Settings Won't Open - Interferes With Task Manager

[awt-ak]

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.73 and now 0.74.1

Installation method

PowerToys auto-update

Running as admin

Yes

Area(s) with issue?

Settings

Steps to reproduce

Right Clicking and attempting to launch Settings from the toolbar context menu, Settings never opens, system CPU usage increases w/Malwarebytes app, Windows Task Manager either won't open, or opens very slowly.

Problem occurs in Windows 10, also occurs on Win 10 VM.

Tried reinstalling Powertoys, no change. Powertoys seems okay for what I use it for (mostly FancyZones) and the problem only arises when attempting to open the Settings window.

✔️ Expected Behavior

Expect Powertoys Settings window to open.

❌ Actual Behavior

Doesn't open, appears to interfere with other applications.

Other Software

No response

[ChrisJohnTaylor]

I am having a similar problem. Certainly trying to open the Settings section just bogs down everything. Task Manager (which then take a looong time to open shows the powertoys.settings (I think that is what the process was named) process running, but no settings window shows up. Even clicking the tray icon or right-clicking causes problems across various areas of Windows. It even take a long time to uninstall PowerToys. It bogs down File Explorer. I tried uninstalling PowerToys, rebooting, installing v0.74.0. No change. I tried uninstalling PowerToys and deleting everything under appdata\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys, and installing v0.74.0 and still have the problem. I searched the registry for anything with "powertoys" but there is lots and I didn't know if it was safe to just delete any such registry entry, so I left them alone. I don't think I am going to be able to get to where I can do the collection of data (I forget what it is called - on the context menu for the tray icon). I am happy to follow directions to various trials, but given my machine bogs down so severely, it is a tedious process, so I have stopped random trying of various things. My computer will work fine with PowerToys installed until I try to do anything with PowerToys. 0.74.0 worked fine until I let it update to 0.74.1

[ChrisJohnTaylor]

It really looks like an interaction between Powertoys Settings and Malwarebytes...

My current testing is just with PowerToys 0.74.1

I think the first time having the problem might be because after installing PowerToys it brings up the dialog box automatically with the welcome stuff and that seems to trigger everything bogging down. Even after a reboot, as long as I stay away from PowerToys Settings, everything seems to be fine. If I go to PowerToys Settings, the process Malwarebytes Service jumps to 6 or 7%. The attached bug report was from just after trying to open the PowerToys Settings.

When I try to open PowerToys Settings, the window eventually does appear - about 10 minutes later! And the window is empty. About 5 minutes later, the contents of the PowerToys Settings appear. Even after closing down PowerToys Settgins, and the process Powertoys.Settings no longer appears in Task Manager, the process Malwarebytes Service is still taking about 7% CPU

Next test will be a reboot, followed by stopping Malwarebytes and see if I can then get into PowerToys settings.

PowerToysReport_2023-10-06-09-30-03.zip

[ChrisJohnTaylor]

Definitely something between PowerToys Settings and Malwarebytes. I am running Malwarebytes Premium and checked for updates with the program and it updated to the latest 4.6.4. Still having the same problem with PowerToys Settings.

If I reboot, stop Malwarebytes (from the tray icon "Quit Malwarebytes"), I can open PowerToys Settings no problem. I restarted Malwarebytes and could access PowerToys Settings. But if I reboot and leave Malwarebytes running, if I try to access PowerToys Settings, I again have the problem (I suspect PowerToys Settings will open if I wait 10 or 15 minutes). But the service Malwarebytes service is taking 6% - 7% CPU constantly and never subsides to its normal under 1% CPU.

If I can be of any further assistance trouble-shooting, please let me know.

[ChrisJohnTaylor]

It looks like Malwarebytes fixed this problem - https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/303158-malwarebytes-and-powertoys-incompatibility/#comment-1593506

I clicked the Malwarebytes tray icon and did a "check for updates". Even though I did this a few hours ago, it again came up with an update, applied it and now PowerToys Settings comes up fine.