Fix 100% Disk Usage Error in Windows 10 and More with a Hard Drive Upgrade

"100% Disk Usage in Task Manager on Windows 10"

“I have a Dell laptop with 8 GB of RAM and Windows 10 installed. Lately, the device has been freezing frequently, and the Task Manager shows 100% disk usage. Annoyed by this, I end most of the tasks at once, but in a few minutes, the disk usage goes back to 100%! This has been going on for around two weeks. I even tried deleting files from the hard drive, but to no avail. How do I fix the 100% disk usage issue in Windows 10? Also, how can I upgrade my hard drive if that's necessary?”

There are many reasons why the disk usage in Windows 10 might be at 100%. You can refer to these common culprits to identify the issue.

1. Poor performance with Superfetch and Prefetch services

Windows 10 includes the Superfetch and Prefetch services, designed to enhance performance by predicting the tasks a user might execute and preloading the required applications into memory. These services are also among the reasons for high disk usage on your Windows 10 computer.

2. Viruses and Malware

We hate viruses and malware, but they are everywhere, consuming vast resources and making already cramped programs struggle.

3. A typical suite of programs like Skype and Google Chrome

It turns out that one common cause of the 100% disk usage issue in Windows 10 is running Skype and Google Chrome simultaneously. It can also be triggered by other combinations of programs.

4. Hardware issues

Damaged files on your computer's hard drive can cause it to get stuck in a high-disk-usage loop.

Your computer's hard drive may be so old that it can't function properly, even with lots of free space, and your machine plods along like a tortoise.

Read more:

7 Ways to Solve 99% Disk Usage in Windows

Learn effective methods to solve the issue of 99% disk usage in Windows. Follow these 7 ways to optimize your system performance efficiently.

How to fix the 100% disk usage issue on a Windows 10 computer?

Now, you need to confirm the high disk usage error by pressing CTRL + ALT + DEL and selecting Task Manager. On the Processes tab, you'll see a highlighted disk volume displayed in red on the left, with a list of all running tasks on the right. To address your issue, try the following solutions.

**1. Remove Viruses and Malware**

Scan infected files with an antivirus program, and clean them.

**Disabling the Superfetch Service**

Type "services.msc" in the Windows 10 search bar, find the "Superfetch" service, right-click it, and select "Properties." In the Properties window that opens, locate the "Startup type" and set it to "Disabled." Finally, click "OK" to save the settings.

**3. Disable prefetching**

Type “regedit” into the Windows 10 search bar and open Registry Editor. Navigate to \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM. Work your way to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PerfetchParameters by clicking through the folders. Double-click “EnablePrefetcher,” then change the Value data in the DWORD window to 0 to disable Prefetcher entirely.

Replace the hard drive

You should simply figure out whether the error is caused by a hard drive failure. Have you noticed any hard drive issues like loud clicking sounds? Is your computer's hard drive capacity outdated? In this case, it's best to upgrade your hard drive as soon as possible.

Use a Windows backup software to upgrade your hard drive to a larger or new one without reinstalling Windows 10 and applications. It's a quick and easy way to replace a failed hard drive and fix the 100% disk usage error on your Windows 10 PC.

The steps to upgrade the hard drive using Todo Backup are:

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Step 1. On the homepage, find and click on "Tools". You'll see the Clone and other utilities.

Step 2: Select the source disk or partition and click "Next".

Step 3: Then select the target disk. Make sure the target disk is larger than the source disk or partition.

Step 4: A warning message will pop up, telling you that all data on the target disk/partition will be permanently erased for cloning. Click "Continue" if you want to proceed.