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

This problem started for a lot lot lot computers when Windows 10 installed in them. That is the 1st thing we all have to realize. 

Changing to an ssd does not solve the problem it just make it hard to see. 

Changing hard drive will not solve this problem. Not at all. 

But changing operating system does solve the problem. That is the only real and viable solution. 

So instead of giving the abbility to Ms to announce greater numbers in Windows 10 installations people should start changing to other operating systems. 

Yes I can understand that this is not an easy task for everyone. To some it is an extra cost in time and mon

A week ago Ms support told a client of mine that his hard disk was the problem. So he went to a store and change the HD. Reinstalled windows 10. And the same day the problem started again. And again Ms told him the hard disk has a problem. He went back to the store and change to a new hard disk again, andthis time the store did not charge him as they should not even if they found no problem with the hard disk they sold him the same day.  They did not even charge him for the 2ond windows 10 installation for a second time in the same day. 

Guess what.  Problem appeared again. 

Then he asked me what to do. I just installed Windows 7 and problem solved. 

I m up to 1400 more or less, reverted installations from Windows 10 to another operating system (7,8,linux,osx).

So for once I would like to extra thank Microsoft since because of this problem in Windows 10, I have managed to expand my client list to 3 times up,  and be able to finish my home repairs in 3 months.

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

Switching off windows firewall brought down disk activity to 0% :-)

I tried many of the things in this topic with no or ill effect mostly.  Didn't try to disable superfetch.  

What I did do is rename a file that stalled a virus scan -- a system file called perfh009.dat.  (Perflib was where a registry scan kept stalling -- coincidence?)

I tried to copy it first, but it could not be read from the disk to copy.  So now I'm running without this file, and so far it's not been missed.  The good news.... so far no 100% disk usage.

I'm not sure how to do chkdsk to mark bad sectors -- but I expect this file contains a bad sector.  I wanted to move it, by copying elsewhere... But it seems, so far (knock wood) unnecessary.  Did somebody say bloatware?

This totally worked for me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D\_XTinqqULg

Before disk usage always ended up 100%, froze the computer, very frustrating.  Problem solved.