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
    2016-09-12T18:44:02+00:00

    I don't think you, me or anyone else has a problem with third party software.. The problem is with Microsoft Windows 10 OS related with Machanical hard drive. I've done a lot of test... did a fresh WIndows 10 install in 3 different HDD and 2 of them has this issue right from the beginning, but the strange is that all them works flawless with WIndows 7 and Ubuntu with 0% HDD usage when I'm idle. I also have seen A LOT people reporting the problem (poor people who has no technical knowledge and keep using this **** without an option). This S%#@$ is happening only in Windows 10 since it was release and Microsoft is pretending nothing happen. I'm done doing unofficial procedures to try to fix it... The only solution is to buy a SSD.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-09-12T12:32:27+00:00

    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

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-09-12T10:00:55+00:00

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

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-09-11T00:35:19+00:00

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

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-08-31T06:35:46+00:00

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

    Thanks brad.

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