Windows 10: 100% Disk Usage On Windows Start-Up

Hello TenForums,

I'm currently having a problem with my Windows 10. Whenever it boots up and goes to the User Login (The Wallpaper for that sometimes takes around 5-6 minutes to actually respond) Which means when I press 'Enter' before those minutes are up; I am stuck thinking why is this so freaking slow? Once I've gotten through the User Login, my Windows 10 starts up with the Desktop faster than it did before. Which in my opinion is a whole lot better! What I don't appreciate is the fact that I had to change the Performance Settings from Razer Cortex Power Settings to Balanced / High Performance. I did this as this seems to be the only way to get my Windows 10 running without 100% Disk Usage.

However, it doesn't fix the problem at hand. Currently, whenever I start-up the PC (Like I said slow loading) I check Task Manager for the first three minutes that have ticked by; only to find that 100% Disk Usage is occurring again. This stops after around 2-3 minutes maximum! I know that this is not really an issue & maybe it's normal, I don't really know. I am bringing this to the TenForums to discuss whether or not it's possible to fix this problem. Is there anyway apart from it being what I think it is:

What do I think it is?
This! - I've currently got Windows Defender turned on with no idea on how to turn it off. I assume that the best way to do that is to turn it off in Services (however, I don't know) Alongside Windows Defender- I have One Malware Scanner installed, and that is Malware Bytes. Does anyone know that even without it running- could it cause my PC to work harder than usual? I've heard how Windows Defender suffers from compatibility issues with other Malware Scanning Software.
Anyone know the Solution?

Thanks,

-

:)

 

Windows 10 hangs after updates

When Windows 10 installs updates, upon restarting the PC it says it is updating and shows a busy symbol, then after a few minutes it starts up but the PC locks up for almost 5 minutes. I start the task manger, which is also slow to start, and it shows 100
percent disk usage without showing what is consuming this. After almost 5 minutes the disk usage goes close to zero and things then work normally.

Is this normal (i.e. 100% disk usage after updates installation???? There is 366 GB free disk space.

 

Disk usage at 100% on start up

Hello,

So I have a reasonably nice gaming setup, with specs listed here:

AMD FX-6300 six-core processor 3.5 GHz

AMD Radeon r7 370 4Gb GDDR5graphics card

Windows 10 Home (version 1709)

8Gb ram

1Tb hard drive

NO SSD

The whole system is 2-3 years old and the problem that I have been facing lately is my disk usage spikes randomly. I used to be able to run PUBG on steam without much problem until mid October when my game would crash every time I try to load into a game.
I'm also having issues with my GPU being between 85-100% when in game, but I don't think that's unnatural for a game like PUBG that's so poorly optimized. Occasionally I can get into a game where my player will already be on the ground, but everything is lagging.
It takes 6 minutes of just sitting there before I can actually start doing stuff in the map with some control. It will continue to lag (like 6-15 FPS type of lag) for the rest of the game. And when I'm not playing games, my disk may fluctuate between 0-100%
with all the usage being through random services, Sysytem (ntoskml or NT Kernel and System), or any other random program. I've tried so many different things between full scan of my hard drive (took a whole night), de-fragmenting my hard drive (which was already
0% fragmented), checked the game files, uninstall/ reinstall of both just the game and all of steam, tinkered in my registry using regedit, fixing that weird skype/internet bug, updates all drivers, checked my hardware to make sure everything was seated properly
and connected, purchases TotalAV premium to check for viruses and trojans (nothing was found), used CCleaner, I've disabled different processes and applications like windows defender, Superfetch, and other "services," and I've changed different settings around,
including power settings from balanced to performance. Nothing has worked, yet. I feel like the only thing I haven't tried is to put in a new graphics card and see if my GPU is on it's way out. I have managed to stop the random disk fluctuating outside of
gaming, but still have GPU maxing out and disk maxing out in game, constantly. I can't even play CS:GO without problems.

I'm not really planning on throwing out the money to get a new GPU at the moment, so any recommendations would be appreciated. Any other questions for me, just reply.

 

What version of Windows 10 are you running - 1607, 1703 or 1709 ?

Is your Malware Bytes the free or paid version ?

You can only run one active AV and then use the "other" AV as non-active (used for manual scan a.s.o.)
If you have the free version of Malware Bytes, then Defender and Smart screen are your active AV.

It is normal for Windows to use some CPU time the first 5 min. after startup, you can try to open the
Resource Monitor in Task Manager to see which processes that are running.

The long waiting time for the log in screen to arrive, is not normal. It could be caused by some conflict
between to processes or programs (maybe which AV should be running).





Also, you could for a start try to change the log in screen picture, to check if this change anything.
(You can always set it back to the preferred one.)

 

Quick Edit: I just shortened the Quote so you don't have to see double. I like to keep things organised if I can help it.
Anyways, in answer to your question; I believe I have Malware Bytes (Free Edition) I don't plan to purchase the Pro Edition unless someone actually recommends it? I don't know much about the Pro Version to be honest with you.
As for changing my Picture for the Lock Screen- I've tried this now, and I feel like it has made a little difference. However, could this be because the Image no longer exists on my PC? Or maybe it's in a location that isn't my User account? It's on my other user account. Would this cause a slower load-up on the User Login Screen? Curious . . .

How would I know what two processes or programs are causing conflict? The only thing I can think of is Windows Defender and possibly Malware Bytes? I do have ZAM but I turned off that Service. Wouldn't that stop Windows Defender from conflicting? :S

 

Hey, the picture for your lock screen should be in you account (Picture folder) copy it from the location you have it
now and paste it to your Picture folder, then choose it to be used for the lock screen. That should speed things up!

Check this about your AV situation:





What is "ZAM" ?

 

Hey LukeJR,
Here are a couple things to try ... if you have't already.

1. Try turning off Fast Startup
Turn On or Off Fast Startup in Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials

2. If you system specs are correct you have an AMD/ATI Video Card, so try disabling EnableULPS
Open Regedit and Search for EnableULPS and set it's value from 1 to 0 ... (Do NOT change EnableULPS_NA)
Close Regedit and Reboot
Note: With EnableULPS set to 1 .... the user usually sees a black screen for a min or so, before the lock/login screen, Even if you're not seeing a black screen, it won't hurt anything to disable it.

3. Set SuperFetch to manual in Windows Services and reboot .... just to see if that wait time improves.

 

Completed what you told me (First one) Moved the Picture from where it was originally located: "Downloads" - Not sure if this would make it run slower on Start-up User Login. But I'm willing to give it a try now. Also checked and it says Windows Defender is Active but Malware Bytes is (OFF) Maybe that means it can't be my AV causing the problem? As for "ZAM" that too is turned off & it stands for Zemana AntiMalware - Ever heard of it? Windows 10 Staff Member recommended it to me. When I was going through a Support session.
So, could it be that the Picture being located in Downloads was causing the problem? Also does having too many items in your Downloads folder slow down to your PC too? And can it cause Disk Usage to reach 100% for longer? :S

 

Hi, you might try this which has significantly reduced disk usage after logon:
Open Task Scheduler. Under Microsoft->Windows->Customer Experience Improvement Program. Right click->disable the 2 tasks.

You don't need them and been known to cause problems. MS collect data and send it in the background.
@topgundcp

 

Thanks, I've just tried this & I feel like this might work. I'll update you on the results.

 

Quick Update: Still got the same problem. Does anyone know what this could be? :S

 

Hi,
We don't have your PC in front of us or what applications you have installed or how you have configured your PC and Applications.

You don't seem to know what you have installed yourself, so how can you expect others to know.
That you really have to work thru this yourself, it maybe several things, no quick fix.

I would start with using the Task Manager and looking at the Processes Tab and sorting the Disk usage column with most at the top. Then try to identify the particular application, feature or whatever it is.
Then go to that application and configure it. Don't just accept defaults as they might introduce unwanted junk like notification icons, auto-updaters, news feeds and the like.
Windows Settings - go thru the whole lot there is around 100 items you may want to switch off, some may reappear after a major version upgrade so you do it all again.

You should be doing this on every install to keep lean and mean continuously rather than leaving it all to accumulate.

 

Did you try this, I had the same problem as you but this fixed it : Windows 10 100% disk usage in Task Manager [SOLVED] - Driver Easy

 

In that it suggests disabling Windows search. I would emphasise that should only be a diagnostic step. If Windows search indexing is involved in this, it indicates there's another issue e.g. a corrupt index database, or I believe a corrupt file it can't access can be a problem. Search indexing when running properly imposes no noticeable overhead, and is very useful.

Try a clean boot and compare the outcome. I have certain startups configured which I want, and I have to wit after logging in whilst they load.

 

Quick update: I've noticed better performance, but I am still confused on why this happens now:
User Login screen shows up (I type in password) Logging in... 3 seconds later it takes me back to User Login
I do it again, and then it logs me in... What could this be?