ntoskrnl.exe 100% disk usage windows 8.0 and 8.1
This is a bug report. I hope Microsoft will take it seriously as it took me a whole day and much stress to track it down. Basically my problem was the same as this: http://slopjong.de/2013/04/23/extremely-high-disk-activity-with-windows-8-and-how-to-fix-it/ However in the graphic on this site it appears to show that Virtualbox is the culprit. However this is unlikely to be the case, as the author of the site fixed his problem by following his own advice. This is an extremely common problem as this Google search indicates:

https://www.google.co.uk/#q=ntoskrnl.exe+100+disk+usage+windows+8

To attempt to address my own problem first I disabled all non-microsoft services in Windows 8.1 professional. When this had no effect on the problem, I then disabled all non-essential Microsoft services. In turn. when this has no effect I disabled all user installed start-up items. Again when this failed to have an impact, I changed my browser from Firefox to Google Chrome, as I noted that the extremely high disk utilisation was at it's worst when using Firefox. This also had no effect.

I then tried a variation of my search on Google "ntoskrnl.exe 100 disk usage windows 8" (I can't remember the exact variation) and stumbled over the above site at the beginning of this message. I had by that point tried everything that was in my power to try. But I noted from this article that the author recommended changing the power plan from 'balanced', to 'high performance'. Since I had   exhausted every other avenue, I decided to try this and like magic, instantly it worked. So there is clearly a bug in Windows 8.1 (and 8 prior to this) that causes 100% disk utilisation. I thought someone at MS might like to know about it and come up with a way to fix it.

Below is my system configuration. Please note this system configuration may contain a number of errors, as it was generated with several non-essential Microsoft services disabled. I do not believe these issues need to be addressed. However the issue of 100% disk utilisation when using a 'balanced' power plan on Windows 8.1 (and 8.0) almost certainly does.

PS

This message board system will not allow me to post my full system configuration. MS need a better bug reporting system! Apple allow the public to submit bug reports, so why not Microsoft too. The public can find useful bugs!
December 3rd, 2013 6:51pm

Hi Karen,

I am also having a similar problem. My ntoskrnl seems to be constantly accessing the disk at about 260 - 280MB/s. Can you tell me where I can upload the .etl file to (I know you said Skydrive, but who's?)?

Also, under the Windows Assessment Console, what test should we run? Should it be the Hardware Performance?

Thanks,

John


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December 9th, 2013 1:14pm

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=DD4BA6A3F312AE94!944&authkey=!AHGa4ROe2MXZhM0&ithint=file%2c.etl

There's the file.

And I already have a thread for my problem:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-performance/windows-81-100-disk-usage-sometimes/e28ca4c0-4a38-4cf9-b0a3-02e3c0dc3c4b

I would have made these clickable links, but since I'm waiting on my account verification (for... some reason) these will have to do for now.
December 17th, 2013 8:37pm

Hi Folks,

Had this issue for a day or so.  Running on a new Dell PC (which is excellent).  I have removed the Dell Service Detect software (I think it's DSD 4008), and the issue, at least for now, appears to be resolved.

I'd always recommend removing a lot of the manufacturer software anyway - forgot I had installed it!

Good luck.

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February 26th, 2014 4:23pm

Hi,

I am on Windows 8.1 and I also had the same problem of 100% HDD usage.

Half way through reading this, I also switched my power plan to "High Performance" from "Balanced". I checked on task manager after that, and the Disk usage has moved down to between 20 and 30%, which sounds just right. 

Thanks,

Kyaw San Min

  • Edited by KyawSanMin Thursday, March 13, 2014 2:58 AM
March 13th, 2014 2:53am

I found this answer when searching for a fix to a similar problem on my recently upgraded Win 8.1 machine (from Win 7 --> Win 8 --> Win 8.1).

For me, it turned out that I had installed "Zune" earlier in the day to try and help a colleague download pictures from her Windows phone. I assume Zune was indexing all the media on my PC, however, it was utilising so much disk that the whole machine ground to a halt (I was typing faster than it could appear on the screen). The weird thing was that the Zune process wasn't even running - it was ntoskrnl.exe that was taking up all the processor/disk usage. Zune must hook into the OS to do the indexing for it.

I assume if I had let it finishing indexing it would have eventually fixed itself, but I am impatient so I uninstalled Zune and after a few minutes everything is back to normal!

Hope this helps someone else.

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April 16th, 2014 2:33am

I uploaded the .etl file to OneDrive and can u analysis it? thanks so much.

http://1drv.ms/1hYzUdh


  • Edited by 54273 Saturday, June 14, 2014 9:35 PM
June 14th, 2014 9:33pm

one way to perk up 8.1 performance is to install more RAM

my atom cpu on my netbook runs 8.1 fine

a SSD is another way to perk up a rig

 
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June 14th, 2014 9:57pm

I uploaded the .etl file to OneDrive and can u analysis it? thanks so much.

http://1drv.ms/1hYzUdh


54273

There are 3 issues here.  First Chrome, Second mpc-hc_nvo.exe (a codec package) and third SQLserver.  Chrome has at least 12 processes running.  I would try a different browser to see if the problem persists.

June 15th, 2014 3:42am

You legend, that High performance trick did it for me... it seems a bit ridiculous, but it worked :)
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October 26th, 2014 1:44am

Hi Karen,

I am unable to post the link for some reason. How else can I share the onedrive link with you?

December 6th, 2014 5:29pm

I got this issue fixed by increasing the page file size.

thanks

Prabhat

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January 10th, 2015 8:49am

this seems to fix, after registry clean up, defragmentation, disc clean and setting up my disk page to 8000Mb -18000Mb fixed problem of 100% usage. if it spikes again i will let you know :)
June 4th, 2015 6:19am

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