Windows PC Lags and is slow will freeze up at certain times

The event viewer might be a good start :) Look under application log for errors reported around the time of system freezing.
Other generic fixes are:

-Update Windows Patches
-Update System Drivers (Video, Sound, Chipset, BIOS)
-Check if time is always the same, perhaps updates were applying.
-Open elevated CMD Prompt and execute the command SFC /SCANNOW to check for System File Corruption

>>  Its seems at some points that the PC freezes up and locks itself up where the only way to get it back in working order is to do a hard reboot.

Doing what?  Browsing, playing games, composing documents, listening to music ...

If it happens during browsing use a different browser and see if the problem still occurs.

This might also help locating the issue.
I have not used it in years, but it appears to still be available for download.

http://www.resplendence.com/whysoslow

I also had that happen and it turned out being bad sectors on the Hard drive. I replaced with a SSD drive.

Yes, the first thing I would do is use the event viewer and look for disk events. Drives have a finite lifetime. Some barely make it to the end of warranty and others seem to go on forever.

did the issue appear after you update your windows 10 to a certain point ? had this problem before, after an update my PC suddenly freezes and lags because of the update being a conflict with the drivers. so i need to roll back update.

Download Open Hardware Monitor and check out the temperature info.

Next check the RAM and CPU load when your issue occurs.

Run HDD test.

Is a computer fan rotating properly?

If nothing above helps you I'd run repair install (keep your files).

with such problems, i run a ram and disk diag - and use mostly the UBCD for this
Hardware diagnostic CD    UBCD
---------------------------------------------------
go to the download page, scroll down to the mirror section, and  click on a mirror to start the download
Download the UBCD and make the cd   <<==on a WORKING PC, and boot the problem PC from it
Here 2 links, one to the general site, and a direct link to the download

since the downloaded file is an ISO file, eg ubcd527.iso - so you need to use an ISO burning tool
if you don't have that software, install cdburnerXP : http://cdburnerxp.se/

If you want also the Ram tested - run memtest86+ at least 1 full pass,  - you should have NO errors!
direct download :  http://www.memtest.org/
 
For disk Diagnostics run the disk diag for your disk brand (eg seagate diag for seagate drive)  from the HDD section -  long or advanced diag !  (runs at least for30 minutes)

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/      

**  you can make a bootable cd - or bootable usb stick
*** note *** for SSD drives  use the tool from the manufacturer, like intel 's toolbox :
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/18455/Intel-Solid-State-Drive-Toolbox

for completeness -here's how i handle disk problems : https://www.experts-exchange.com/Storage/Hard_Drives/A_3000-The-bad-hard-disk-problem.html

==>>****in order to be able to  boot from CD or usb - you may have to disable secure boot in the bios

dbrunton,

Just got clarification on my above comment, Its when program are open but he leave the system still there for more than 10 minutes.

Get Process Explorer  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer  and open it up and have it on top of everything.  Sort on the CPU column so the most active applications are at the top.  Monitor what applications start hogging the CPU after 10 minutes.

I think you've got a nasty of some type on this system.  Malware or Bitcoin miner somewhere on the system that starts up if it senses nothing is happening.

You might want to run Malwarebytes  https://www.malwarebytes.com/  if you haven't already.

also run these :
http://majorgeeks.com/RogueKiller_d6983.html                  Roguekiller
http://www.lavasoft.com/                              ADAWARE

An update to everyone since the last suggestions.

I did the following:

1. Open cmd.exe with Run as Administrator and run dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth  Restart and test.
2. Disk Defrag
3. Disk Clean up
4.Update Windows Patches
5.Update System Drivers (Video, Sound, Chipset, BIOS)
6. Ran http://www.resplendence.com/whysoslow
7. Ran https://www.malwarebytes.com/
8. Ran http://majorgeeks.com/RogueKiller_d6983.html 
9. Ran http://www.lavasoft.com/   
10. If that does not work, run Windows 10 Repair Install (non-destructive). It froze on 66% download.

So I had to restart.

Any other ideas.

If the Repair Install did not work, then back up the computer (remove the drive if need be), go back to the Media Creation Link, make a Windows 10 bootable USB key and do a fresh install of Windows 10.

John I did do a "SFC /SCANNOW" it completed and no issues, after I shut the the command prompt window down. All I get on the desktop is a spinning wheel, if I click on any icons I only get the spinning wheel.

any ideas?

As I noted, you need to back up (remove the drive) and start again with a Windows fresh install

Fresh windows install (like new Hard drive) or just a new install over top the existing OS

Once you have backed up, try the existing drive. If you think the drive might be a problem, now would be the time to replace it.

run a diag on  the drive, as suggested above

Have you tried my suggestion?

Download Open Hardware Monitor and check out the temperature info.
Next check the RAM and CPU load when your issue occurs.
Run HDD test.
Is a computer fan rotating properly?

If nothing above helps you I'd run repair install (keep your files).
Start -> Settings -> Update and Security -> Recovery -> Reset this PC -> Keep my files -> GO!
You need no USB Key...

what about the other suggestions?  have you tried them?  results plse!

I ran a diagnosis and a disk clean up and ran all hardware monitoring for 2 days previously.

When it freezes up those freeze if its running but for the hardware monitoring previously to the freeze up was well within the temperature.

>>  I ran a diagnosis  << what diagnosis? if you don't tell us, we cannot know

Sorry it was a disk defrag not a diagnostic.

I am doing the following step:
2. If that does not work, run Windows 10 Repair Install (non-destructive).

Go to the Media Creation Link

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Windows 10 is running, so click on the Download button (not Upgrade Button, select Open (Run) but NOT Save. Allow the program to run. Allow drivers to update. Then select Keep Everything.


Which seems to be working correctly right now.

So Windows Repair has worked?   Can you please confirm?

I am in the process of testing it out. But it looks that way John.

I should know by later tonight

After re-installing the OS from the link. It never froze back up.

Thanks for the update and I was happy to help

John the PC just started to act up again and freeze ( spinning cursor).

The PC itself is not plugged into the network and was left alone for about 20 minutes (no action).

I rebooted and went into safe mode and its been over an hour and the PC is running fine.

Any thoughts on this?

Is the main drive having errors (this was asked earlier)?  It could be a hardware error causing this.

I agree with John. We excluded software issue so it might be a faulty HDD. Run all possible HDD scans using e.g. Hiren's Boot CD. If there is any error, replace your HDD.

i use mainklly the dignostic software from the disk manufacturers, like WD