Disk 100% Used Issue, post Windows 10 Update...

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  1. Posts : 4
    windows 10
       #1

    Disk 100% Used Issue, post Windows 10 Update...


    Hi,

    After a recent update this month (July) to my Windows 10, my HP Laptops Disk Usage is regularly at 100%, and my laptop is much slower than usual!

    I gave this a week or so after the update before deciding it was an issue and not going to sort itself out..

    The disk usage is primarily being used by 'Service Host: Windows Update', which made me think it was the recent update that was causing the issue.

    I'll attach a screenshot from today. My Windows version is: Windows 10, 21H1 (build 19043.1110).

    Disk 100% Used Issue, post Windows 10 Update...-disk-100-windows-update...png

    Thanks!

    Hamish.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hi, given that's Windows Update, could you please
    - post a screenshot of your Update History
    - advise how much RAM you have
    -post a screenshot like this
    Disk 100% Used Issue, post Windows 10 Update...-1.jpg

    Your laptop (is it the one in your specs?) seems to be from around 2017, and has a SSD- is that correct?

    100% usage at that transfer rate = very poor perfomance. Compare:
    Disk 100% Used Issue, post Windows 10 Update...-untitled.png

    So it seems there are two issues:
    - why is Windows Update running?
    - why is your disk transfer rate so limited?

    Before doing much else, need to get the disk usage down.

    If you can, post a screenshot of Hard Disk Sentinel (includes SSDs) - great instant disk appraisal.

    Thanks
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 4
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Screenshots and Info.


    Hi Dalchina,

    Thanks for replying!

    I believe I have 4GB of RAM memory, but not 100% certain.. I am taking this info. from the Memory Usage section in Task Manager.

    My Laptop is the one in my specs, 2017 sounds about right as I purchased mine in 2018. It is however HDD rather than SSD, with 1TB storage.

    Below I'll post the screenshots you asked for:

    Disk 100% Used Issue, post Windows 10 Update...-recent-updates-1-.png

    Disk 100% Used Issue, post Windows 10 Update...-recent-updates-2-.png

    Disk 100% Used Issue, post Windows 10 Update...-recent-updates-3-.png

    and below the memory and disk usage graphs:

    Disk 100% Used Issue, post Windows 10 Update...-memory-usage.png

    Disk 100% Used Issue, post Windows 10 Update...-disk-usage.png

    Is Hard Disk Sentinel something in-built or will I have to download it?

    It does seem like poor performance overall, and what's strange is it's not always 100% used, so right now it is back down to 5% disk usage and I did nothing to make this happen! However during a days usage it will jump up to 100% very regularly and stay that way for a while..

    Cheers, Hamish.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    Thanks.

    Hard Disk Sentinel is a disk checking and monitoring program - download and install it (functional trial) or there's a portable version. Windows doesn't have an effective in-buit SMART monitoring feature.

    All looks well except for the very limited disk transfer rate. No evidence of what Windows Update is doing as all updates have succeeded.

    There are plenty of threads on 100% disk usage - it's not an obvious one to fix. Sometimes it's been the drive, but not always.. example of one that was the drive:
    Please fix this 100% disk problem, I've tried -everything-
    .. example of one that was software
    laptop runs at 100% disk


    How long does a cold boot to lock screen take?

    If you boot to Safe Mode, what is your maximum disk transfer rate then?
    (You can check by copying a very large file e.g. >1Tb)
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 1,807
    Windows 10 Pro 21H1 19043.1348
       #5

    Hi Hamish,


    Try uninstalling Avast and reboot as a quick test.


    Avast Uninstall Utility | Download aswClear for Avast Removal
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 7,606
    Windows 10 Home 20H2
       #6

    Hrobb said:
    The disk usage is primarily being used by 'Service Host: Windows Update'
    Right-click on the Start button --> Windows PowerShell (Admin).
    Run the following command to disable Windows Update:

    CMD /C "SC config wuauserv start=disabled & Net stop wuauserv"

    See whether the disk usage will return to normal.

    Hrobb said:
    It is however HDD
    My HDD below:
    Disk 100% Used Issue, post Windows 10 Update...-transfer-rate.png
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #7

    After running Hard Disk Sentinel, that's ok as an experiment to see if usage drops, but will fix nothing of course.

    You should also try
    Reset Windows Update in Windows 10
    and then the Windows Update Troubleshooter
    to see if anything is found, as a matter of routine.

    But without fising the transfer rate, you will be doomed to poor performance.
    When did you last have good performance (high transfer rate) ?

    Have you ever used a 3rd party driver updater tool?
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 4
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    HDS Screenshots and Transfer Rate tests..


    dalchina said:
    Thanks.

    Hard Disk Sentinel is a disk checking and monitoring program - download and install it (functional trial) or there's a portable version. Windows doesn't have an effective in-buit SMART monitoring feature.

    All looks well except for the very limited disk transfer rate. No evidence of what Windows Update is doing as all updates have succeeded.

    There are plenty of threads on 100% disk usage - it's not an obvious one to fix. Sometimes it's been the drive, but not always.. example of one that was the drive:
    Please fix this 100% disk problem, I've tried -everything-
    .. example of one that was software
    laptop runs at 100% disk


    How long does a cold boot to lock screen take?

    If you boot to Safe Mode, what is your maximum disk transfer rate then?
    (You can check by copying a very large file e.g. >1Tb)

    Hi, sorry for delay in response!

    So the info. I've just collected:

    Cold boot to Lock screen (second start up of the day, however.. I think the first took longer): one minute.

    I noticed however that to load my browser (Chrome), it took FOUR minutes! (this was after the first start up of the day-this evening)..

    On the second start up, Chrome only took twelve seconds!!! - Quite a difference!

    Below are some transfer rate tests:

    Disk 100% Used Issue, post Windows 10 Update...-transfer-rate-practise-3-.png

    And with HDS Running:

    Disk 100% Used Issue, post Windows 10 Update...-hds-capture-2.png

    You'll have noticed transfer rate is terribly low when 'Windows Update' is shown to be writing to the disk.

    Below it shows a faster but nothing special speed when windows update isn't interferring:

    Disk 100% Used Issue, post Windows 10 Update...-transfer-rate-practise-4-highest-.png

    HDS overview (everything seems 'fine' health wise..):

    Disk 100% Used Issue, post Windows 10 Update...-hds-overview-1....png

    So I suppose all I have confirmed is my Notebooks performance is indeed very very low when Windows Update is doing something, although it shouldn't be ??

    Last time I had better performance was probably June, before one of these recent Updates (im assuming) started my problems! Although I don't have any baseline to go off as I have not measured the disk performance until now..

    Cheers, Hamish.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #9

    Hi, thanks, your disk looks ok of course.
    Cold boot to Lock screen (second start up of the day, however.. I think the first took longer): one minute.
    That's good for a HDD.

    A more representative 'best' time is achieved with a single large file as I believe i said, not a bunch of small files - copying those means much more disk activity depending on where they reside. E.g. a Win 10 iso file or one of >1Tb. As you may have noticed, it can take a few seconds for the transfer rate to be shown appropriately by the task manager.

    Please repeat the copy /transfer rate test with a single large file
    a. After a clean boot
    b. In Safe Mode (which I asked for before)

    There's no need to have HDS running when doing that.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 4
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #10

    dalchina said:
    Hi, thanks, your disk looks ok of course.

    That's good for a HDD.

    A more representative 'best' time is achieved with a single large file as I believe i said, not a bunch of small files - copying those means much more disk activity depending on where they reside. E.g. a Win 10 iso file or one of >1Tb. As you may have noticed, it can take a few seconds for the transfer rate to be shown appropriately by the task manager.

    Please repeat the copy /transfer rate test with a single large file
    a. After a clean boot
    b. In Safe Mode (which I asked for before)

    There's no need to have HDS running when doing that.

    Hi Dalchina,

    Ah okay that makes sense!

    Unfortunately I don't think I have such a file! I had a quick search around.. do you know which folder I could find it in??

    I don't think I have any other single files over 1tb!

    I don't believe I have used any third party driver updaters in the past. I could possibly try resetting a Windows update, if you recommend it??

    Cheers, Hamish.
      My Computer


 

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