Is there a real fix yet for 100% disk usage?

f1roborbob · 12 Jun 2021

I have a desktop and a laptop running Windows 10. Both kept slowing down because of 100% Disk Usage at start up and periodically thereafter. I did a clean install of Windows 10 for both. They were much improved but now both machines again go randomly to 100% disk Usage. To my knowledge this has been a problem since windows 7 or 8. I have seen all the various solutions that people suggest over the years but none have seemed to work for me.
What's the latest? This is so frustrating isn't it?
Thanks
Rob

dalchina · 12 Jun 2021

Hi, you would need to inspect the processes using disk e.g. with Process Explorer (free from MS) to determine what's happening.

and periodically thereafter

Most people don't experience this.

What sort of disk do you have?
Are services set to default settings?
Have you changed page file settings?

What is the max transfer rate achieved when you copy a large file e.g. 3-4Gb from C: to C: or which ever disk is involved as shown by task manager, performance?

100% Disk Usage at start up

Nothing really unusual there- lots of startups? Lots to do.

Ensure sysmain is enabled and working normally:
What is SysMain/Superfetch service and how to enable it in Windows 10

Megahertz · 12 Jun 2021

Please edit your profile with ALL your hardware specs. It will help us to help you
System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums

Do you have a HDD or SSD?

If your computer isn't up to date, WU can be downloading a update or even an upgrade (big files).
Also your antivirus can be scanning the drive.

Helmut · 12 Jun 2021

Never seen that problem on my Laptop and never done a clean install for 7 years thru Windows 8.1 and thru many versions of 10.

It does go to 100% disc usage sometimes but there is always a reason. Easily found by looking at the Task Manager and sorting the column(s).
You can use Process Explorer if you wish, which gives more detail.

The most recent ones on Starting up was the latest Cumulative update and .NET Framework, the latter goes way back to at least Windows XP.
In that case you see the Installer Worker or some such process running and the disc at 100%. No worries these days as it usually stops when you start doing something else.

If it is something like Search/Indexing then you can do something about that in Windows 10 settings.

Find the reason and do something about it is the principle.

Digital Life · 12 Jun 2021

f1roborbob said:

I did a clean install of Windows 10 for both. They were much improved but now both machines again go randomly to 100% disk Usage.

This would suggest that you keep installing the same program that is causing the problem.

A lot/most of Windows OS run's from memory, So ya it would be thrashing the hard drive to throw everything it needs into the RAM as fast as it can or at least as fast as your hardware will let it