. So, the new question is why after the BIOS and Windows upgrades does W32TM freeze the PC?