Windows 8 keeps slows down to 100% disk usage and hangs.

Hello All,

I have been using Windows 8 since its launch and I also came across the same issue.

Point is how did I resolved the issue ?

Windows8 automatically manages virtual memory and paging file size by default.

It doesn't sets virtual memory as per the internal recommendation. The virtual memory set by default is approximately 70% of the recommendation. E.g. For my laptop, it recommends 2003MB of virtual memory wherein each drive size is of 100GB & RAM is 3GB. By default it got set to 1403MB when Windows8 was installed.

You need to increase this virtual memory. Make it equivalent to your RAM size for the initial size and twice of the initial size in maximum size and make sure you have the same amount of free space in your hard drive in each drive.

To do this, follow the following steps:

1. Go to Control Panel> All control panel items > System
2. Click on Advanced system settings
3. Under performance, click on settings
4. Go to Advanced tab
5. Under Virtual memory, click on Change
6. UN-check "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives" check box
7. Select your windows drive (where OS is installed)
8. Click on Custom size radio button
9. Set Initial size equivalent to your RAM size in MB
10. Set Maximum size to twice of your RAM size in MB
11. Click on Set
12. Click on OK thrice
13. Restart your system

This should resolve this issue,

Regards,

Arpan Kashyap

Hi,

I had this same problem, my lenovo laptop would be left idle for ~15 minutes then come back, 100% disk usage but not tagged to any process.  

The issue was a scheduled task to defrag.

Open Task Scheduler -> Microsoft -> Windows -> Defrag

Disable or delete the task.

Hope this helps someone else.

I thought it was hard disk issue as the computer would be unusable without restarting using the power button.

Try this,

It's working

Go to charms bar and press search, then type view local services.

Once here, stop and disable BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service). Also, set windows update checks to manual

I Checked all the answers written on different sites But the solution I found was to restore the original settings of Windows Defender 

1.Disable or Off Windows Defender (It is Necessary as You can't change its registry settings while it is running, You can Check while it is running)

2. Download the zip file DefaultSettingsOfServices.zip

**3. Merge the "**Windows_Defender_Service.reg " and "Windows_Defender_Network_Inspection_Service.reg" to the registry

4. Disk Usage Downgrades from 100% to 12-14% at the same time

For Detailed Info. Click on  ***http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/9413-services-restore-default-services-windows-8-a.html***

Hello,

You could face this issue due to some third party process running in the background.

I would appreciate if you can provide us the following information to help us understand the issue better?

1. Are you facing the same problem with system slow down to 100 % usage?
2. What is the make and model of your computer?

If you are facing the same issue as the original poster of this thread, I would suggest you to follow the steps given below.

Method 1: Run System Maintenance troubleshooter

Please follow the steps to run System Maintenance troubleshooter on the computer:

1. Press Windows and X key together and select Control Panel.
2. Click on Troubleshooting.
3. Click onView all option on the left side of the Windows.
4. Click on System Maintenance option.
5. Click on Next and follow the onscreen instructions to troubleshoot the issue.

If issue still persists try method 2.

Method 2: Boot your computer to safe mode and then to clean boot to check the issue.

Step 1: Safe mode.

Safe mode is a troubleshooting option for Windows that starts your computer in a limited state. Only the basic files and drivers necessary to run Windows are started. The words appear in the corners of your monitor to identify which Windows mode you're using.

Start your computer in safe mode

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-safe-mode

Boot the computer to Safe mode and check if it persists, if the issue does not occur in safe mode, let’s try a Clean Boot to test the issue. Follow the steps given below to boot the computer in safe mode.

Step 2: Clean boot: To help troubleshoot error messages and other issues, you can start Windows by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This kind of startup is known as a "clean boot." A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts.

Refer: How to perform a clean boot in Windowshttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135 

Note: After clean boot troubleshooting step, follow the section "How to reset the computer to start as usual after troubleshooting with clean boot" in the provided link to return your computer to Normal startup mode.

You can also follow the steps in the articles given below and check.

Improve performance by optimizing your drive

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/improve-performance-optimizing-hard-drive

Speed up your computer

http://smallbusiness.support.microsoft.com/en-us/gw/speed-up-your-computer-3782

Important: While performing chkdsk on the hard drive if any bad sectors are found on the hard drive when chkdsk tries to repair that sector if any data available on that might be lost.

Note: When you use System Restore to restore the computer to a previous state, programs and updates that you installed are removed.

Hope this helps. Please try these methods and let us know the status. Feel free to write us back in case you face any issue with windows in future.