Weird Unresponsive Issue

[rhyseyness]

So, one of two things has caused a strange issue with my PC.

Every time I play a game (PUBG and Overwatch primarily), Discord and some other programs will behave weirdly.

 

It's as if the window isn't there, but they're working.

For example if I have discord open, then play a game, as soon as I'm done with the game (or I alt tab out), I can no longer interact with the window, but I'll still be in chat fine on Discord.

I can't move/resize/minimise or do anything with the window.

If I click, it's as if I'm clicking on the desktop behind it... i.e. if I double click on something in discord, it will actually double click whatever is behind the Discord window.

If I "exit Discord" in the system tray, and re-open it, it's fine until I run a game again (assuming any full screen application would cause this).

I'm using Discord as my primary example, because I can tell if it's working without being able to interact, but it happens with other programs too.

 

This has only started happening since I upgraded to crossfire AND/OR installed the creators update for Windows.

 

My graphics drivers are up to date.

I've tried turning on and off AMD relive.

I've also tried changing which graphics card my displays are plugged into, which has made no difference.

 

Occasionally games will also become completely unresponsive in the same way and I'll have to force quit them in task manager. (This is the reason I really want a solution, because having to quit PUGB or Overwatch comp is heartbreaking).

 

Any ideas?

Thanks for any help in advance

Let me know if anything's unclear and I'll try to clarify.

 

System specs:

MSI Z77 Mpower

3570K

2X R9 290X

16GB RAM (8GB vengeance, 8GB Avexir, all running at 1333MHz)

2 SSDs (Corsair Neutron GTX and Sandisk... something) and and 1 HDD (Barracuda)

TX850 PSU

[JakeNTech]

Open task manager, and then open the programmes and then wait for the issue and then open task manger again and see what resources are being used. 

[cpuwaiy]

revert to an older version of your graphics driver

 

[rhyseyness]

49 minutes ago, fixitnow said:

Open task manager, and then open the programmes and then wait for the issue and then open task manger again and see what resources are being used. 

Task manager before:

Spoiler

 

Task manager after:

Spoiler

 

Nothing changes as far as I can tell.

 

47 minutes ago, cpuwaiy said:

revert to an older version of your graphics driver

Would like this to be a last resort option if possible.

If nothing else works, I'll try it.

[JakeNTech]

3 minutes ago, rhyseyness said:

Task manager before:

  Hide contents

 

Task manager after:

  Hide contents

 

Nothing changes as far as I can tell.

 

Would like this to be a last resort option if possible.

If nothing else works, I'll try it.

The last resort would be reinstalling windows. Try the graphis driver. Make sure that the card isn't under 100% load on the GPU or VRAM

[rhyseyness]

Just now, fixitnow said:

The last resort would be reinstalling windows. Try the graphis driver. Make sure that the card isn't under 100% load on the GPU or VRAM

The card(s) is under 100% use when games are running.

At no other point are they being utilised at all.

 

Just discovered that running a youtube video full screen has the same impact, but obviously doesn't pin the card at 100%.

 

What driver is recommended?

Currently running 17.7.2.

[JakeNTech]

29 minutes ago, rhyseyness said:

The card(s) is under 100% use when games are running.

At no other point are they being utilised at all.

 

Just discovered that running a youtube video full screen has the same impact, but obviously doesn't pin the card at 100%.

 

What driver is recommended?

Currently running 17.7.2.

Just any past version you can get. 

[rhyseyness]

1 hour ago, fixitnow said:

Just any past version you can get. 

Just tested with 16.something.

No change, so have reinstalled 17.7.2.

Now games crash to a red screen as soon as I try to get into a game.

Any other ideas?

[JakeNTech]

2 minutes ago, rhyseyness said:

Just tested with 16.something.

No change, so have reinstalled 17.7.2.

Any other ideas?

Nope. I would try another copy of window. Find an old hdd install onto that and see if you get the same issue.  

[rhyseyness]

13 minutes ago, fixitnow said:

Nope. I would try another copy of window. Find an old hdd install onto that and see if you get the same issue.  

Bit extreme!

I'd rather live with it than reinstall windows

[JakeNTech]

Just now, rhyseyness said:

Bit extreme!

I'd rather live with it than reinstall windows

no thats not what I meant. Find an old HDD and install a copy of windows on to that, that will rule out a hardware issue, thats all. 

[rhyseyness]

17 hours ago, fixitnow said:

no thats not what I meant. Find an old HDD and install a copy of windows on to that, that will rule out a hardware issue, thats all. 

Gotcha. 

I'll give it a go.

[JakeNTech]

7 minutes ago, rhyseyness said:

Gotcha. 

I'll give it a go.

ok, DONT ENTER A PRODUCT KEY. 

[rhyseyness]

19 minutes ago, fixitnow said:

ok, DONT ENTER A PRODUCT KEY. 

I know, I know

[JakeNTech]

7 minutes ago, rhyseyness said:

I know, I know

Good.