100% Disk Usage with little running and even after clean boot

2. Other than the backup WIn10 does the only other safety measure I have is using Sync.com to backup my files in real time.

Strongly and endlessly recommmended here: the routine and regular use of 3rd party disk imaging to external (securely stored) storage.

E.g. Macrium Reflect 'best', Aomei Backupper... (both have free versions - note respective differences with paid)

Create an image of at least all Windows partitions and update your image set periodically /before/after major change.
Then, if even your PC or disk fails, you can most likely recover your O/S to as was when you created the image.
Can help avoid clean installs.

Images can also be mounted and files copied if needed - a full backup.

System Restore usefully complements that; use additional data backup for key fast changing data.

Note my previous post

Here's what I suggest you do before making any changes - if you can, that is.

Ensure you have a complete and full backup of all data. Hopefully you already do.
As a minimum that's all personal data on C: - and then consider the more obscure data- e.g. browser related (bookmarks, possibly even passwords). Email settings and data if you use an email client. Etc.

Normally I'd say make a disk image. I'm simply not sure how that would work out in this scenario.

Given this description of Optane:

Why does Optane memory make computing faster?
By memorizing your most used data, the smart, adaptable system accelerator can then access and store your frequently used documents, games, pictures, videos, and various applications closer to the computer’s processors.

https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/tech-t...-optane-memory

it seems possible SOME data may be hosted on the Intel acceleration disk.

Have you tried waiting 'long enough' to see if disabling Optane ever completes? (post #16) or have you concluded that it never will?

coopfab said:

.............I just found this caution in someone asking if they can uncheck the optane drive: CAUTION: To avoid permanent data loss, do not disable Intel Optane in system BIOS without first disabling it in the Intel RST application. So, because there is an issue with my optane drive, should I be concerned with data loss? Thanks. Coopfab

Consequences of disabling Optane in the BIOS ( without disabling it in the Intel Optane Memory and Storage Management application): Your system will not boot thereafter.

Reason: Optane in its bid to accelerate, has taken out the bootfiles from the EFI partition and has kept it in its belly "along with your frequently used documents, games, pictures, videos, and various applications closer to the computer’s processors." These will be off-loaded back into the HDD only when you disable Optane in the application. If you disable Optane in the BIOS, your PC will not boot thereafter. In effect you may have to reinstall Windows afresh after changing the SATA mode in the BIOS from RAID to AHCI.That is why I said it would be the last option if no viable solution to disable Optane in the application comes from Intel or Dell.

I hope you haven't disabled Optane yet in the BIOS.. Wait for INTEL /DELL advice..

Note: System backups taken without disabling Optane in the application will be of no use since those lack the critical BIOS files.

As per user experiences divulged in Intel forums Only Macrium Reflect can take valid backups of (Optane+HDD) which is in RAID mode. Even these backups will be useful only when the system does not boot due to OS/File system/software glitches.

Given the difficulty you've experienced, the easiest path would be to simply replace your HDD with a SSD one way or another.

You could put Win 10 on a smaller SSD if you wished, and use your HDD as additional storage.

A good idea is to keep personal data off C: to avoid the impact of certain types of O/S maintenance.

@coopfab,
That is good news Time to rejoice.

There is no need to to replace the Optane. Optane is a real pain in the neck. Also Intel has discontinued Optane for good.

Now that you have a fully functional HDD, you can clone it to a M2 NVME SATA and plug it in place Optane.

Note: Before you pull out the Optane, you may have to disable Optane in the BIOS too.. and also change SATA mode from RAID to AHCI.

Just google "nvme sata to replace optane memory" and you will find lot of information on it.

Also see "XPS 8930, replace Optane with SSD for beginners" https://www.dell.com/community/en/co...ccf8a8de9f0737

Note:
My Toshiba HDD in the Optane enabled Dell Inspiron 3280 AIO is failing. Since the Optane is still good, I will only be replacing the HDD with a 2.5" Crucial SSD for now.. I have already cloned the HDD to SSD with Macrium Reflect. I will also be replacing the 4GB RAM with 2x8GB Crucial Memory. So it will be Optane+16GB RAM + Crucial 1TB SATA SSD

The steps to disable Optane and install a NVMe drive are:
- Disable Optane under Windows on Intel RST
- Disable (in BIOS) and remove the Optane drive from the M.2 slot (don't loose the tiny screw).
- Boot into Windows and prepare to change RAID to AHCI in BIOS (I would use the register change)
Enable AHCI in Windows after Installation
- Enter BIOS and change SATA mode from RAID to AHCI
- Install the NVMe SSD drive on the M.2 slot
- Boot into windows and clone the HDD into the NVMe SSD resizing only the C: partition
- Shutdown, change BIOS boot priority to the NVMe SSD drive and boot from the NVMe SSD drive.
- If everything is working as it should, clean the SATA drive (not only format the C: partition. You must Clean the drive (delete all partitions) and initialize and format ) It can be done with Mini tool partition (maybe with Disk Manager) or Diskpart
To use diskpart to clean the drive.
Open a CMD window as administrator and type:

diskpart
list disk (it will list all drives. Identify the SATA drive number)
select disk n (replace n by the SATA drive number obtained with list disk)
clean
convert GPT
create part primary
select part 1
format fs=ntfs quick
assign letter=D
exit (to exit diskpart)

Edit
If you're not a gamer or don't use graphics applications (photo or video editing) you will never need more than 16G (probably not more than 8G)