Excessive hard disk activity - please help!

[Jerry]

Vista Ultimate 32-bit with 4GB memory running on a 500GB Raid1 HD.
The hard disks are almost ALWAYS running, especially when the computer is
idle. I disabled the Windows Search service, but that didn't change
anything.
Any ideas as to what that might be? Any good program that can tell me
real-time what app is accessing the disk?

 

[j90qfj90q34fjwefi2]

Because it automatically indexes your hard drive AND it automatically defrags
your hard drive when its IDLE. How dumb is that???? You have to hack some
registry crap to turn it off too. MS, let US decide when to defrag, and give
us option to turn auto defrag OFF easy!!!!

 

[PNutts]

Normally I don't feed the trolls, but...

You think it is dumb to index and defrag when the computer is idle? Are you
are really suggesting you do it when the computer is under load?

What I think you mean is that you simply want to turn off the defrag.
Interesting. If you install a third party defragger, would you also set it to
manual? Just curious.

 

[Jerry]

I admit to being very dumb. That's why I post here, hoping for help, because
I don't know how to do it on my own.

I actually have a 3rd party defrag, and I set it up to run when the computer
is REALLY idle, meaning when I'm not there (at night). And what I would like
now is to get rid of the annoying constant background noise of the disks
while I am sitting AT the computer an trying to get some work done.

Anyway, in my case it is NOT the defrag (see above), and with the Search
service disabled, shouldn't be the indexing either, right?

 

[PNutts]

Hi Jerry.

My response was to the response you received from "j90qfj90q34fjwefi2 ",
which was ignorant and not helpful. Your question is appropriate and
hopefully the people in this forum who are smarter than me (not hard to do)
will have a quick solution for you.

 

[j90qfj90q34fjwefi2]

Ya i think its dumb b/c experience has shown that it will start when ur
computer is idle, and it can't just *STOP*, it takes a wile to settle down
when it detects me starting to use my computer. I would rather schedule a
actual defrag utility to run at night. AT LEAST WE NEED AN EASY OPTION TO DO
THAT IMHO

 

[PNutts]

Vista Ultimate 32-bit with 4GB memory running on a 500GB Raid1 HD.
The hard disks are almost ALWAYS running, especially when the computer is
idle. I disabled the Windows Search service, but that didn't change
anything.
Any ideas as to what that might be? Any good program that can tell me
real-time what app is accessing the disk?

I did a search of this forum using "drive activity" and came up with some
hits. I don't know how to copy a direct link to posts in the web browser
client, so I'll copy it below. The thread is titled "disk thrash" and the
author is Stephen Porter. Keep in mind this was Stephen's response to someone
else's post.

Stephen Porter wrote:
It's not a problem, and it doesn't need a solution. Just ignore the disk
light flashing and get on with your work.*

Disk activity (at any time, not just after booting) can be due to lots of
things, including:

1/ the indexing service, which makes your searches faster, and is thus a
GOOD THING

2/ superfetch, which speculatively preloads files into RAM that it "expects"
you to need (based on your usage patterns so far), which greatly increases
response times and is thus a GOOD THING

3/ the disk defragger starting up, which prevents your disks from becoming
fragmented, and is thus a GOOD THING

4/ Vista reading the start-up performance data and shuffling the files
around on your hard disk in order to make your system boot more quickly,
which is thus a GOOD THING

5/ your security software (antivirus, anti-malware) updating itself and
scanning some files, which goes without saying is a GOOD THING

In other words, it's just doing what sophisticated OSs of all varieties do.

For all the activities in 1/ to 4/ above, the activity happens at the lowest
CPU priority and lowest I/O priority, and thus backs off immediately you
need the CPU or I/O for yourself.

*I've read that there is a rare and intransigent bug that affects both Vista
and XP, which causes disk thrashing after startup, and significantly affects
performance. Note, this is quite different from the usual Vista
post-startup thrash, which shouldn't affect performance.

If your performance really is being badly affected (and it's not just
psychological due to hearing the disk thrash) you may be suffering from that
bug. I believe the bug has something to do with Microsoft (or Windows?)
Update - you may wish to do some online research if you do have that
problem.

SteveT

 

[PNutts]

Now *that's* a good question and here's an answer courtesy John Barnett
(Google is a good thing):

http://vistasupport.mvps.org/disable_disk_defragmenter_schedule.htm

In the interest of fairness, it appears the defrag runs once a week by
default, not when the computer is idle. I've only researched it for about
five minutes, so if I'm wrong let me know. I don't want to sling
"reverse-FUD".

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Are things getting a bit boring down there in Hicksville?

 

[connor]

Vista Ultimate 32-bit with 4GB memory running on a 500GB Raid1 HD.
The hard disks are almost ALWAYS running, especially when the computer is
idle. I disabled the Windows Search service, but that didn't change
anything.
Any ideas as to what that might be? Any good program that can tell me
real-time what app is accessing the disk?

Jerry,

Based on comments seen elsewhere regarding constant disk activity, I disabled
indexing and windows defender but that did not stop the activity. Based on yet
another recommendation, I disabled Super Fetch. That did the trick. No more
constant disk activity. I do not detect any degredation in performance with these
three services disabled.

I hope this helps.

Kind regards,
Gary

 

[j90qfj90q34fjwefi2]

I guess M$ is perfect and knows what is best for everyone's computers....
nobody could POSSIBLY have any different needs than you. everybody is
generic. everybody needs the automatic defragger, and all the default
settings. that's why there are no complaints with vista, and everything is
perfect. Right? ALL YOU JUST STFU

 

[Jerry]

Thanks, Gary.

I just stopped all three services and set them to Disabled. Unfortunately,
while I write this, the hard disk is still grinding :-(
Oh, yes , and I am 100% certain my system is free of malware.

 

[Charlie Tame]

Right click drive icon, go properties, make sure "Index this drive" box
is not checked.

 

[connor]

Thanks, Gary.

I just stopped all three services and set them to Disabled. Unfortunately,
while I write this, the hard disk is still grinding :-(
Oh, yes , and I am 100% certain my system is free of malware.

Jerry,

Stab in the dark - could it have anything to do with RAID 1? I do not have RAID
installed on my system.

I know how distracting it is to have constant disk activity for no apparent
reason.

Kind regards,
Gary

 

[Bill]

Based on comments seen elsewhere regarding constant disk activity, I disabled
indexing and windows defender but that did not stop the activity. Based on yet
another recommendation, I disabled Super Fetch. That did the trick. No more
constant disk activity. I do not detect any degredation in performance with these
three services disabled.

Same results here. I disabled SuperFetch and Windows Search completely a
few days ago (Administrative Tools/Computer Management/Services), and
have noticed a tremendous reduction in hard drive activity. SuperFetch
can supposedly speed up a system by loading frequently used applications
into memory, but for my own computer usage I see no difference with it
disabled--other than a noticeable drop in hard drive activity. As far as
Indexing goes, I don't have to search my own system often enough to need
the feature.

 

[Fitz]

Even with a third party defrag installed, you will have to turn off the
Windows defrag program. Start>Accessories>System Tools>Defrag>turn off
"Run on a Schedule". To view what services and applications are
accessing the hard drive go to Performance and Reliability Monitor in
Control Panel> Administrative Tools. If you expand the headers under the
graph, you can see what is accessing Disk, CPU, Memory and Network.
Windows Defender by default runs at 2 AM, and it uses a lot of resources
and runs a long time- you can change that schedule or turn it off.

Fitz