Disk utilization is at 100% while read/write speed remains 0 KB/s on average, with an average response time of 0 ms.
Disk utilization is at 100% while read/write speed remains 0 KB/s on average, with an average response time of 0 ms.
MrSniper360
04-16-2016, 09:53 AM #1Hello everyone. My computer has become unstable lately. I have a 1TB HDD dedicated to games like Steam and Origin. During gaming sessions, the drive suddenly reaches 100% usage while there’s no data transfer and no response time. I’m planning to clean up Windows 10 1803, remove the existing SSD, install a blank one, and format it for testing. The issue persists—still 100% usage with zero activity. After searching online, some reports suggest the HDD might be failing. I’ve tried running tests based on what Google showed, but it seems the drive is at risk of failure.
kenken0724
04-16-2016, 02:26 PM #3Testing copy of ISO file from HDD F:\ (Repository) to E:\ (Steam)
The_King333
04-16-2016, 09:35 PM #4It might be a faulty drive, especially after more than 1000 days of operation. Standard mechanical drives with full disk usage often show this issue, typically around 9 times out of 10. Simply trying other options won’t solve the problem. Replacing the SSD won’t help with an HDD. You should consider swapping the drive. Running HDTunePro can be useful, but when I encounter similar problems, I replace the drive right away—it’s affordable enough that risking it isn’t worth it. Macrium Reflect is straightforward and, depending on the condition, you can usually clone it to a new drive in just a few hours without data loss. Based on my experience, at least three HDD swaps happen daily under similar conditions, and almost every time it’s a failing drive.
lilycotterill
04-17-2016, 12:29 AM #5What you say checks out, my gut also indicates the HDD is likely to fail... but computer parts aren't inexpensive in my country. However, S.M.A.R.T. has reported that the HDD is in good condition, as it usually stays idle unless I play games.
AlmightyEag
04-17-2016, 02:29 AM #6Well, the issue is whether you prioritize your data. If it works now, it might not work later. Make the change quickly.
Faze360_MAXR
05-05-2016, 02:17 PM #7I've had plenty of drives that have said in a testing application they were fine but really weren't, I don't usually base everything on what S.M.A.R.T or HDTune says for that reason they check for specific issues not everything. And even though it is sitting idle the drive is still running, the disk is still spinning no matter what if it's getting power, doesn't matter if it's in use or not.
I saved the game first. SSD 120GB was 60 USD, 1TB SSD cost 313 USD in my region, plus 1TB HDD was 80 USD. All computer parts are quite extensive. Moved game data to another friend’s HDD. Ran ATA Secure Erase (took 4 hours). Used GParted to create a new partition with GPT scheme and NTFS 32K blocks (excluding Microsoft reserved partitions). Booted into Windows, changed NTFS security—owner set to SYSTEM, permissions set to Everyone. Made ACL light for FAT32 only; exFAT not allowed because Steam marks it as FAT32. Restored the backup game and played it. So far it’s working well. I increased partition allocation from 4K to 32K since many games use large *.pak files, which speeds up reading.
● Access control panel > Hardware and Sound > Power options
● Click “Change Plan Settings” then “Change Advanced Power Settings”
● In front of “PCI Express”, add a plus sign and set “Line State Power Management” to off for both battery and plugged in.
https://i.sstatic.net/XbKjf0cg.png
2. Turn off both “SysMain” and “Windows Event Log” services. This was my method during the second attempt. It seems the event log was continuously recording events, leading to excessive logging.
● Launch Task Manager via “Open Resource Monitor”, go to Performance tab, click “Open Resource Monitor” at the bottom.
● If this matches your case, you should notice background logs appearing (see screenshot below).
● To resolve, close services for both “SysMain” and “Windows Event Log”. Right-click their properties and stop them instead of keeping them enabled.
● If you encounter error “Error 1061: The service cannot accept control messages at this time.”
● Open Command Prompt as Administrator and execute “chkdsk C: /f /r”.
● When prompted, select “Schedule on next restart” and press Y.
● Restart your PC. This should resolve the issue. If everything works after reboot, consider setting the Windows Event Log service to automatic. Otherwise, keep it disabled.
3. Execute System File Checker and Health Restore.
● Run Command prompt as Administrator and type “sfc /scannow”.
● Follow prompts to fix corrupted system files that might be affecting performance.
4. Update your drive drivers and refresh your SSD firmware.
5. Perform a malware scan using reputable antivirus software, such as Bitdefender. A 30-day free trial is available if you remember.
6. If you recently added Steam or games from Steam and notice disk issues afterward, uninstall or reinstall Steam to resolve the problem.
7. Verify Windows updates.
● Summary: The methods above should address your concern.
● You can review my discussion with ChatGPT for additional ideas here: https://chatgpt.com/share/682590be-62dc-...063e04b168
I hope this helps everyone
Alexjr977
So far I encountered this issue twice and each time the fix varied. Please try the approaches listed below. 1. Turn off "Line State Power Management".
● Access control panel > Hardware and Sound > Power options
● Click “Change Plan Settings” then “Change Advanced Power Settings”
● In front of “PCI Express”, add a plus sign and set “Line State Power Management” to off for both battery and plugged in.
https://i.sstatic.net/XbKjf0cg.png
2. Turn off both “SysMain” and “Windows Event Log” services. This was my method during the second attempt. It seems the event log was continuously recording events, leading to excessive logging.
● Launch Task Manager via “Open Resource Monitor”, go to Performance tab, click “Open Resource Monitor” at the bottom.
● If this matches your case, you should notice background logs appearing (see screenshot below).
● To resolve, close services for both “SysMain” and “Windows Event Log”. Right-click their properties and stop them instead of keeping them enabled.
● If you encounter error “Error 1061: The service cannot accept control messages at this time.”
● Open Command Prompt as Administrator and execute “chkdsk C: /f /r”.
● When prompted, select “Schedule on next restart” and press Y.
● Restart your PC. This should resolve the issue. If everything works after reboot, consider setting the Windows Event Log service to automatic. Otherwise, keep it disabled.
3. Execute System File Checker and Health Restore.
● Run Command prompt as Administrator and type “sfc /scannow”.
● Follow prompts to fix corrupted system files that might be affecting performance.
4. Update your drive drivers and refresh your SSD firmware.
5. Perform a malware scan using reputable antivirus software, such as Bitdefender. A 30-day free trial is available if you remember.
6. If you recently added Steam or games from Steam and notice disk issues afterward, uninstall or reinstall Steam to resolve the problem.
7. Verify Windows updates.
● Summary: The methods above should address your concern.
● You can review my discussion with ChatGPT for additional ideas here: https://chatgpt.com/share/682590be-62dc-...063e04b168
I hope this helps everyone Alexjr977