Got 100% disk usage in Windows 10? So your computer is hanging & freezing. Same old Windows, right? Except you"re using a brand-new Windows 10 device; you"ve sầu only had it a few days. So just what is going on?
Investigating, you discover that your system drive is running at 100%. Surely this can"t be, right? Sadly, it is. The lakiểm tra versions of Windows have a problem with the drives being overworked, which slows down the operating system. This issue affects both hard disk drives (HDDs) và solid-state drives (SSDs).
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Several fixes are available for this. But first, you need lớn trace the problem.
When the error was first discovered, only a few culprits were found. But as time passes, despite the 100% disk usage error being reported lớn Microsoft, more causes of this bug are discovered, not fewer.
Click the link above sầu for each possible cause of the bug to see how to fix it.
Once you"ve sầu established that there is a problem, you have several options available. Cheông xã the following steps one at a time, checking the disk usage in the Task Manager after each.
Note that even if you find a solution, a Windows Update could reset the changes you"ve sầu made. Bookmarking this page will help you find it in the future and run through the fixes again.
1. Slow Performance? Run Disk Check
This performance issue is most obvious when attempting lớn use Windows Search khổng lồ find a tệp tin or program, và anything else that requires the drive sầu to bởi some work (perhaps copying và pasting a group of files).
To establish whether it is a problem that is affecting you, when your computer next slows down, use Task Manager to lớn run a disk kiểm tra.
First, press Ctrl+Alt+Del và select Task Manager (or right-click the Taskbar and select Task Manager, or hit Ctrl+Shift+Esc). lưu ý that this may take some time khổng lồ open with the drive sầu being under strain.
On the Processes tab look for the Disk column. If you"re having problems with drive sầu performance, this will be at 100%, và shaded red to indicate whether you have sầu a problem or not.
Problem sectors on your HDD can cause the 100% disk usage issue in Windows 10. However, using Windows" built-in disk kiểm tra can fix this:
Open Windows Explorer Select This PC Right-click on the C: drive và select Properties > Tools Under Error checking clichồng on Check > Scan driveWait while the system scans the drive; a reboot may be required for a full disk repair. This should deal with the error.
2. Update Your Anti-Virus if Windows 10 Disk Is Running at 100%
As with any performance issue, the first thing to bởi vì is confirm that your computer hasn"t been infected with malware. Your security software should be able to deal with this, whether it"s a không tính phí phầm mềm or a paid suite.
At the very least, tools like Malwarebytes Anti-Malware should be able lớn scan your system drive sầu và detect any problems. cảnh báo that with a heavy load on your drive already this may take a while.
If threats are found, use the software"s recommendations to disthẻ them và reboot. Next, kiểm tra your drive"s performance again. Hopefully, you"ve sầu resolved the issue; if not, then malware wasn"t to lớn blame, so read on.
3. Disable Windows Search for Improved Disk Performance
The next thing to lớn kiểm tra is whether the 100% disk usage error has anything lớn vày with Windows Search.
A bug in Windows 10 results in a "tìm kiếm loop" that causes an increased load on the system drive.
To stop this and prevent it from happening during your current session (until Windows is rebooted):
Right-cliông xã Start Select Windows PowerShell (Admin) Enter net.exe pháo stop "Windows search"That should solve most issue. If there is no change, even after rebooting, you can permanently disable Windows Search & Indexing.
Press WIN+R Type msc, then cliông xã OK In the Services window that opens find Windows Search & double-clichồng lớn open In Windows Search Properties find Startup type and select Disabled
4. Disable SysMain to Fix 100% Disk Usage in Windows 10
Another Windows 10 feature identified as a potential cause of the 100% disk usage issue is the superfetch service. Since Windows 10 1809 (the 2018 Windows 10 October Update) this has been renamed to "SysMain."
To prsự kiện this service from causing the disk usage issue, open another Windows PowerShell (Admin) & enter:
net.exe stop sysmain
Again, wait a few moments to lớn kiểm tra whether this has had any effect on your computer"s performance. You should also run Check Disk in PowerShell:
chkdsk.exe /f /rYou"ll be informed that your PC must be rebooted for Cheông xã Disk to lớn complete, so make sure you have closed all your applications first.
If this doesn"t work, it is likely that you"re experiencing a frustrating iteration of this issue that is simple to resolve sầu.
5. Is Flash Causing the 100% Disk Usage Bug?
Flash remains one of the most vulnerable aspects of modern computing và should be disabled. Adobe killed off its multitruyền thông plugin in 20trăng tròn, so there"s little reason to keep using it, especially as Flash seems to lớn be one of the most comtháng culprits for the 100% hard disk usage in Windows 10 with the Google Chrome browser.
To disable Flash in Google Chrome browser:
xuất hiện Menu > Settings > Privacy and security Cliông xã Site Settings Find Flash and set the toggle to Bloông chồng sites from running Flash Cliông xã Back lớn confirm, then restart the browserThe next thing to do is update to lớn the lademo version of Chrome. In most cases this happens automatically, but if not just go lớn Menu > Help > About Google Chrome & wait for the update khổng lồ complete.
If you can"t see any of the options, don"t worry. It simply means that your version of Chrome has already updated và no longer supports Flash.
6. Disk Usage at 100%? Switch Web Browsers
It may not be Flash that is impacting on your browser performance.
Another cause could be the browser itself, particularly if you"re using Google Chrome.
The obvious option is to choose a different browser. Windows 10 already has two browsers built in. You probably don"t want khổng lồ use Internet Explorer, but Microsoft Edge is an adequate replacement for Chrome.
Several browsers are available, some better than others.
Related: The Best Browsers for Windows
7. Is Skype Eating Disk Resources?
Another widely used application could also be causing your 100% HDD usage is Skype. In an era when online collaboration & đoạn phim meetings is increasing, Skype is a likely culprit.
Since Skype has been more closely integrated with Windows 10, it is a little trickier lớn giảm giá with. What you can do, however, is stop Skype from running lớn help determine if it is the cause of the issues.
Press WIN+I to open Settings Go to Apps > Apps & features & scroll down to Skype
Head baông xã khổng lồ the Task Manager to lớn see the change. You may also consider finding a Skype alternative sầu. If the 100% disk usage bug tends khổng lồ happen straight after Windows loads, it"s a good idea khổng lồ disable Skype from auto-loading. Under Runs at log-in, change the switch from On to lớn Off.
Further issues with Skype can also be dealt with in this screen. You can Repair, Reset, và even Uninstall Skype lớn aid with your troubleshooting.
8. Resolve PCI-Express Firmware Bug
Some drivers don"t run quite as they should in Windows 10. One that has been discovered to be causing 100% HDD use is the StorAHCI.sys driver, which has a firmware bug. StorAHCI.sys intended for storage devices connected to the PC or laptop motherboard via Advanced Host Controller Interface PCI-Express.
To find out if this is the problem & rule it out:
Right-cliông chồng Start & choose Device Manager Exp& IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers Double-cliông chồng the AHCI Controller entry In the Driver tab select Driver DetailsIf the driver listed as C:Windowssystem32DRIVERSstorahci.sys, you could be affected by this bug. Next:
Cthua thảm the driver details box In the Details tab select Device instance path from the drop-down menu Right-click the value, then Copy. Launch Notepad and Paste the contents Next, press WIN+R & type regedit, & click OK Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystem CurrentControlSetEnumPCI và use the pasted string from Notepad lớn open the correct AHCI Controller, followed by the random number.Here, expvà Device ParametersInterrupt Management MessageSignaledInterruptProperties và you should see MSISupported listed in the right-hvà pane. Double-click this, then change the Value data: lớn 0.
Click OK lớn confirm & follow the instructions khổng lồ restart Windows.
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9. Is Steam Maxing Out Your HDD?
Enjoy gaming và have sầu Steam installed? There"s a good chance this digital delivery system is causing 100% disk usage.
Usually this is due khổng lồ update delivery, causing the background downloader to get caught in a loop. Clear the Steam cađậy to lớn fix this.
First, make sure you have sầu exited Steam. Where Steam is a likely cause of the 100% disk usage error, it may hang when you try to exit. In this case, use the Windows 10 Task Manager lớn cthảm bại the software.
Next, open the WIN+R run box & enter
steam://flushconfig You"ll see a dialogue box, informing you that content will be deleted.
Cliông xã OK lớn proceed.
cảnh báo that games and saves will be retained, so there is no risk of them being deleted.
10. Disable Diagnostic Tracking in Windows 10
Finally, it"s worth considering the impact of diagnostic tracking in Windows 10. A feature that you might have sầu otherwise disabled for privacy reasons, it has been blamed for 100% HDD use on many PCs.
When it comes khổng lồ reducing your hard disk drive usage, it"s quicker khổng lồ simply disable the DiagTrack service. If this is the source of the 100% disk usage error in Windows 10, you can stop the service launching.
However, to lớn vì chưng this you"ll need lớn access Comm& Prompt in administrator mode.
Clichồng Start & type cmd in the search box In the results select Run as administrator Input sc config "DiagTrack" start= disabled Input sc stop "DiagTrack"11. Windows Update Can Cause 100% Disk Usage
As well as affecting changes you make khổng lồ your PC when fixing the 100% disk use problem, Windows Update can also be a cause.
This usually only happens when Windows Update has a problem (which is typically due lớn a file refusing to download). You have two options here:
Leave your computer alone---shut all your open applications and wait. Eventually, the files will download, but depending on how Windows Update is scheduled on your computer, it may require a reboot. Shutdown your computer---once you"ve done that, restart and wait for Windows Update khổng lồ resolve the problem.Once the update has finished downloading, it"s wise lớn run it as soon as possible. Rethành viên lớn kiểm tra any previous fixes for 100% disk usage before proceeding; as noted above sầu, Windows Update can reverse these fixes.
12. Reset Your Virtual Memory
Virtual memory is a combination of RAM & hard disk space và can be responsible for overuse of your HDD. If there isn"t enough RAM khổng lồ persize a task, the HDD is used to supplement the RAM. Data moved lớn the HDD is then returned lớn RAM when required.
If you"ve sầu made it this far & you"ve yet to solve the 100% disk usage issue, it could be worth resetting your virtual memory.
Press Windows+Break/Pause On the right, find & clichồng Advanced System SettingsIn the Advanced tab go to Performance > Settings Select the new Advanced tab Under the section labeled Virtual memory click Change
Clear the checkbox for Automatically manage paging tệp tin size for all drives Next, select the Windows drive (usually C:) & then Custom size Add an Initial size and a Maximum size; note both are measured in MB rather than GB Once the values are inputted, clichồng Set then OK to continue
These numbers can be confusing, so with the first value, rely on the recommended option. For the maximum value, ayên for a figure no more than 1.5 times your system RAM.
For instance, a computer with 4GB of RAM should have sầu no more than 6.5GB (6144MB).
The next step is khổng lồ clear the temporary files that have sầu been used in the previous virtual memory allocation.
Open Run with WIN+R Enter temp & clichồng OK In the temp directory, select all files with Ctrl+A và hit Delete13. Activate High Performance Mode
Windows" standard power modes are prone to lớn the 100% disk usage bug but switching khổng lồ high performance often overcomes the problem.
The downside, of course, is that your computer will use more power. Thanks lớn modern processor thiết kế this shouldn"t be a massive issue. However, notebooks & desktop replacement laptops may take a hit on battery life.
To change to lớn high performance:
Clichồng WIN+X > Power Options In the Power và sleep screen click Additional power settings Here, choose High performance, then OKIf this isn"t a displayed option, you"ll need to create your own custom power plan. Click Create a power plan, then choose High performance. Give sầu the plan a name, tweak any personal settings you need then select it as a power plan to lớn use.
14. Install the Lachạy thử SATA Drivers
Could a storage device driver be resulting in the 100% disk usage error?
Your Windows 10 computer almost certainly uses SATA connections for hard drives, SSDs, & optical drives. If the drivers aren"t up to lớn date, the disk usage error can occur.
Avoid this by upgrading to the lachạy thử SATA drivers.
Right cliông chồng Start In the Power User thực đơn select Device Manager Exp& Storage controllers Identify the correct controller for your SATA devices To update, right-click on each controller and select Update driverSelect the Browse my computer for driver software option Next, choose then Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer Here, choose Standard AHCI Controller & see how this impacts performance You may need to reboot Windows for this lớn take effect. Note that if it doesn"t work, you can still try this by checking the manufacturer"s website for a new driver. This can be installed using the instructions that accompany it.
15. Could Your PC"s Power Supply (PSU) Cause 100% Disk Usage?
There is a chance that your computer"s hardware is causing the 100% disk usage issue in Windows: specifically, the PSU.
If disk usage issues can be attributed lớn excessive sầu disk activity, then it follows there might be a power-related cause.
100% disk usage has been spotted on Windows 10 laptops running on the battery. Once plugged inlớn the power adaptor, the issue resolves. Similarly, the problem has been shown to lớn alleviate once a new PSU is installed in a desktop PC.
Cheông xã our guide to new PC power supply units to lớn help you choose a replacement.
16. Windows Help Is Causing 100% HDD Use
Another issue that has been traced khổng lồ 100% disk usage in Windows 10 is the operating system"s built-in active help tool. You"ll have noticed this feature that pops up when you"re doing something for the first time with useful tips & suggestions.
If you suspect this is causing a problem in Windows 10 with disk usage, you can disable it:
Press WIN+I lớn open Settings Here, select System > Notification & actions Find and disable Get tips, tricks & suggestions as you use Windows17. Is WaasMedicAgent.exe pháo Slowing Down Windows 10?
Incorrectly identified as a virut or malware, WaasMedicAgent.exe cộ (part of the Windows Update Medic Service) is a Microsoft system process that checks downloaded Windows Update files. If there is a problem with the data, the files are redownloaded – a process that could leave your HDD at 100%.
To fix this,
Press WIN+R lớn open a Run box Enter regedit then OK to open Registry Editor Before proceeding, make a registry backup with File > Export, saving the backup somewhere safe In the browser bar, paste this path: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesWaaSMedicSvc In the right pane, right-cliông xã Start and choose Modify Set the Value data to 4 then OK to lớn cthảm bạiDisabling the update medic is an extreme step to lớn take. However, it is one way khổng lồ avoid Windows 10 disk usage hitting 100%.
Disk Usage Should Rarely Be 100%
Put simply, there is little reason for your disk load to lớn be anything cthất bại khổng lồ 100%, certainly not under normal usage. A slow computer is one with a problem, and if you cannot fix it by disabling a browser plugin, stopping services, or running your antivirut software, then the problem may well be hardware related.
Perhaps your drive sầu is getting old; it may be defective sầu, or the cables may need replacing.
Try these fixes the next time your Windows computer slows down. Be sure to kiểm tra your Windows Experience Index periodically to identify performance issues in need of immediate resolution.
How to lớn Chechồng Your Windows Experience Score on Windows 10 Want lớn figure out your computer performance and any immediate bottlenecks? Cheông chồng your Windows Experience Score on Windows 10.
