Search Google Drive for multiple system tray icons with heavy CPU activity.
Search Google Drive for multiple system tray icons with heavy CPU activity.
I've experienced problems with Google Drive, causing high CPU usage (typically 25%-35%) and forcing the laptop fan to run continuously while it's in use. Additionally, I notice multiple system tray icons appearing repeatedly. These disappear when I hover my mouse over them, but there seems to be an underlying issue. What is happening and how can I fix it?
To open Google Drive, you may need to press a specific key, click the mouse, or start Task Manager. Check the Task Manager for any unfamiliar applications launching during setup. The Task Scheduler might also show which app is triggered when Google Drive starts. Review the Reliability History for any recurring errors or patterns linked to multiple system icons. Another cause could be corrupted Windows files—use "sfc /scannow" and "dism" to repair them.
I just launched GD by double-clicking an icon on the desktop. It doesn’t run every day because it uses a lot of resources. I usually perform a regular sync when I’m not using the laptop for work.
I looked in Task Manager and noticed about five Google Drive processes loading while they were starting, but I’m not sure if that’s typical. One of them tends to use a lot of memory, around 25%.
I also checked the Task Scheduler and didn’t find any Google Drive tasks there.
Running sfc revealed some errors, so I restarted the system.
There were no red flags in the Reliability History either. A few times Google Drive was stopped weeks ago, but that happened with other programs too.
The dism command displayed a menu of possible subcommands, which I don’t understand.
Now GD is running and the issue persists. Imes building up in the system tray, and the laptop is getting very hot.
It's completely overwhelming now. Almost the entire taskbar is filled with Google Drive icons. See this link: https://ibb.co/hdH1sdG
I've observed that there are typically seven processes for Google Drive in the Task Manager, with one consuming a lot of CPU power. Attempting to disable Anti-Virus didn't help. I also noticed the folders aren't syncing properly over the past week or two. It seems Google Drive isn't functioning correctly on my system.
Have you noticed any processes active in Task Manager, Resource Monitor, or even Process Explorer that might be linked to the expanding icons?
Note: Process Explorer is available from Microsoft.
Reference link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinte...s-explorer
My main concern seems to be a severely damaged or faulty GD.
Remove GD entirely.
Another possibility is malware.
Execute Windows Security and a few additional antivirus programs to try and locate and eliminate any threats. Just in case.
Review Windows Update History: see if there were any issues with updates.
As discussed, there are 7 instances of GD, but I'm unsure what's considered normal versus abnormal. One tends to use about 30% CPU, which seems unusual. I suspect a corrupt file might be involved, though I've already uninstalled and reinstalled it twice. Another problem is that it can't be removed anymore—it doesn't appear in the installed programs list. The executable runs correctly but isn't listed when adding or removing programs. Clearly something is amiss.
Latest Update:
I successfully removed the program by using Revo Uninstaller. A standard uninstall failed because it left files on the system that were likely damaged. I reinstalled from scratch and re-downloaded all data from the drive, which took around 24 hours. Now it functions properly in offline mode. However, I still can't leave the program running as it consumes a lot of CPU; I turn it off after syncing and turn it on periodically during the week. Another issue was that placing the offline folder in a non-default location caused problems. After letting it sync for more than 36 hours with nothing inside, I reinstalled and it now chooses the default location correctly. If you're facing this problem, consider using a third-party tool like Revo Uninstaller to completely erase all Google Drive-related files, then reinstall and set the default location for My Drive (if possible). Allow it time to sync—possibly more than 12 hours—and see if it resolves the issue. I'll update if further problems arise.