Windows 10 and a busy hard drive?

Today, the unknown disk activity is back. And while it doesn't seem apparent from looking at Task Manager, I know it is there. I've had my SSD for a year; and unless updates were going on, it was dead quiet when I was doing simple things like browsing web pages in Win7. (I just started using Win10 after 07/29).

Today, this clicking activity is back in Win10. And, I turned off the bit torrent like style of allowing a shared connection for Windows Updates (shortly after installing Win10) . But the File History setting was still on. I've now turned that off as well.

I am beginning to have mixed feelings about this upgrade. On the one hand, the OS feels very stable, modern, and user friendly. But I do not like some of these new features such as the OS forcing my device to 'phone home' on a much more frequent basis than Win7. And I do not like hearing this background noise on my SSD. It doesn't happen continuously, but it seems far too frequent.

We'll see if turning off File History helps. I'm using Macrium Reflect for my backups so I don't need that built in backup feature. Thanks for the replies here.

scott784 said:

Today, the unknown disk activity is back. And while it doesn't seem apparent from looking at Task Manager, I know it is there. I've had my SSD for a year; and unless updates were going on, it was dead quiet when I was doing simple things like browsing web pages in Win7. (I just started using Win10 after 07/29).

Today, this clicking activity is back in Win10. And, I turned off the bit torrent like style of allowing a shared connection for Windows Updates (shortly after installing Win10) . But the File History setting was still on. I've now turned that off as well.

I am beginning to have mixed feelings about this upgrade. On the one hand, the OS feels very stable, modern, and user friendly. But I do not like some of these new features such as the OS forcing my device to 'phone home' on a much more frequent basis than Win7. And I do not like hearing this background noise on my SSD. It doesn't happen continuously, but it seems far too frequent.

We'll see if turning off File History helps. I'm using Macrium Reflect for my backups so I don't need that built in backup feature. Thanks for the replies here.

You should never have any clicking activity with a ssd there are no moving parts.

Bazz said:

You should never have any clicking activity with a ssd there are no moving parts.

True enough, there's no moving parts. But this clicking (if that's the best word to describe it?) is present. It's certainly not loud, just a very soft background noise. I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with the SSD as it's been a familiar/occasional sound since I've had the SSD (purchased it 1 year ago). The difference is now (unlike 3 weeks ago when I still have Win7 installed) is the fact that I am hearing it on a regular basis versus only occasional clicking when I had Win7 on the SSD.

I never questioned it before because I only ever heard it when I was installing a program or things like windows updates. But now it seems to be commonplace even when I am simply reading web pages and doing nothing else.

scott784 said:

True enough, there's no moving parts. But this clicking (if that's the best word to describe it?) is present. It's certainly not loud, just a very soft background noise. I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with the SSD as it's been a familiar/occasional sound since I've had the SSD (purchased it 1 year ago). The difference is now (unlike 3 weeks ago when I still have Win7 installed) is the fact that I am hearing it on a regular basis versus only occasional clicking when I had Win7 on the SSD.

I never questioned it before because I only ever heard it when I was installing a program or things like windows updates. But now it seems to be commonplace even when I am simply reading web pages and doing nothing else.

Perhaps your SSD manufacturer has a tool that will have a look at it for you, mine is a Sandisk and they have a tool for my SSD.

Bazz said:

Perhaps your SSD manufacturer has a tool that will have a look at it for you, mine is a Sandisk and they have a tool for my SSD.

Actually, there is. In my case (for my MX100 Crucial SSD), it's called Crucial Storage Executive Client. I installed it and it indicates my SSD is in good health.

I did try to install a recent firmware update but I get an error message. In my browser (upon attempting to install), it says 'internal error, return to home page'. The firmware is not necessarily needed (I just noticed it was available). My SSD is only 1 year old.

XweAponX said:

The worst thief in Windows 10 is "Updates from More than one place" in your Settings->Security->Updates->Advanced Settings-> "Choose how Updates are Delivered" - keep that turned off, it allows Microsoft to use your computer to deliver updates to other people. There were a bunch of updates last few days, the high Disk usage might have been this p2p network activity, it's basically a torrent system that uses your PC to distribute updates.

Wow, This was the ticket, Task Manager disc was 100-99%, now 0-3% at idle, Thank You

In my Win 10 Pro 64-bit, I frequently see my Disk running at 100% in Task Manager, for no reason. Such as when I first access the PC from somewhere else using Team Viewer, hours after I had used it for anything, and with no programs running.
In my case, NEITHER "Updates from More than one place" NOR "File History" is on.
Any other ideas? Thanks.

Just saw this article with many suggestions and will try them next time I see 100%: https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge...on-windows-10/