Guide: Fix ‘100% Disk Usage Error in Windows 10’ Issue
Your Windows 10 PC is running slow and the Task Manager shows a disk usage of 100 percent. It appears your hard drive is overworked, but the cause remains unclear.
Fixing 100% disk usage error is easy. Follow these steps to get your PC running faster and make it usable again: 1) Close unnecessary programs; 2) Disable Windows Search; 3) Disable Superfetch; 4) Check for viruses and malware; 5) Run the CHKDSK command. With these steps, you can quickly resolve the 100% disk usage issue and get your PC back up and running.
1. Disable Windows Search
Windows Search is a feature that allows users to quickly locate files on their hard drive. It works by constantly indexing all files, though this can impact PC performance. Turning off Windows Search will slow down the search process.
Press Windows + R to open the RUN command, then type CMD to launch the command prompt.
Enter the command “black window” into the prompt and hit enter to open it.
The Windows search service can be stopped by using the command “net.exe stop ‘Windows search’”.
Check if the 100% disk usage error is still present. If not, you’ll need to disable Windows Search permanently. To do this, open the services.msc file via the RUN command after restarting it.
Access Windows Search by right-clicking and selecting Properties.
Change the Startup Type to Disabled and click Apply.
To reverse the effect, start instead of stop in the command.
2. Turn off Superfetch
Microsoft claims that Superfetch can help Windows PCs boot faster. However, users may want to disable the feature if their PC does not start up quickly enough when coming out of sleep or hibernation mode.
To restart the command prompt, type “CMD” in the RUN window (Windows + R) and hit enter.
Verify if the Task Manager continues to display a 100% disk usage error.
3. Use CheckDisk Command
To restart the command prompt, type “CMD” in the RUN command and press Enter. This will open the prompt, where you can then enter a command.
The Windows utility chkdsk.exe can be used to scan and repair hard drive errors, with the command “/f/r” prompting it to fix any found issues.
Confirm your actions by typing ‘y’ and pressing Enter.
Restart your computer to initiate a disk check - make sure to save all your work first.
4. Reset virtual memory
When RAM is insufficient to perform tasks, Windows uses hard drive memory as virtual memory. If a virtual memory leak is suspected, resetting it may resolve the issue.
Press the Windows button and search for “advanced system settings.” Under the Advanced tab, select “Performance” and click “Settings.”
Return to the Advanced tab, then select Change under Virtual memory.
Uncheck the “Automatically manage paging file size” option if it is not already. Then, select the primary drive where your operating system is installed (usually C) and choose “Custom format.” Set the original size to the recommended value and maximum size to 1.5 times your RAM; for 4 GB RAM, do not exceed 6144 MB.
To ensure your computer is running optimally, click ‘Set’ and ‘OK’ in all applicable areas, then check Task Manager to confirm the 100% disk usage error has been resolved.
5. Turn off Windows Defender or Antivirus
Windows Defender, the built-in antivirus for all Windows versions, is often supplemented with third-party programs like Kaspersky, Norton or AVG. However, these can be resource-heavy and may not be necessary - try disabling them to see if the issue persists.
Users can quickly disable Windows Defender, and other antivirus programs, with a right-click option in the system tray.
6. Clear cache and temporary files
Recent events have raised concerns about the safety of third party software such as CCleaner, so it’s best to manually clear your system’s cache and temporary files. To do this, simply type ’temp’ in the Run Command.
Select and delete all files in this location with CTRL + A - Windows will regenerate them when needed.
Re-evaluate your system’s performance.
7. Skype
For years, users have complained that Skype is a resource hog, and the issue persists with Windows 10. To prevent this, it’s important to quit Skype before continuing. This can be done from the system tray or Task Manager, or by navigating to the folder where it was installed manually.
To access the properties of the Skype.exe file, users can either right-click on it and select Properties or use the ALT + Enter shortcut.
To alter permissions, click ‘Edit’ on the Security tab.
To free up disk space, select all application packages and enable the write option in the Allow column. Click Apply and OK to save changes and recheck disk usage.
8. Google Chrome Prefetch Setting
Google Chrome is notorious for its resource-heavy usage. It’s often the top program in Task Manager when sorted by Memory. To reduce its impact, open a new tab and click the three-dot menu, then select Settings.
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the advanced option.
Disable the “Use a prediction service to load pages faster” setting under Privacy and Security for enhanced privacy.
9. Shut down Windows Tips
New Windows 10 users may find the range of options and settings overwhelming. To make things easier, Windows offers helpful tips and tricks – but if you don’t need them, you can easily turn them off. To access Settings, press Windows + I or search for it using the Windows button.
Turn off the “Get tips, tricks, and suggestions” feature in Windows’ Notifications & Actions settings.
To err is Computer
Fixing the 100% disk usage error on your PC is easy and can help improve its performance. If you’ve already tried one of the solutions listed, or have another method to share, let us know in the comments.
If you’re stuck trying to copy an error message from a Windows window, click the link below for instructions on how to do it.
Fix ‘100% Disk Usage Error in Windows 10’ Issue: benefits
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Final note
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