Disk drive C is constantly active

[Robert]

Sometimes my main disk drive gets very busy when I am not using the system.
How can I find what is causing this?
I have scanned the system for viruses and spyware with no problems
discovered.

Thanks, Robert

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Windows XP will periodically index your files for optimum
performance. It will also partially defrag your drive if it is
excessively fragmented. This occurs when your PC is idle
and is normal.

Windows XP's Built-In Optimization
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,1149277,00.asp

If you wish to disable the Indexing Service, perform the following:
Go to Start > Run and type: SERVICES.MSC , and hit enter.
Scroll down to the "Indexing Service", right-click on it and select
Properties and set the Startup Type to Disabled, then click Apply.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Sometimes my main disk drive gets very busy when I am not using the system.
| How can I find what is causing this?
| I have scanned the system for viruses and spyware with no problems
| discovered.
|
| Thanks, Robert



---
avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
Virus Database (VPS): 0519-0, 05/09/2005
Tested on: 5/9/2005 10:44:34 AM
avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2005 ALWIL Software.
http://www.avast.com

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Robert,

See also.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...lp/html/xehowdisablingdiskdefragmentation.asp

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

BTW, that article was originally written for XP-Embedded. However, the
"EnableAutoLayout" registry setting very much applies to Windows XP Home and
Professional. Personally, I would not disable this feature, as it runs
during the idle time and does not affect my work anyway.

Description about this feature, as shown in Tweak UI screen:

"Optimize hard disk when idle" check box allows Windows to rearrange
files on the hard disk when the computer is not in use to improve
performance.

If you don't want this feature, you can disable the auto-optimization
feature using Tweak UI. Download/Install Tweak UI and run it. Look in the
General section, and uncheck "Optimize hard disk when idle".

TweakUI for Windows XP: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/tweakui.htm

Manual registry edit:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\SOFTWARE
\Microsoft
\Windows
\CurrentVersion
\OptimalLayout

Value name: EnableAutoLayout
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Possible values: 1 | 0

 

[Robert]

Got it! You MVPs are just great. Thanks a million.
Robert

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Thanks for the feedback! Robert.