Fixing 100% disk usage in Windows 10 with Chrome and Skype running

Anonymous
2015-08-16T12:25:27+00:00

How to fix 100% disk usage in Windows 10

This is caused by a common combination of Skype as well Google Chrome. Similar issue with other programs could also cause 100% disk usage. To fix this do the following:

Google Chrome:

In Google Chrome, go to Settings > Show Advanced Settings ... > Privacy > Prefetch resources to load pages more quickly

and untick it. See Figure-1 below:

Figure-1

Skype:

Make sure you have exited Skype and it is not running in the taskbar (if it is running in the taskbar then quit it).

Open Windows Explorer and open the following folder:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone"

Now right click "Skype.exe" file and then click "Properties" and open the "Security" tab.

Click the "Edit" button and then highlight "ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES" and place a tick in the "Write" box.

Click "Apply" and then "OK" and then "OK" again. See Figures-2 to Figure-6 below:

This is it, now run Skype and check the Disk Usage in Task Manager and it will no longer show you 100% disk usage anymore:-

I hope this helps people. I spent a long time in finding a solution to this problem.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments

491 answers

Sort by: Newest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-04-08T02:48:04+00:00

    I hope this helps people. I spent a long time in finding a solution to this problem.

    I think I just fell in love with you Digitalmooney, time will tell but so far it is working. I can not express how stressful trying to find a solution has been the last few weeks. I have spent countless hours trying to fix my endless 100% disk usage-100% of the time. Google search after Google search, call anyone and everyone..... AND. NOW. FINALLLLY. PEACE. I honestly do not even remember what I searched to get to a sight that had this thread linked in a comment but I am extremely grateful. Thank you so much! Curiosity has overcome me now though. These steps felt irreverent but I truly was desperate and willing to try anything and everything so I gave it a shot. I really need to know how and why this worked. Can you please elaborate? I am no "Anonymous" by any means but I am definitely far from being called tech illiterate by any means. This is just a hair past my skill level I guess. Thanks again x 1,000,000 :)

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2016-04-08T01:58:42+00:00

    I second that and if I had more knowledge of computer science I would have volunteered to do a research as explained, sir. So may I ask why do you not do it yourself and I would volunteer to do any leg work that understanding of simple English may suffice. I hope that I have not insulted you in anyway as it is not my way.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2016-04-08T01:35:10+00:00

    Thank you very much sir you are a wealth of information. God bless you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2016-04-08T01:29:26+00:00

    Hello sir, what if you do not have Skype?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2016-04-02T06:00:55+00:00

    Hi, This addresses bursts of memory usage, but I noticed that the 100% Total error pops up when zero memory is in use. I found that if I load a video (MP3) using Windows Media Player when I start up (switch off sound and set repeat on) then the player constantly requests memory so it never goes to zero and never gets to the 100% Usage error condition. Short and sweet solution to a coding error which may be using >0 instead of >=0.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments