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

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-01-02T18:54:44+00:00

    You neglected the possibility of Disk errors. THAT was my 100% I/O problem which has now been solved.

     I repeat here -

    Well, I don't know about Skype or Chrome - neither are on my (previously faulty) desktop, but my 100% disk slowdown problem has finally been solved! It was a failing disk drive!  

    It is advisable to have SMART enabled in the BIOS, and a good hardware monitor installed, such as ***SPEEDFAN***.

    For details please see my MS Technet response     

    Now, I have to go shopping for a new HD. I suspect it will not be a Western Digital this time!

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-01-02T17:16:34+00:00

    WOW, I have spent a lot of time troubleshooting my Win 10 for this issue, and your post was on point! Why isn't this being corrected on an update? Seems like the perfect storm for alot of wasted time. Thanks for the great advice.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-12-31T22:04:40+00:00

    Well, I don't know about Skype or Chrome - neither are on my (previously faulty) desktop, but my 100% disk slowdown problem has finally been solved! It was a failing disk drive!  

    For details please see my MS Technet response     

    Now, I have to go shopping for a new HD. I suspect it will not be a Western Digital this time!

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-12-30T15:32:41+00:00

    This fix does not appear to be working after the recent Windows 10 major update.

    After the update installed this morning on my machine, my computer is now very slow and programs stop responding. This issue did not start until my machine forced an update to 

    Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1511 for x64-based Systems

     - 100 percent disk usage constantly.

    Have turned off all notifications

    Have turned off windows defender live monitoring and cloud monitoring

    (Windows is claiming now since the update I no longer have an active anti virus service, although Webroot is showing active and running)  Appears the AntiMalware Service Executable by Microsoft is at the top of my system resource usage constantly.

    Have uninstalled Chrome.  Skype has write access to the machine. I also contact Skype online support and they report Skype should not be causing 100 disk usage issues.

    I have turned off pre-fetch.

    I am struggling to work for my job today and may have no choice but to work off my older laptop which is running faster than a brand new windows 10 machine with 16 gig of RAM!

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-12-30T06:53:53+00:00

    I would love to try this solution, but I don't seem to have the highlighted option the All application packages thing...so I'm at a loss for what to do. I don't know if anyone else has this issue, but I am. I have tried everything else to get skype to slowly over the course of the day, eat away at my CPU, disk, and sometimes memory.

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