Start/Action menu freezing + YouTube videos wont play

[Zippy0n]

Ever since the anniversary update its been freezing on the start menu, task bar and action centre (notifiications just stay there) and only pressing the windows button on the keyboard "refreshes" it and it works for a short time. YouTube will not play videos (ive tried it with edge, explorer and chrome) and it wont work untill i restart it sometimes several times before it will work,

anyone else had this problem?

 

[alexd88]

Mine also freeze but before anniversary update and still freeze after last update, screen is still flickering under 15%, only problems with this expensive toy.

 

[Kiwihomz]

I have the exact same issue SP4 freezes, notifications stay on screen.
action centre wont open and edge just locks up. I have to restart to get it to work properly again.
help needed!

 

[Zippy0n]

Went back to a driver from 18/11/2015, much better again, suprised (many) other people arnt having these issue since it came directly from the AU. oh well lets hope for a proper driver soon

 

[keithB787]

I had the same problem to the point I dumped AU update went back to version 1511. I tried AU update again and realized my troubles was Cortana. I disabled Cortana and everything is working fine now, even YouTube videos.

 

[Kevin Cossaboon]

I think I am having the same issue, but broader. It seems like part of the 'windowing' engine stops accepting mouse input. I have the issue that notifications can not be cleared, and that teh start button stops. I also have issue in Outlook that I can click on emails, but the ribbon is non responsive???

I killed Cortana and did seem to fix the issue.

 

[Zippy0n]

stupid question but how do you kill/stop/uninstall cortana? i cant see to figure it out

 

[Kevin Cossaboon]

stupid question but how do you kill/stop/uninstall cortana? i cant see to figure it out

I typed cortana in the search box by the start button. Then a pick of Cortana Settings comes up. I then turned off everything that I could.

Real shame, as I will now probably leave them off, and never think of going back to try them again.

 

[keithB787]

I just clicked on the Cortana icon and then clicked on the settings and turned everything off. Its been a day and half and no issues.

 

[Zippy0n]

can confirm also, turned off all of cortana and no more problems

 

[Sasquatch]

Same here - turning off cortana has solved my start and action center crashes.