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

This answer really helpful and work like a charm for me.

Thanks brad.

What do we have to do to MS fix this S#¨&$ for real... It's been years I see it happening.

Hi Siemen,

"There is no single solution to this problem. the 100 % disk usage can be the result of several programs, windows services, or background programs/services etc."

"So everyone will have to try and find which one works for them. the solution is disable one or more programs/ services and see if the disk usage drops."

I believe you are correct in saying the above - While we all appear to have the same symptom (100% Disk Usage), the reported "Fixes" are many and haven't "cured" us all. Since I haven't seen my own "Fix" reported here, I'll include it for those having the same defined symptoms as myself....

In my case, I found Windows Defender to be the problem, this was and still is my 5 minute fix....

My exact symptoms:

- Computer slow to respond, fan running fast, fan exhaust is hot.

- Task Manager showing "100% disk usage."

- Task Manager showing "Windows Antimalware Executable" > "Windows Defender Service" to be the culprit.

Ok....so I thought, just turn off Defender and see if that works. So, I went to: Settings // Update & Security // Defender ........ I then flipped all of the on/off toggle switches to off.  There was zero improvement in the disk usage and surprisingly, Task Manager continued to show Windows Antimalware/Defender to be the cause.

So....I suspected that flipping those switches does not actually turn off Defender....that it continues to run in the background. More investigation revealed that Defender will only turn off if a substitute program is installed.

The Fix -

Download an alternate program (I'm using the free version of "Spybot Search & Destroy"). By doing so and by Microsoft's design, your Defender will shut off. Presumably, it does this to avoid a software conflict.

Note: To be sure this approach is effective, you must confirm Defender is off. Verify this by again by going to  Settings // Update & Security // Defender.  You should now see that the on/off toggle switches have "greyed-out."

Note: Not all alternate programs will work. Malwarebytes is a good program but does not "grey-out" the switches (so it's ineffective for this purpose but may be used safely in conjunction with either Defender or SS&D.)

So, after a month of dealing with this problem, my computer immediately returned to normal disk usage and has been running perfectly for two weeks now.

Update 1 -

As a test, I went back to my pre-fix configuration (I deleted SS&D which automatically turned Defender back on and on/off toggle switches no longer "grey-out"). My disk immediately returned to 100% usage, fan constantly running fast and computer getting hot. Task Manager once again showing "Windows Antimalware Executable/Windows Defender" as the culprit. An hour later...I re-applied my "fix" and everything immediately became 100% happy.

Update 2 -

Yesterday, (2 weeks later) out of a sudden, my fan started running fast. I opened my Task Manager and there to my surprise was the same old problem...100% Disk Usage, with same problem identified. Once again, I went to Settings // Update & Security // Defender only to see all the Defender toggle switches no longer "greyed-out." I wanted to friggin' scream at this point. Well, after a little thought, I realized that a new Windows Update had occurred and had reset Defender to it's "ON" state in spite of having SS&D installed. So.....I deleted SS&D, then re-installed it.....beautiful, Defender switches immediately "greyed-out" and my fan slowed, and Task Manager immediately dropped back to normal.

Conclusion -

So, while I had no problems with my Windows 8.1 to 10 upgrade for six months, clearly for me, something changed, likely with a "buggy" update about 1 1/2 months ago that has compromised my Defender.

While I don't consider my "fix" to be more than a good work-around, my computer has been working perfectly and will be good enough until Microsoft figures out what's going on.

Hope this helps,

Todd

Nb. Spybot search & destroy FREE is not an antivirus program. I assume you are using a paid for version.

Hi Musicrabme,

No.....I'm in fact using the FREE version of Spybot S&D. For the purpose of troubleshooting my belief that Defender is my computer's problem, it works perfectly. I also realize that this free version is not likely to be a one-for-one replacement of Defender and has likely put my computer at an increased risk of infection. As it appears that this work-around "fix" seems to be a viable solution for me, I'll be upgrading to the Spybot "Paid" version to gain the additional anti-virus protection it offers.

Otherwise,  I'd happily return to Defender when the problem with it is resolved by Microsoft. I believe it's a great program but simply can't tolerate what it's doing to my computer....rendering it useless in performance and likely pushing my hard drive toward an early failure.

Todd