VS Code Freezes & Notepad Logging: A Deep Dive

VS Code Freezes and Notepad Logging: A Comprehensive Guide

Hey guys, I understand the frustration you are facing with Visual Studio Code freezing and the Notepad log spam. It sounds like a real headache, and honestly, I've been there too with similar performance issues. This article is aimed at providing a comprehensive guide to help you tackle this issue. Let's dive into the problem, potential causes, and solutions.

Understanding the Problem: VS Code Freezes and Log Overload

The heart of the issue lies in the seemingly random freezes you experience in Visual Studio Code (VS Code), accompanied by a deluge of timestamped logs flooding your Notepad. This isn't just a minor inconvenience; it can grind your development workflow to a halt. From what you've described, the situation is critical, potentially leading to system-wide slowdowns and, in extreme cases, hardware damage (as you mentioned, even SSD failure!).

When launching or using VS Code, the "Do you trust the authors of the files in this workspace?" prompt appears, and that's the moment the system locks up. Simultaneously, Notepad starts logging like crazy. Knowing your Windows 11 Home 24H2 and VS Code 1.104.3 versions, plus the installed extensions (Japanese Language Pack, Live Share), helps narrow down the possibilities. But the fact that disabling extensions and workspace trust didn't solve it suggests something deeper is at play. Let's investigate the reasons and some possible remedies.

Pinpointing the Culprit: Potential Causes and Troubleshooting

• Extension Conflicts: While you've disabled extensions, some conflicts can still linger. Try a clean VS Code install. Ensure all settings are reset to defaults to eliminate extension-related problems. Examine the VS Code output panel (View > Output, then select "Extensions" in the dropdown). The Output panel might contain error messages or warnings from extensions, helping you to find any conflicts or issues.
• Workspace Trust: The workspace trust feature itself may be triggering this. Although you've disabled it, there might be underlying issues. Ensure there are no hidden or corrupted trust settings. Check your workspace settings (.vscode folder in your project directory). Review settings.json and launch.json for anything suspicious related to file access or security.
• File System Issues: The repetitive logging to Notepad could indicate a problem with how VS Code is interacting with the file system. Large projects (your Terraria-related workspace with 3321 files) can sometimes trigger performance issues. Check your hard drive or SSD for errors using Windows' built-in tools or third-party utilities. A fragmented hard drive can slow down file access.
• Resource Consumption: High CPU or memory usage by VS Code or related processes could cause freezes. Monitor CPU, memory, and disk I/O using Task Manager while VS Code is running. Check the "Processes" tab to see which processes are consuming the most resources. Also, examine the "Performance" tab for overall system resource usage.
• Background Processes: Another application is interfering with VS Code. Check for other running applications that might be interfering with VS Code. Close unnecessary applications. Ensure that no other processes are excessively using system resources (CPU, memory, disk). This may include anti-virus software, cloud storage clients, or other background tasks.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

1. Clean VS Code Installation:
   • Uninstall VS Code completely. Remove all configuration files and settings. Delete the .vscode folder from your user directory and project directories.
   • Reinstall the latest version of VS Code.
   • Test VS Code with no extensions installed to see if the problem persists.
2. Workspace Trust Reset:
   • Ensure Workspace Trust is completely disabled in VS Code settings.
   • Clear any saved workspace trust settings in your user profile. You might need to manually remove cached settings in the VS Code configuration files.
3. Resource Monitoring:
   • Use Task Manager to monitor CPU, memory, and disk usage while using VS Code.
   • Identify any processes consuming excessive resources.
4. File System Check:
   • Run chkdsk on your hard drive or SSD to check for errors.
5. Extension Investigation:
   • Re-enable extensions one at a time to identify if any particular extension is causing the problem.
   • Check the VS Code output panel for extension-related errors or warnings.
6. Update Everything:
   • Make sure both VS Code and Windows are completely up-to-date.
   • Update your graphics drivers, as outdated drivers may lead to strange behavior.

Analyzing the Provided System Information

Your system information provides valuable clues. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X processor and 63.93GB of RAM are more than capable of handling VS Code. The GPU status looks fine. The process information gives hints about what's going on. The VS Code processes appear to be consuming a reasonable amount of resources (CPU and memory). However, the shared-process and extension-host processes might be worth monitoring for spikes in resource usage during the freezes.

Known Bugs and Future Fixes

It's difficult to say definitively if this is a known bug without more data or if it's a new one. Based on the symptoms, this may be a conflict or performance issue related to workspace trust combined with file system operations. If your problem persists and you can't find a solution, it may be helpful to report the issue on the VS Code GitHub repository. This will provide the developers with information to help fix this issue. Make sure you provide detailed information about your system, the extensions you use, and the steps you have taken. Include the output from the VS Code output panel and any error messages you see. If the issue can be replicated, include a minimal reproducible example.

Conclusion

Freezing and log spam can turn your development workflow into a nightmare. By working through the troubleshooting steps, closely monitoring system resources, and reporting bugs, you can identify the root cause of the issue and find a solution. Good luck guys! I hope this helps, and I'm here if you need further assistance.

If you need further help and want to explore community discussions, check out the Visual Studio Code Community at Stack Overflow for additional resources and assistance.