Windows modules installer worker caused my laptop to freeze

Question

Windows update is in the middle of an update, on a Windows 10 laptop from 2016. it won't allow me to open other applications. I closed tue settings windows but its frozen in the background and I'm wondering if its because of the update itself, or windows module installer worker causing high disk usage. I used the task manager to close the settings windown but its still there. I pressed the windows key on my keyboard and the entire screen to go black except for the task manager

Answer 1

Addendum:

If you can't bring up the run dialog or launch msconfig.exe, please hard reboot the system and try the steps I mentioned.

Answer 2

Hi Dustin,

Windows Update installation can be a resource-intensive process. Please free up system resources by turning off 3rd-party services and startup applications. A clean boot is the process of starting Windows without loading any third-party applications or services.

• Launch msconfig.exe and select the Services tab.
• Enable the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox. This is an important step. (Now, the list will contain only the 3rd party services.)
• Click Disable all.
• Click OK.
• Restart Windows.

For more information, please refer to the Microsoft article.

How to perform a clean boot in Windows - Microsoft Support: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd

(Step 3 in the above link is crucial. You need to first enable "Hide all Microsoft Services" before clicking "Disable all".)

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Press Win + R, type winver.exe and post a screenshot of that dialog. It shows your OS version and the build number.