HDD 100% Usage

[slimslob]

Re: HDD 100% Usage

This is an extract from a help file I created a while back for various WIN 10 issues. Its worth trying as they are free solutions. You should be able to download it from this link. It is just a basic windows help file that should open when you double click the downloaded file.

FixHundredPerCentError.chm - FileFactory

Hope it helps.

My protection software blocked your link. In the future try not to post malicious links.

[tsbservice]

Re: HDD 100% Usage

My protection software blocked your link. In the future try not to post malicious links.

+1 slim. I think that's blocked because of file type but I actually don't think Gene posted malicious file.

[KenB]

Re: HDD 100% Usage

Just a quick comment. I wouldn't buy a Walmart/Best Buy laptop. They look good on the outside and the price low but they're crap. I'd much rather go with a business laptop. I usually buy used off EBAY. It's worked out great for me.

Those box stores do not sell business grade equipment, never have.

About 2 years ago I needed to buy a personal Windows desktop, and I found a Dell machine online that sounded really good.

I tried to get it at the local BestBuy. They had it in stock, but it came with Windows 10 Home; I need Pro.

I asked if they either had or could get a Pro machine, and the answer was "No", even for different models.

I was able to get it staright from Dell, with Win 10 Pro, at an even better price than BestBuy with their crummy Home version.

Some years back WalMart sold their PCs with "Lindows", a bastardized distro of Linux. made to look like Windows. It made sense...I read that it saved them about $5 per unit, which added to their bottom line. (Let's face it, there is next to no margin in PC hardware anymore.)

Lindows is rated one of the worst, if not THE worst OS ever made. (Although Vista gives it a good run for its money. )

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: HDD 100% Usage

Those box stores do not sell business grade equipment, never have.

About 2 years ago I needed to buy a personal Windows desktop, and I found a Dell machine online that sounded really good.

I tried to get it at the local BestBuy. They had it in stock, but it came with Windows 10 Home; I need Pro.

I asked if they either had or could get a Pro machine, and the answer was "No", even for different models.

I was able to get it staright from Dell, with Win 10 Pro, at an even better price than BestBuy with their crummy Home version.

Some years back WalMart sold their PCs with "Lindows", a bastardized distro of Linux. made to look like Windows. It made sense...I read that it saved them about $5 per unit, which added to their bottom line. (Let's face it, there is next to no margin in PC hardware anymore.)

Lindows is rated one of the worst, if not THE worst OS ever made. (Although Vista gives it a good run for its money. )

Yes, sir. Anytime I see Windows "Home" in a business, I know that they don't know what they're doing. Not to mention that "Home" can't join a domain. Not that every business is on a domain but "Home" is really for "Home" use.

[mojorolla]

Re: HDD 100% Usage

I try to go direct if I can. We are also a managed IT company so we try to source from manufacturers when we can.
I was able to get a hell of a deal on an HP last Christmas for my daughter, direct from HP. Normally a $600 device, got it for around $400. Even got the rose gold color she wanted. Damn thing is better than my laptop!!!

[tsbservice]

Re: HDD 100% Usage

I try to go direct if I can. We are also a managed IT company so we try to source from manufacturers when we can.
I was able to get a hell of a deal on an HP last Christmas for my daughter, direct from HP. Normally a $600 device, got it for around $400. Even got the rose gold color she wanted. Damn thing is better than my laptop!!!

You guys are working for peanuts or I'm wrong 😂
Here prices are certainly double than USA not to mention my salary is fraction...but hey 2 hundred bucks are nice family dinner plus beverages. Cheers

[Tricky]

Re: HDD 100% Usage

+1 slim. I think that's blocked because of file type but I actually don't think Gene posted malicious file.

There's nothing malicious in the file, it's just about fixing computers with some interesting bits.

[tsbservice]

Re: HDD 100% Usage

Just a quick comment. I wouldn't buy a Walmart/Best Buy laptop. They look good on the outside and the price low but they're crap. I'd much rather go with a business laptop. I usually buy used off EBAY. It's worked out great for me.

We do same. Used but business class PC/laptop is cheaper and better than most big stores bargains.
And I use Windows 10 Pro even in my home PC.

[rthonpm]

Re: HDD 100% Usage

Sometimes I'm terrible at explaining things. Here's what I'm trying to ask:


I know that a SSD will resolve the issue. The thing is that these are inexpensive laptops that cost around $300. The customer can get upside down on these really fast.

I'm gonna have to create a system image of the old hard drive and replace the old drive with the new one. I'll charge about $65 for the SSD and and 1 hour labor. That's a total 165 + tax.

I was wondering if there was a fix that didn't involve replacing the drive but I think mojo is right....when it starts showing 100% usage...it's on its way out.

You can try checking the BIOS of the device to see if SMART reporting is available, which could allow the device to interact with the drive firmware and report any errors.

Any pre-boot diagnostics are another option.

Both of these on consumer grade garbage laptops is questionable, then again these are machines that were sold with HDD's instead of SSD's or NVMe drives. The drives are likely 5200 RPM or some other slow rotation drive that just ends up thrashing around to locate anything on the disk.

Your best bet is to use the portable version of Crystal Disk Info and see if any SMART values are in a failed or predicted failed state. You just need to load the Zip of the Standard version onto a USB to run against any system:
Download - Crystal Dew World [en]

It's 2022: the only place for spinning rust drives is a RAID array in some kind of server or storage appliance.


Sent from my BlackBerry using Tapatalk

[tonerhead]

Re: HDD 100% Usage

It's funny how things change. I was talking to an IT head at a manufacturing plant. He was planning to upgrade several office workstations at the plant and was looking at motherboards, specs, etc. He said he is tossing around the idea to make each of the workstations into a raid 5 array using NVMe sticks. Should a stick fail, toss in a new one and system rebuilds itself. He claims it will free up a lot of time for IT. Thought it was an interesting concept.

[rthonpm]

Re: HDD 100% Usage

It's funny how things change. I was talking to an IT head at a manufacturing plant. He was planning to upgrade several office workstations at the plant and was looking at motherboards, specs, etc. He said he is tossing around the idea to make each of the workstations into a raid 5 array using NVMe sticks. Should a stick fail, toss in a new one and system rebuilds itself. He claims it will free up a lot of time for IT. Thought it was an interesting concept.

It's also a bigger waste of money. Why RAID out workstations? You don't need massive amounts of storage and there are much easier ways to manage making data easily portable from one system to another. Folder redirection, OneDrive known folder sync, even just a simple policy of no data stored locally.

In any sufficiently large organisation, workstations should be drop in replacements. Spend the money on an imaging system and configuration management instead of a more complicated setup.

Sent from my BlackBerry using Tapatalk

[slimslob]

Re: HDD 100% Usage

It's funny how things change. I was talking to an IT head at a manufacturing plant. He was planning to upgrade several office workstations at the plant and was looking at motherboards, specs, etc. He said he is tossing around the idea to make each of the workstations into a raid 5 array using NVMe sticks. Should a stick fail, toss in a new one and system rebuilds itself. He claims it will free up a lot of time for IT. Thought it was an interesting concept.

My daughter who is a Computer Science Professor say it might not be that great an idea. She says it will be more cost effective to go with a raid array using 2.5 inch SSD and includes an enclosure and mother board. Overall it may not save much IT support time as places that have tried have experienced higher failure rates than HDD.

[Hansoon]

Re: HDD 100% Usage

This is an extract from a help file I created a while back for various WIN 10 issues. Its worth trying as they are free solutions. You should be able to download it from this link. It is just a basic windows help file that should open when you double click the downloaded file.

FixHundredPerCentError.chm - FileFactory

Hope it helps.

"This file contains Virus or Malware"

Tells my WindowsDefender!!!

Hans

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: HDD 100% Usage

It's also a bigger waste of money. Why RAID out workstations? You don't need massive amounts of storage and there are much easier ways to manage making data easily portable from one system to another. Folder redirection, OneDrive known folder sync, even just a simple policy of no data stored locally.

In any sufficiently large organisation, workstations should be drop in replacements. Spend the money on an imaging system and configuration management instead of a more complicated setup.

Sent from my BlackBerry using Tapatalk

One Drive Known Folder is the greatest thing since sliced bread. But I never hear anyone talk about it nor do I see anyone using it. How many here are familiar with it or use?

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: HDD 100% Usage

You can try checking the BIOS of the device to see if SMART reporting is available, which could allow the device to interact with the drive firmware and report any errors.

Any pre-boot diagnostics are another option.

Both of these on consumer grade garbage laptops is questionable, then again these are machines that were sold with HDD's instead of SSD's or NVMe drives. The drives are likely 5200 RPM or some other slow rotation drive that just ends up thrashing around to locate anything on the disk.

Your best bet is to use the portable version of Crystal Disk Info and see if any SMART values are in a failed or predicted failed state. You just need to load the Zip of the Standard version onto a USB to run against any system:
Download - Crystal Dew World [en]

It's 2022: the only place for spinning rust drives is a RAID array in some kind of server or storage appliance.


Sent from my BlackBerry using Tapatalk

I don't know how I overlooked this post. I've already installed the SSD and it's back with the customer.

I used SeaTools to check the health of the HDD. I heard it was supposed to be good. Ever heard of it? Anyway, I'll be sure to try your suggestions in the future. I ALWAYS trust your advice.