Windows 11 Programs taking ages to open or needing to be run as admin

Understanding and Troubleshooting Slow Program Launches on Windows 11: A Comprehensive Guide

Experiencing delays when opening applications or needing to run them with administrative privileges can be a frustrating issue for Windows 11 users. Such problems may manifest as programs taking several minutes to launch or becoming unresponsive unless run as an administrator. This guide aims to shed light on potential causes and provide effective solutions to address these challenges.

Identifying the Problem

Many users have reported that after updating or installing new chipset drivers, their applications—ranging from popular browsers like Chrome and Edge to system tools such as Task Manager—experience significant startup delays or become unresponsive. Notably, some applications, including system utilities like the Snipping Tool, may take an excessive amount of time to launch.

Common Symptoms Include:
– Applications taking more than 4 minutes to open
– Applications not responding unless run as administrator
– Certain core system tools remaining unaffected
– Persistence of issues even after reinstalling drivers or reverting Windows updates

Typical Environment and Hardware Specifications

Motherboard: ROG Strix B450-F Gaming
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
RAM: 32GB DDR4
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
Storage Devices:
WDS500G3XOWD00SJG0 (System Drive)
Samsung SSD 980 1TB
WD Blue SA510 2TB
Operating System: Windows 11 (Version 24H2, repair build)
Chipset Driver Version: 7.06.02.123 for AMD AM4 B450 chipset

Potential Causes

Several factors could contribute to these symptoms:
– Corrupted or incompatible chipset drivers
– File system errors or corruption
– Background system processes affecting performance
– Windows update anomalies
– Hardware driver conflicts

Diagnostic Steps

Run System File Checker (SFC):
Using the command sfc /scannow can identify and repair corrupted system files. If no issues are found, this indicates the problem may reside elsewhere.
Check for Pending Windows Updates:
Ensure your system is updated fully, as missing security patches or updates can cause stability issues.
Inspect Driver Compatibility:
Confirm that all drivers, especially the chipset drivers, are compatible with your hardware and Windows version. Consider reverting to an earlier driver version if problems began after an update.
**Monitor System Resources