Win10 something using HDD/SSD constantly..

[redarrow]

So I've noticed this for a while now, on my Win10 installation something permanently uses the HDD or SSD, the drive LED is lit 100% of the time, even when the PC is completely idle - I can leave it for an hour and it never goes off, doesn't even flicker. I know it's not an issue with the drive LED as it doesn't do this when I'm booted into Linux.

I have to be honest that I can't really notice any performance issue per se, but it still bugs me that something is doing this.. I have no idea what it could be...

I have disabled the search indexing thing thinking it might be that - no difference.
I also don't have a pagefile/virtual memory - got 24GB so honestly don't see that I need it, also doesn't help..

What else can I check? I think it's primarily the SSD being used as my PC is pretty quiet, but my HDD does make some noises every few seconds as well.

 

[Rickster]

Open resource monitor and look under disks.

 

[redarrow]

I checked that, the only process that seems to be constantly in the "processes with disk activity" list and showing constant usage is "System" which doesn't seem very useful. :/
Seems to be reading around 120KB/s most of the time, though it drops to zero every now and then, and it's constantly writing 40KB/s.

 

[backstreetboy]

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

 

[halfmoonforever]

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

How to read before posting stupid ****

 

[redarrow]

I already use Linux and have done so for 14 years, believe I even mentioned it in my OP..
It doesn't solve this Windows issue though.

 

[backstreetboy]

You have the latest updates? There's a new one for Windows and Office out.

 

[GoB]

120KB/s is not much... just ignore it, it will be good for your OCD.

If you have to, try stopping services to eliminate it... SuperFetch, Defender, something which may be optimizing startup (unless that's SuperFetch). Check your Startup apps and disable all the useless ones.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Are you using Storage Spaces by any chance?

 

[redarrow]

You have the latest updates? There's a new one for Windows and Office out.

Windows update says: "Your device is up to date. Last checked: Today, ‏‎04:50 PM"

120KB/s is not much... just ignore it, it will be good for your OCD.

If you have to, try stopping services to eliminate it... SuperFetch, Defender, something which may be optimizing startup (unless that's SuperFetch). Check your Startup apps and disable all the useless ones.

Me OCD? :erm: no sir.. I know it's not loads, not concerned that it's destroying my drive or anything, more just puzzled.. why? I mean something must be doing it for some reason, surely can't be something just randomly writing zeros to the disk for no reason at all. A good idea to stop things one by one though I guess, tbh I don't have loads of non default stuff running though - I just use Windows for playing games (did already test obvious stuff like Steam/Origin etc).

Are you using Storage Spaces by any chance?

No idea what that even is? Can I assume no or does it come with Win10 by default?

 

[Rickster]

You got anti virus installed?


Even though it says system.exe it will tell you whats using it.

 

[HavocXphere]

If the LED is solid then its likely connected to the wrong pins on the motherboard

 

[redarrow]

You got anti virus installed?

Yea, Avast free.

If the LED is solid then its likely connected to the wrong pins on the motherboard

Well I did mention it works fine under Linux..


I randomly moved my HDD to a different SATA port and funny enough it seems to have improved this, LED is flickering and stuff now , perhaps something is dodgy on the one port - to be fair my Linux install doesn't really use the HDD (although it is mounted and accessible). There's still a lot of activity happening though, seems more normal now that the LED is actually flashing again. I'm just gonna go with Windows being a bit of a hog.

 

[CrzWaco]

What fixed it for me is going to settings, system, notifications, and turning off "show me tips about Windows."

 

[backstreetboy]

Uninstall Avast. MSE is good enough and gets updated daily or even twice a day.

 

[$m@Rt@$$]

If the LED is solid then its likely connected to the wrong pins on the motherboard

You didn't read his whole post.

 

[Stormer12]

Do you perhaps have outlook 2016 installed, my outlook was using my bandwidght like crazy. even when all mails was downloaded. so i installed my old 2010 version. issue fixed now

and secondly microsoft is spying on you.

I installed https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10

Been pretty much better.