Disk becomes VERY slow intermittently, otherwise is fine (?!)

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  1. fra
    Posts : 26
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Disk becomes VERY slow intermittently, otherwise is fine (?!)


    Hi everyone, at work I have an HDD machine which has always been reliable, then apparently out of the blue it now has this really frustrating issue that makes it unusable

    100% disk usage on HDD is what it is, though sometimes the disk activity goes to 100% not because the PC is doing something but because the disk's mean response time (as shown in task manager) is incredibly slow (5000 to 9000 ms). It does so only for limited intervals of time, I've not been able to catch what triggers this behaviour. The rest of the time, HDD runs fine with normal response times, so I think the hardware is fine

    I've tried uninstalling the google stuff (chrome etc) fearing some unprompted update had messed up, it did help but it did not solve the issue. SFC and DISM ran without issues. I have checked the drive for file system errors, at first it found some stuff but the second time it showed nothing. Checked for Smart errors but didn't find anything

    I haven't run the Chkdsk yet, could it help? I think I've found that it does not delete anything but I need to be absolutely certain before running it since the machine is not mine. I don't have any other idea given that the PC runs completely fine otherwise (until it doesn't)
    Windows update is on pause, the PC was updated in december after the issue appeared (out of despair); I'm sorry I don't have the build version at hand

    I'd really appreciate anyone's suggestions and advice. Thanks :)
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  3. Hearsepilot
    Posts : 781
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #2

    Common sense would say you need to make a disk image and test that on a different spinner or use this as an excuse to update to a SSD.
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  4. Megahertz
    Posts : 6,343
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       New #3

    Check disk heath
    Download extract and run CrystalDiskInfo. It's a portable. Doesn't need to install.

    I think it's time for a SSD. They are so affordable now and there are so many options.
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  6. fra
    Posts : 26
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    @Hearsepilot @Megahertz thanks for your replies, of course upgrading to SSD is out of the question since it depends on my workplace. I will run CrystalDiskInfo when I get back to the machine, though the HDD runs fine when it does

    Anything I can do inside Windows to tackle the problem would be the best for now unfortunately
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  7. dalchina
    Posts : 43,004
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #5

    As this is a work PC- should be your IT dept's problem.

    Hard Disk Sentinel is excellent - there are portable versions of both that and Crystal Diskinfo.
    But you said you checked SMART params anyway....

    Checking the disk is the first step. If that passes, then try chkdsk on the relevant partition.
    Perhaps just chkdsk X: /scan (result right on the GUI - scans only). If you have admin rights, that is.

    I'm sorry I don't have the build version at hand
    winver
    or
    Settings, About
    or an approximation: Properties, details of a system file.
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  8. fra
    Posts : 26
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    @dalchina thanks for your reply and the chkdsk tip, think it's the only next step left. Unfortunately IT hasn't been particularly friendly

    I'd love to run winver but I won't physically have access to the PC for at least another two weeks, that's the only reason I can't
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  9. dalchina
    Posts : 43,004
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #7

    What might be interesting to do assuming the above pass is to try running a surface check in Safe Mode.

    Watch to see if it hangs.
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  10. fra
    Posts : 26
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Thanks, I did try safe mode and it still did the slow response time thing (if by surface check you mean just a quick check)
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  12. dalchina
    Posts : 43,004
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #9

    No, I didn't mean surface as in a little like 'superficial'...

    A 3rd party program that runs a surface check on the entire disk 'surface' cluster by cluster showing you a pretty picture as it does it.
    Disk becomes VERY slow intermittently, otherwise is fine (?!)-untitled.png

    However- if this is the system disk I realise that the program will complain it about not being able to lock the disk for exclusive access, so the test would have to be done e.g. using a live boot disk or another PC.

    Substituting the disk would help to eliminate or identify the disk as the culprit as suggested above.


    @jumanji - any thoughts? Thanks!
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  13. fra
    Posts : 26
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #10

    I'm sorry, I tried to google it before asking clarification but it didn't help. At least now I know, thanks

    The disk is one but it's divided in two partitions (system + data) but I don't know if it would make a difference for the surface check
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