Very high disk usage not attributed to any task in Task Manager

ricecrispies · 15 Jan 2017

I have a machine whose disk is nearly always running at 99-100% usage (according to Task Manager) even though no individual tasks appear to be responsible. For instance there might be three tasks running at 0.1MB/s and the rest at 0MB/s, but the disk (a 7200GB 3.5 inch one) is still at its limit and the responsiveness of my desktop is still very poor. Does anyone have an explanation for this and (hopefully) a solution?

dalchina · 15 Jan 2017

Hi, try Process Explorer (free) - easy to find- which gives a more comprehensive view.

Also make sure the actual data transfer rate is appropriate. Some hardware issues can give rise to very low transfer rates which may cause this sort of problem.

You can test the disk if, for example, you boot from a bootable medium rather than Windows in your case as you have this problem presently, such as Kyhi's bootable DVD/flash drive available from the top of the Software and Apps section here.

Also try using the Resource Monitor (link at the bottom of the task manager/performance tab)

ricecrispies · 15 Jan 2017

Thanks for the sensible suggestions. The problem seems to have quietened down now of its own accord, so I guess the cause will remain a mystery until the next time it happens.