why am I having so many problems with a brand new laptop and windows?

Question

I bought a brand new HP Omni book flip 16 about 2 to 3 months ago. it seems like almost immediately I started having problems with the ZOOM application causing my entire computer to freeze up to the point where in order to get everything operational again I have to figure out a way to back out of the computer to restart it without an operational keyboard and with the computer completely frozen up. so I tried everything to finally get zoom to work and not kill the computer completely Even though it is a brand new computer. I Guess I should say off the bat that I work in IT. So I have done the usual to troubleshoot the problems that I have mainly with windows. My event viewer is riddled with error messages anything from NDLL.dll errors, critical failures that have to do with HP's display application, MSI installer errors crashing the computer. My CPU running at 85 to 95% memory every second that the computer is on and running applications I can see in the task manager that I have no idea what they are? So time that I'm supposed to be spent studying because I'm sitting for a couple of certifications in the next month, I get to spend 30 to 45 minutes each problem that is wrong every night that I go to study because the computer is not working some component of the computer hardware software something's not working so then I have to go into the registry have to figure out where you know, anyway... latest thing that happened was this afternoon I'm in a certification review with my college instructor and he's point blank asking me to respond to exam questions that he's asking me and I realize that for absolutely no reason whatsoever my keyboard doesn't work? Yesterday during class My computer completely locked up with the only application that was open on my computer being a class that we do over Zoom. Yet when I finally made it to task manager which took about 10 minutes, there was four or five open applications of the same software Hewlett-Packard software Microsoft you know you name it stuff that I didn't even know was in the computer so if I didn't know it was there I wouldn't have requested it? British sucking every bit of resource out of my computer to the point where I had to drop my zoom call and spend an hour and 35 minutes researching what's going on? Come to find out that the nightmare is that since Microsoft updated this last update it's like every computer in the entire world that's running the windows operating system has the black plague? so tonight when my keyboard locked up I come here to learn website and just got really irritated because when you as IT people make suggestions for us the consumer to attach an external keyboard to our laptop or Tower or whatever it is it isn't working I don't think you realize that some of us may not have the money to go out and buy an external keyboard I just find it really difficult to comprehend that that would be one of your suggestions I understand why you would say it but how about the developers fix these issues on the front end? Because like I said I am in IT. I understand the process and I understand that it is probably twice as much energy to ignore the simple issues than to just fix them in the first place before the product gets released? after all of that and I do apologize for being long-winded but just to give you a taste of my frustration because I don't know if I said it or not but it has been literally one problem after the next per day for the last 47 days. Something has been wrong with this computer every time I turn it on. So with that being said is this a trend? Is it temporary or is it permanent? It should be obvious as to the reason why I'm asking these questions so I'm not going to bore you with any explanation? but I'm serious is this what the consumer is to expect from Windows in the future?

Answer 1

Hi Heath Macomber,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum. I understand how frustrating this has been, especially since this is a new system and you’re relying on it for classes and certification prep.

Based on the symptoms you’re seeing, this looks less like a usage issue and more like system‑level instability, often caused by a combination of recent Windows updates and driver or OEM software conflicts.

A good next step is to perform an in‑place upgrade (repair install) of Windows using Microsoft’s official installation media. This process repairs core Windows components, system files, and installer services while keeping your files, applications, and user profile intact. It’s a standard Microsoft‑recommended step when Windows starts behaving erratically like this, and it’s the least disruptive way to rule out OS‑level corruption.

*Disclaimer: Let’s try performing an in-place install or in-place upgrade which will refresh your Windows files and operating system without removing files or applications. That being said, we always recommend that if you have important data, you should back it up before making large system changes. If you want to back up your data first, please do so. Once you are done backing up, you can follow the steps in the following guides: How to run In-place upgrade in Windows 11 - Microsoft Q&A

Just to be clear, an in‑place upgrade often helps with stability, but it may not fix everything if the real issue is a driver or OEM background software. If problems continue after the repair, that usually points to a deeper driver or firmware issue.

Once the repair is done, we can review the results together and decide whether the next step should be a clean setup or a warranty claim.

Please keep me posted on how it goes and feel free to reach out if you need any further assistance. I'm here to help.

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Answer 2

It sounds like you're experiencing significant issues with your new HP laptop running Windows 11, particularly with the Zoom application and overall system performance. Here are some potential reasons and solutions for the problems you're encountering:

1. High Resource Usage: You mentioned that your CPU is running at 85-95% constantly. This can be caused by background processes or applications consuming resources. Use the Task Manager to identify which applications are using the most CPU and consider disabling or uninstalling unnecessary software.
2. Event Viewer Errors: The errors in your Event Viewer, including NDLL.dll errors and critical failures related to HP's display application, suggest there may be software conflicts or driver issues. Ensure that all drivers, especially for the display and any HP-specific software, are up to date.
3. Zoom Application Issues: Since Zoom seems to be a recurring problem, consider reinstalling the application. Sometimes, a fresh installation can resolve conflicts with system resources or other applications.
4. Windows Updates: You mentioned that issues began after a Windows update. Sometimes, updates can introduce bugs. Check for any new updates or patches that might address these issues. You can also consider rolling back to a previous version of Windows if the problems persist.
5. Keyboard Issues: If your keyboard stops working, it could be a driver issue or a conflict with other software. Try updating the keyboard drivers or checking for any software that might interfere with keyboard functionality.
6. Temporary vs. Permanent Issues: While it’s difficult to predict if these issues will continue, many users have reported problems with Windows updates affecting performance. Monitoring future updates and community feedback can provide insights into whether these issues are widespread and being addressed.
7. Consumer Expectations: It's understandable to feel frustrated with the performance of a new device. While many users experience issues after updates, manufacturers and software developers are typically working to resolve these problems. Keeping your system updated and providing feedback to Microsoft can help improve future versions.

If these issues persist, you may want to consider reaching out to HP support for further assistance, especially since the laptop is relatively new and may still be under warranty.

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References:

• Plethora of issues relating to windows and possibly security. - Microsoft Q&A
• I am fed up with Windows arbitrarily changing my settings - Microsoft Q&A