Try turning off windows scratch disk telling it you have 0 disk available for memory cache. That way it will only use what's in RAM and eliminate the crappy ADATA if that's the core issue. You have to reboot after making the change, then go straight back into safe mode.

Was there a recent Windows Update that was installed?

Here's an example of a recent update (KB4512941) that is causing some users to have unresponsive systems.

https://www.neowin.net/amp/some-windows-10-users-on-1903-are-facing-high-cpu-usage-after-latest-cumulative-updates/

That particular update sounds like it's supposed to be optional and some users (self-reporting via Reddit) claim that uninstalling the update solved the problem.

https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/windows/how-uninstall-windows-10-updates-3682074/

Not sure where it is on Windows 10 (I hate Win 10, so we're all using Win 7 still), but basically you want to get to advanced system settings->performance->advanced->virtual memory and set the paging file to off/0 then reboot. This isn't a permanent situation, but it will remove most of the disk activity from the equation so after testing, you need to put it back.

Also after you did the ESENT fix, did new errors stop happening in the log? If you did the fix right there should be no more errors.

CTRL-SHIFT-ESC is the fastest way to get to task manager.

You have a hard disk error.

You got a low cost ssd with high fail rates

Quit chasing around software issues and replace it, and the sata cable.

I see it all the time.

Get a Samsung ssd or m.2

They have very few faults.

I think this will fix it.

Also look at the power supply.

Get a good one.

There is no cheap substitute for clean stable power.

I think there's enough uncertainty with that last Win10 update causing similar issues for other users too not to call it the SSD just yet (although ADATA is notoriously crappy), but turning off the cache will go a long way toward diagnosing it.

Does your event log still show you're getting ESENT errors after you did the fix?

I'd disable the virtual memory cache (set it to 0 and reboot) to eliminate drive caching from the equation and see if that eliminates it.

No that's not it. DO NOT DO THAT. That is specific to the DRIVE, not Windows10.

Here's how to get to the screen in Win10:

https://www.trishtech.com/2014/11/disable-virtual-memory-in-windows-10/

Alternate way:
Control Panel ->System and Security ->System ->Advanced system settings ->Performance ->Advanced ->Change
(Set to "No Paging File" then SET button, then close and reboot)

Yes. Hit the "Change" button, then set to no paging file, then click "SET" then close the windows and reboot. Double check it's off when you complete the reboot.

Also have you deleted all the files in your Windows->Temp directory?

I'd leave it for a bit and see if it happens again. Freeze at startup could just be a service not starting right.

Also, when were those NVidia drivers updated?

I'm out of obvious ideas. I doubt Geek Squad will do much better.

I'd delete your windows temp directory files
Check the Nvidia drivers for an update (if nothing newer, delete and roll back to the version before)
See if there's more info on the Win10 update that just happened causing the same issue with other users
Replace the ADATA with something much better like a Samsung Pro.

Guys, Personally I would remove the Trend Micro, I haven't had good luck lately with 3rd party anti-virus software running in Windows 10, the one that's built in to the operating system seems to interfere with the 3rd party anti-virus solutions and in my experience has caused a lot of issues with the operating system doing strange things. I would give it a go and remove the Trend and see how it performs with the native Windows 10 ant-virus running. Just my opinion for what it's worth

You just need to use something like clonezilla to clone the existing SSD to a new one. Easy.

But I'd investigate the NVidia drivers first since that update was around when you noticed this.

None of this matters, what changed? Single out any changes made the exact day you started having issues. Taking a shotgun approach is a waste of time. Restore your system using System Restore to a day before you started having issues. Generally previous restore points are automatically taken by Windows Installer and Windows Update.

Do you HAVE system restore points still on your machine? If you have them, you can go back to one before this started...

Not really. I'd do that.

No downside, if you made any changes to system preferences or installed programs they will be reverted. Your Windows profile and files will not be affected. If you did make some changes of this kind, try to single out which one cause the issue. But I would still start with System Restore.

This is what I usually run into on other people's machines, you're not alone.

Did you try uninstalling and reverting the NVidia driver that was updated around the time your problems started?

It's unusual for there to be no restore points. Is System Restore turned off?

It's really more common that you'd think. I've helped a LOT of people with PC issues here and more often than not there are zero restore points available.

However, he has a Carbonite backup service running according to the process list. I use Macrium locally, so I have no idea what features carbonite offers. Does that have incremental restores?

Is your carbonite backup incremental for the whole disc image, or just important files? If you have an image in the cloud, you could restore back to that if it's before the point with issues.

Did you roll back the NVIDIA driver yet?

But the driver that was re-installed was the version BEFORE you had problems, right, not the current version again?

I know this is like a Stern guy preaching to a Jersey Jack, but buy a Mac and never look back.

But when Win10 rebooted, it didn't install the NVidia drivers again automatically?