Problems with Windows \System32\cmd.exe

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Good Afternoon All

For the past day or so I have been getting random flashes of a small black box on my Desktop PC screen causing the opening of a Settings page of Default apps – sometimes with Thunderbird e-mail client highlighted, sometimes not.

The box is so quick that it is difficult to read but I think that the title across the top says:-

“C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe”   but that may not be exactly right.

I can then close the settings page and continue using the computer normally until the same thing happens a few minutes later – this process then repeats for the time the PC is used.

The only thing I have changed recently was to install Thunderbird and in conjunction with that I downloaded and installed a program called PuTTY Suite when following instructions relating to checking e-mail compatibility between Thunderbird, Outlook.com and my ISP account Plusnet e-mails.

I have now uninstalled PuTTY suite and also done a system restore to before that installation.

Don’t know if it is relevant, but my “About” page in Settings is currently not responding.

I am not very computer literate and am now completely stumped as to how to solve this problem – please can somebody help me?

Thanks and regards,

Roy.

PS. OS is Windows 10 Home 20H2 – June Windows updates not yet installed.

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Does Settings, About still not work after restarting the computer?

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After restart Settings, About now responds.

Settings, Security had also stopped responding before the restart – now OK after restart.

May be coincidence, but immediately after restart all seemed to work OK but as soon as I opened Thunderbird email client the Settings, Default page was triggered following the sudden flashing black box.

Perhaps Thunderbird is the real culprit here – wish I knew how to disable it somehow in order to check.  Can you help with that.

Incidentally, why do you think the non-responding settings became responsive again after the restart.

I’m not very knowledgeable with computers I’m afraid.

Thanks for your interest and help.

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This could be a scheduled task or background app, maybe the tutorials on viewing Autoruns will help.  https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/tasks-for-the-weekend-june-12-lets-look-at-autoruns/

Most people can use Thunderbird without PuTTY Suite.  Here are full removal instructions https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/faq.html#faq-cleanup

 

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anonymous – many thanks for your reply.

Sorry to be delayed in responding, but the automatic e-mail notification from the forum to me hasn’t worked on your post and so I have only just now (17.6.21 14:39 UK time) seen it.

I will now follow the links you have given to me and come back later to let you know how I have got on.

Thanks and regards,

Roy.

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