Windows 10 Randomly Locks itself, even while activley typing on my laptop.

Hi, Alex HDR

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

We understand that you are experiencing a Windows random lockup issue. Have you updated your system recently? Or made any changes to your computer?

We suggest that you try the following options:

ONE. Perform a clean boot

The method is as follows

1. Tap Windows+R and type msconfig
2. Open System Configuration and select General tab - Selective Startup.
3. Remove the checkbox of Load startup items.
4. Go to the Services tab - click Hide all microsoft services in the lower left corner, and then click Disable all.
5. Click OK and restart your computer. (Be sure to select Hide all Microsoft services first and then click Disable all, otherwise it may cause unforeseen problems such as not being able to access the system.)

See if the problem still recurs.

NOTE: Clean boot is a way to start Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs so that you can determine if background programs are interfering with your games or programs and help you figure out the cause of the problem. It will help you get back on track.

Disclaimer: A “clean boot” starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background service is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem.

These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by step so that it will help you get back on track. 

II. Try to repair your system

1. Search for CMD, find Command Prompt and select Run in Administrator Mode.
2. Enter the following commands one by one, be sure to execute the next command after the previous one is completed. DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth SFC /Scannow
   3. After the scanning is completed, you can check the scanning information to see if the problem has been detected and fixed.

If the problem disappears during the above two steps, please try to remove the installed antivirus software/system optimization software/system monitoring software on your computer one by one until the problem disappears.

III. Entering Safe Mode

The method of entering is as follows

Wait for the login screen to appear after booting up, don't log in, hold down the SHIFT key, and then click Start - Restart your computer.

After reboot, you will enter the repair mode, select Troubleshooting-Advanced Options-Startup Settings-Reboot.

Tap the number 4 on your keyboard to enable Safe Mode.

Check if the problem recurs in Safe Mode.

If the problem disappears during the above two steps, please try to remove the antivirus software/system optimization software/system monitoring software installed on your computer one by one until the problem disappears.

Note: During the troubleshooting process, some functions may be lost temporarily. These functions will be restored when you start your computer in the normal way. However, you may receive the original error message or may encounter the original behavior.

Best Regards

Nicholas.Z| Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Hi, Alex HDR

Thank you for your response!

We understand that you've had a clean boot and the problem occurs less frequently than before, it seems as if some software is hindering your computer's performance or there is a problem with the hardware -.

We note that we have reinstalled the system by replacing the hard disk and are going to test it with the old one.

Generally speaking, if your system is installed on the new hard disk, you will have no problems testing with the old one, provided you are sure that the system is installed on the new hard disk. Nevertheless, we recommend that you back up your primary data just in case.

Best Regards

Nicholas.Z - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Hi Nicholas,

Thank you for your reply. I tried the first step you recommended me (selective startup) and the issue was happening way less frequently, but still happened eventually. Strangely, when I started it back up normally, It was still happening less frequently than before. I now only have it every few hours, which is why it took so long to get back to you.

I only use the built in windows defender antivirus, so I disabled it as much as windows would allow and it didnt seem to do anything different. I checked DISM in CMD and nothing was found.

But I had an idea to test if its windows or a hardware issue. I upgraded my drive from an mSATA m.2 to an NVME about two months before this issue began and did a fresh install from the media creation tool. If I were to install the old drive back in temporarily to test, would Microsoft's activation servers freak out and deactivate something because I installed windows fresh instead of just cloning when I got the new drive? Does this seem like a good idea or no?

Thanks!