MacBook Pro starts up but browsers and apps will not open
2016 MacBook Pro on OS 10.14.6, connected to LAN cable. (And I'm writing this on an older Air connected to the same modem via WLAN.) Started up (finally, after some hesitation), but all browsers (Safari, Edge, Firefox, Brave) and all apps (Photos, Powerpoint, etc) will not open. If I select, say, PPT: Nothing happens for many seconds; then the icon bounces in the Dock; eventually I may get a notice from CleanMyMac that the app is unresponsive. I was able to open System Preferences (very slowly); Software Update returns (after several minutes) the message: "Unable to check for updates. Didn't get a response from the Apple Software Update server."
MacBook Pro 13″