Got 100% disk usage in Windows 10? Here are several tips & potential fixes! One is bound khổng lồ help you fix this annoying Windows issue.

Windows 10 is largely a reliable operating system, but one problem has plagued it since launch: the 100% disk usage bug.

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Resulting in system-wide hangs và freezes, the bug appears in various scenarios & is straightforward to lớn resolve, if you know what you are looking for.

One of the following fixes should resolve any Windows 10 100% disk usage bug whether your computer uses an HDD or SSD storage.

When the error was first discovered, only a few culprits were found. But as time passed, despite the 100% disk usage error being reported lớn Microsoft, more causes of this bug have been discovered.

Click the link above for each possible cause of the bug to see how khổng lồ fix it. Kiểm tra the steps one at a time, referring to lớn the Windows Task Manager after each khổng lồ confirm whether the disk’s 100% usage has dropped và Windows 10 is back to normal.

Even if you find a solution, a Windows Update could reset the changes you've made. Bookmarking this page will help you find it in the future và run through the fixes again.

1. Windows 10 100% Disk Usage Causing Slow Performance? Run Disk Check

This performance issue is most obvious when attempting khổng lồ use Windows search to find a tệp tin or program, & anything else that requires the drive to vị some work (perhaps copying and pasting a group of files).

To establish whether it is a problem that is affecting you, when your computer next slows down, use Task Manager lớn run a disk check.

First, press Ctrl+Alt+Del & select Task Manager (or right-click the Taskbar & select Task Manager, or hit Ctrl+Shift+Esc). Cảnh báo that this may take some time to open with the drive being under strain.

On the Processes tab look for the Disk column. If you're having problems with drive performance, this will be at 100%, và shaded red lớn indicate whether you have a problem or not.

Problem sectors on your HDD can cause the 100% disk usage issue in Windows 10. However, using Windows' built-in disk kiểm tra can fix this:

mở cửa Windows Explorer Select This PC Right-click on the C: drive and select Properties > Tools Under Error checking click on Check > Scan drive

Wait while the system scans the drive; a reboot may be required for a full disk repair. This should deal with the error.

2. Update Your Anti-Virus if Windows 10 Disk Is Running at 100%

As with any performance issue, the first thing to do is confirm that your computer hasn't been infected with malware. Your security software should be able to khuyến mãi with this, whether it's a miễn phí app or a paid suite.

At the very least, tools like Malwarebytes Anti-Malware should be able to scan your system drive and detect any problems. Chú ý that with a heavy load on your drive already this may take a while.

If threats are found, use the software's recommendations to discard them and reboot. Next, check your drive's performance again. Hopefully, you've resolved the issue; if not, then malware wasn't to blame, so read on.

3. Windows tìm kiếm Can Cause 100% Disk Usage in Windows 10

The next thing to kiểm tra is whether the 100% disk usage error has anything to vì chưng with Windows Search.

A bug in Windows 10 results in a "search loop" that causes an increased load on the system drive.

To stop this & prevent it from happening during your current session (until Windows is rebooted):

Right-click Start Select Windows PowerShell (Admin) Enter net.exe stop "Windows search"

That should solve most issue. If there is no change, even after rebooting, you can permanently disable Windows search and Indexing.

Press WIN+R Type msc, then click OK In the Services window that opens find Windows Search and double-click to xuất hiện In Windows tìm kiếm Properties find Startup type & select Disabled

You can also click Stop to lớn abort the service Click OK lớn save your changes. A few moments after disabling Windows Search, your Windows 10 performance should improve considerably. If not, move on…

4. Disable SysMain to Fix 100% Disk Usage in Windows 10

Another Windows 10 feature identified as a potential cause of the 100% disk usage issue is the superfetch service. Since Windows 10 1809 (the 2018 Windows 10 October Update) this has been renamed to "SysMain."

To prevent this service from causing the disk usage issue, mở cửa another Windows PowerShell (Admin) & enter:

net.exe stop sysmain

Again, wait a few moments to check whether this has had any effect on your computer's performance. You should also run kiểm tra Disk in PowerShell:

chkdsk.exe /f /rYou'll be informed that your PC must be rebooted for kiểm tra Disk to complete, so make sure you have closed all your applications first.

If this doesn't work, it is likely that you're experiencing a frustrating iteration of this issue that is simple khổng lồ resolve.

5. Is Flash Causing the 100% Disk Usage Bug?

Flash remains one of the most vulnerable aspects of modern computing and should be disabled. Adobe killed off its multimedia plugin in 2020, so there's little reason lớn keep using it, especially as Flash seems to be one of the most common culprits for the 100% hard disk usage in Windows 10 with the Google Chrome browser.

To disable Flash in Google Chrome browser:

xuất hiện Menu > Settings > Privacy và security Click Site Settings Find Flash and set the toggle to lớn Block sites from running Flash Click Back khổng lồ confirm, then restart the browser

The next thing to vị is update to lớn the latest version of Chrome. In most cases this happens automatically, but if not just go to Menu > Help > About Google Chrome and wait for the update khổng lồ complete.

If you can't see any of the options, don't worry. It simply means that your version of Chrome has already updated và no longer supports Flash.

6. Disk Usage at 100%? Switch website Browsers

It may not be Flash that is impacting on your browser performance.

Another cause could be the browser itself, particularly if you're using Google Chrome.

The obvious option is lớn choose a different browser. Windows 10 already has two browsers built in. You probably don't want to lớn use internet Explorer, but Microsoft Edge is an adequate replacement for Chrome.

Several browsers are available, some better than others.

7. Disk at 100% Usage in Windows With Skype

Another widely used application could also be causing your 100% HDD usage is Skype. In an era when online collaboration and video clip meetings is increasing, Skype is a likely culprit.

Since Skype has been more closely integrated with Windows 10, it is a little trickier to khuyễn mãi giảm giá with. What you can do, however, is stop Skype from running khổng lồ help determine if it is the cause of the issues.

Press Win + I to mở cửa Settings Go to Apps > Apps & features & scroll down lớn Skype

Head back to lớn the Task Manager to lớn see the change. You may also consider finding a Skype alternative. If the 100% disk usage bug tends to happen straight after Windows loads, it's a good idea lớn disable Skype from autoloading. Under Runs at log-in, change the switch from On lớn Off.

Further issues with Skype can also be dealt with in this screen. You can Repair, Reset, and even Uninstall Skype khổng lồ aid with your troubleshooting.

8. Has the PCI-Express Firmware Bug Resulted in Windows 10 100% Disk Usage?

Some drivers don't run quite as they should in Windows 10. One that has been discovered to be causing 100% HDD use is the StorAHCI.sys driver, which has a firmware bug. StorAHCI.sys intended for storage devices connected to the PC or laptop motherboard via Advanced Host Controller Interface PCI-Express.

To find out if this is the problem & rule it out:

Right-click Start và choose Device Manager Expand IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers Double-click the AHCI Controller entry In the Driver tab select Driver Details

If the driver listed as C:Windowssystem32DRIVERSstorahci.sys, you could be affected by this bug. Next:

Close the driver details box In the Details tab select Device instance path from the drop-down menu Right-click the value, then Copy. Launch Notepad và Paste the contents Next, press WIN+R and type regedit, và click OK Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystem CurrentControlSetEnumPCI và use the pasted string from Notepad to open the correct AHCI Controller, followed by the random number.

Here, expand Device ParametersInterrupt Management MessageSignaledInterruptProperties and you should see MSISupported listed in the right-hand pane. Double-click this, then change the Value data: khổng lồ 0.

Click OK khổng lồ confirm và follow the instructions khổng lồ restart Windows.

9. Is Steam Causing 100% Disk Usage in Windows 10?

Enjoy gaming and have Steam installed? There's a good chance this digital delivery system is causing 100% disk usage.

Xem thêm: Cách Để Ảnh Đại Diện Zalo Chỉ Mình Tôi, Attention Required!

Usually this is due to lớn update delivery, causing the background downloader to lớn get caught in a loop. Clear the Steam cache to fix this.

First, make sure you have exited Steam. Where Steam is a likely cause of the 100% disk usage error, it may hang when you try to exit. In this case, use the Windows 10 Task Manager khổng lồ close the software.

Next, open the Win + R run box và enter

steam://flushconfigYou'll see a dialogue box, informing you that nội dung will be deleted.

Click OK to lớn proceed.

Note that games và saves will be retained, so there is no risk of them being deleted.

10. Disable Diagnostic Tracking in Windows 10 lớn Stop the Disk Reaching 100%

Finally, it's worth considering the impact of diagnostic tracking in Windows 10. A feature that you might have otherwise disabled for privacy reasons, it has been blamed for 100% HDD use on many PCs.

When it comes khổng lồ reducing your hard disk drive usage, it's quicker khổng lồ simply disable the DiagTrack service. If this is the source of the 100% disk usage error in Windows 10, you can stop the service launching.

However, to vì this you'll need to lớn access Command Prompt in administrator mode.

Click Start và type cmd in the search box In the results select Run as administrator input đầu vào sc config "DiagTrack" start= disabled input sc stop "DiagTrack"

11. Windows Update Can Cause 100% Disk Usage

As well as affecting changes you make lớn your PC when fixing the 100% disk use problem, Windows Update can also be a cause.

This usually only happens when Windows Update has a problem (which is typically due to a file refusing lớn download). You have two options here:

Leave your computer alone---shut all your open applications và wait. Eventually, the files will download, but depending on how Windows Update is scheduled on your computer, it may require a reboot. Shutdown your computer---once you've done that, restart & wait for Windows Update lớn resolve the problem.

Once the update has finished downloading, it's wise to lớn run it as soon as possible. Remember to kiểm tra any previous fixes for 100% disk usage before proceeding; as noted above, Windows Update can reverse these fixes.

12. Reset Virtual Memory to lớn Fix 100% Disk Usage in Windows 10

Virtual memory is a combination of RAM và hard disk space and can be responsible for overuse of your HDD. If there isn't enough RAM lớn perform a task, the HDD is used lớn supplement the RAM. Data moved lớn the HDD is then returned khổng lồ RAM when required.

If you've made it this far, và you've yet to solve the 100% disk usage issue, it could be worth resetting your virtual memory.

In the Advanced tab go lớn Performance > Settings Select the new Advanced tab Under the section labeled Virtual memory click Change
Clear the checkbox for Automatically manage paging file kích cỡ for all drives Next, select the Windows drive (usually C:) and then Custom size địa chỉ cửa hàng an Initial size và a Maximum size; chú ý both are measured in MB rather than GB Once the values are inputted, click Set then OK to continue
These numbers can be confusing, so with the first value, rely on the recommended option. For the maximum value, aim for a figure no more than 1.5 times your system RAM.

For instance, a computer with 4GB of RAM should have no more than 6.5GB (6144MB).

The next step is to lớn clear the temporary files that have been used in the previous virtual memory allocation.

mở cửa Run with WIN+R Enter temp và click OK In the temp directory, select all files with Ctrl+A and hit Delete

13. Activate High Performance Mode to over Windows 10’s 100% Disk Usage Bug

Windows' standard power modes are prone lớn the 100% disk usage bug but switching khổng lồ high performance often overcomes the problem.

The downside, of course, is that your computer will use more power. Thanks khổng lồ modern processor design this shouldn't be a massive issue. However, notebooks và desktop replacement laptops may take a hit on battery life.

To change lớn high performance:

Click WIN+X > nguồn Options In the Power và sleep screen click Additional power nguồn settings Here, choose High performance, then OK

If this isn't a displayed option, you'll need khổng lồ create your own custom nguồn plan. Click Create a power nguồn plan, then choose High performance. Give the plan a name, tweak any personal settings you need then select it as a power plan lớn use.

In a moment or two, the 100% disk usage issue should drop khổng lồ less than 10%.

14. Disk at 100% in Windows 10? Install the Latest SATA Drivers

Could a storage device driver be resulting in the 100% disk usage error?

Your Windows 10 computer almost certainly uses SATA connections for hard drives, SSDs, and optical drives. If the drivers aren't up-to-date, the disk usage error can occur.

Avoid this by upgrading to lớn the latest SATA drivers.

Right click Start In the power User menu select Device Manager Expand Storage controllers Identify the correct controller for your SATA devices lớn update, right-click on each controller and select Update driver
Select the Browse my computer for driver software option Next, choose then Let me pick from a menu of available drivers on my computer Here, choose Standard AHCI Controller & see how this impacts performance
You may need lớn reboot Windows for this khổng lồ take effect. Note that if it doesn't work, you can still try this by checking the manufacturer's trang web for a new driver. This can be installed using the instructions that accompany it.

15. Could Your PC's power nguồn Supply (PSU) Cause 100% Disk Usage?

There is a chance that your computer's hardware is causing the 100% disk usage issue in Windows: specifically, the PSU.

If disk usage issues can be attributed khổng lồ excessive disk activity, then it follows there might be a power-related cause.

100% disk usage has been spotted on Windows 10 laptops running on the battery. Once plugged into the nguồn adaptor, the issue resolves. Similarly, the problem has been shown lớn alleviate once a new PSU is installed in a desktop PC.

Check our guide to new PC nguồn supply units to help you choose a replacement.

16. Windows Help Is Causing 100% HDD Use

Another issue that has been traced to 100% disk usage in Windows 10 is the operating system's built-in active help tool. You'll have noticed this feature that pops up when you're doing something for the first time with useful tips và suggestions.

If you suspect this is causing a problem in Windows 10 with disk usage, you can disable it:

Press WIN+I to xuất hiện Settings Here, select System > Notification và actions Find & disable Get tips, tricks và suggestions as you use Windows

17. Is WaasMedicAgent.exe Slowing Down Windows 10?

Incorrectly identified as a virus or malware, WaasMedicAgent.exe (part of the Windows Update Medic Service) is a Microsoft system process that checks downloaded Windows Update files. If there is a problem with the data, the files are downloaded again – a process that could leave your HDD at 100%.

To fix this,

Press WIN+R to mở cửa a Run box Enter regedit then OK to open Registry Editor Before proceeding, make a registry backup with File > Export, saving the backup somewhere safe In the browser bar, paste this path: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesWaaSMedicSvc In the right pane, right-click Start and choose Modify phối the Value data to 4 then OK to close
Disabling the update medic is an extreme step khổng lồ take. However, it is one way to lớn avoid Windows 10 disk usage hitting 100%.

Disk Usage Should Rarely Be 100%

There is no reason for Windows 10’s disk load lớn be anything close to 100%, under normal usage. A slow computer is one with a problem, and if you cannot fix it by disabling a browser plugin, stopping services, or running your antivirus software, then the problem may well be hardware related.

Perhaps your drive is getting old; it may be defective, or the cables may need replacing.

Try these fixes the next time your Windows computer slows down. Be sure to check your Windows Experience Index periodically to lớn identify performance issues in need of immediate resolution.

Deputy Editor for Security, Linux, DIY, Programming, & Tech Explained, & Really Useful Podcast producer, with extensive experience in desktop và software support.A contributor to Linux Format magazine, Christian is a Raspberry Pi tinkerer, Lego lover and retro gaming fan.

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