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

491 answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  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!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. DaveM121 930.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2016-01-05T20:06:08+00:00

    Thank you a lot for this, this problem has me annoyed for quite a while. My SSD drive has been at 100% and you solved my problem, well done !!

    DaveM

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2016-01-11T00:47:21+00:00

    I have tried EVERYTHING from all kinds of forums all over the internet...and here on Microsoft forums, nothing worked.

    ALL my background apps were ON!  I turned most of them OFF and YES, Disk % went significantly down.  It went down to 0% at first, now averaging 40%...which is alot better than 100%!

    But since I've had temporary success with other advice, I will hold off stating this completely fixed my 100% disk usage until I monitor for couple of days.  But so far so good!  

    Thank you Choosey!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2016-01-14T07:23:17+00:00

    Thanks alot it worked for me .....

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2016-01-15T13:38:53+00:00

    I don't have skype, and I've tried disabling Superfetch, Windows Search and all the other apps that several discussions suggest.

    I still get 100% disk usage lag spikes, but when I eject my disk drive and shove it back in, the lag stops for a moment. Afterwards, if I burden my computer with too much activity, the disk usage spikes to 100, and I eject and shove in my disk drive again. 

    There seems to be a connection with me ejecting the disk drive and my software running properly.

    Can anyone help me?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments