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
    2017-01-08T16:26:24+00:00

    No, please do not throw your Sony Vaio i7 into trash!  It pains me to think about it!  The computer will still work with the original Microsoft Operating system that it came with.  One can always put on the computer an amazing version of the Linux Operating System, and it is so easy to do.  I have found that a good version of Linux, for me, is Lubuntu, current version is 16.  One can even use Windows with Linux in the same computer.  The Linux O/S gives you a boot loader to choose which O/S you want to go with.  What is more, if you have an older version of Microsoft O/S you can run Windows inside of Linux with the VirtualBox.  That older Windows 2000 will fly!  If you allocate 2 GB for the VirtualBox for Windows, the other 10 GB for Linux is PLENTY.  You will not believe how well Windows 2000 will run inside of the VirtualBox.  I only allocate 512K in my 2 GB system and it works super.  I can use all the older Microsoft programs in the Windows 2000, and even have a pretty good experience going on the Internet. 

    This is not going against Microsoft, it is the flexibility to use older Microsoft with Linux. 

    Lumia, sorry for the rant, I was also thinking of that price tag on that Mac Pro, and how good Sony Computers used to be.  My brother-in-law works all day on Windows, goes home, and turns on all his Apple products.  Windows is work, Apple to him is fun.  Sorry, I am just not in that price league.  To me, OS/X, is a glorified version of Linux, both based on UNIX.  One cannot even get a touchscreen computer product with Apple.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-01-07T19:02:27+00:00

    I have been struggling for months to fix these issues since I upgraded from Windows 8.1 to 10. There were two issues 100% processor usage and 100% disk usage. First one seems to be fixed after some tweaks but 100% disk usage is getting on my nerves... turned my Sony Vaio i7 with 12gb RAM into trash. I don't use skype at all nor have this "prefetch resources to load pages more quickly" in my chrome, instead I have "use a prediction service to load pages more quickly".

    Tried troubleshooting hardware but no issues. If there is some new updates on solutions please share.

    I'm already moved to Mac Pro, peace of mind, but still trying to fix my vaio. I'd hate to waste a thousand euros for microsoft garbage.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-01-06T21:57:17+00:00

    Yes, number 2 definitely works and #3 helps also.  Another tip is to deny most apps to work in the background.  Unless your addicted to the built in apps remove them - Xbox, Weather, News, etc.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-01-06T20:37:48+00:00

    If turning off WiFi and turning on Airplane Mode solves your problem, you should try:

    • Disabling "Wininet Cache Task" in Task Scheduler
    • Turning off "Updates from more than one place" in Settings>Update & security>Windows Update>Advanced options>Choose how updates are delivered
    • Turning off "Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows" in Settings>System>Notifications & actions
    • Signing out of OneDrive
    • Signing in with a local account instead of your Microsoft account

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  5. Anonymous
    2017-01-06T16:21:00+00:00

    For me I have found that Disk Usage upon start-up will start at almost 0% by turning off the WI-FI and turning on Airplane Mode.

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