HWiNFO doesn't completely open, but can't be killed in Task Manager

[Cross-Section]

I just completed a new PC build (new mobo/CPU) and loaded up a clean Windows install. Everything running smoothly except for HWiNFO, the issues being:

- While the program opens just fine in regular operation, it will not open with 'minimize sensors/summary' option checked. In that instance, the icon is missing from the system tray even though the program itself shows up in Task Manager.
- To that end, 'End Task' does nothing. HWiNFO remains in the list of active programs in Task Manager, no matter how many times I click 'End Task'.
- Windows now hangs on the spinning dots while shutting down or restarting (presumably because HWiNFO will not shut down and thus it's preventing Windows' shut down procedure)

All of this is resolved when I uninstall HWiNFO (installer version) or simply change the 'autostart' option in the ini to 0 (portable version).

Debug file attached.

 

[Martin]

HWiNFO hangs while attempting to access a "ghost drive".
There seem to indices of presence of few USB drives, which however don't seem to be physically attached, yet the system still lists them. I can only see that they are using the ASMedia ASM235CM.
I'm wondering what Device Manager shows for those drives, especially when you try to check their details.
It might be good to remove/uninstall them.

 

[Cross-Section]

I do indeed have multiple USB drives connected. There are 2 external drives, and 1 enclosure housing 4 SATA drives. They are all connected to a USB hub (specifically this USB hub), which is itself connected to my PC. The 2 external drives feed into a single storage pool in Windows Storage Spaces while the SATAs in the enclosure feed into 2 other storage pools.

Turning off the connections (but not disconnecting the hub) appears to solve the issue. HWiNFO boots fine and closes appropriately in that instance. I tried seeing if connecting the hub (with drives enabled) to a different USB port on the front of my PC (as opposed to the mobo) would fix it but no, same issue as in OP.

I had the exact same configuration on my previous Windows install (with HWiNFO installed and active) and had no problems. So I'm guessing it's the mobo?

 

[Martin]

I'm not sure what's causing that, it might rather be "Windows".
Try to check those drives in Device Manager. Do they appear there and you can check their details?