Question:

What could be the cause of intermittent disk usage spikes on an SSD, even when the system is idle?

Some additional details to provide context are:

– The disk usage reaches 100% with very low data transfer rates.

– The spikes occur randomly and stop for a few days before resuming.

– The processes that cause the spikes vary, but often include “system” and other unknown programs.

– I have tried several troubleshooting steps, such as running disk check, disabling windows defender, system scan, and clean boot, but none of them resolved the issue.

– I have screenshots of task manager and resource monitor during the spikes, but I cannot attach them here.

Answer:

How to Fix Intermittent Disk Usage Spikes on an SSD

Solid state drives (SSDs) are faster, more reliable, and more energy-efficient than traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). However, some users may experience intermittent disk usage spikes on their SSDs, even when the system is idle. This can cause performance issues, such as slowdowns, freezes, crashes, and errors. In this article, we will explain what could be the cause of these spikes, and how to fix them.

There are several possible factors that could cause disk usage spikes on an SSD, such as:

• Windows updates: Windows may automatically download and install updates in the background, which can consume disk resources and cause spikes. This is especially common after a major update, such as Windows 10 version 2004 or 20H2.
• Antivirus or anti-malware programs: These programs may scan your SSD for threats periodically, or in real-time, which can also increase disk usage. Some programs may also have a feature called “self-protection”, which prevents other processes from accessing or modifying their files, which can lead to conflicts and spikes.
• System maintenance tasks: Windows may run various system maintenance tasks, such as defragmentation, optimization, error checking, backup, restore, etc., which can also affect disk usage. Some of these tasks may be scheduled to run at certain times, such as when the system is idle, or when the power is plugged in.
• Malware or virus infection: Malware or virus may infect your SSD and perform malicious activities, such as stealing data, encrypting files, mining cryptocurrency, etc., which can also cause disk usage spikes. Some malware or virus may also hide themselves from detection by antivirus or anti-malware programs, or disguise themselves as legitimate processes, such as “system”.
• Faulty or incompatible drivers: Drivers are software components that enable your hardware devices to communicate with your operating system. If your drivers are faulty or incompatible, they may cause disk usage spikes by sending or receiving incorrect or excessive commands to your SSD. This may happen after a Windows update, or after installing a new hardware device, such as a printer, scanner, webcam, etc.
• Corrupted or damaged files or sectors: Your SSD may contain corrupted or damaged files or sectors, which can cause disk usage spikes by triggering error messages or recovery attempts. This may happen due to power outages, improper shutdowns, physical damage, etc.

How to Fix Disk Usage Spikes on an SSD?

Depending on the cause of the disk usage spikes, there are different solutions that you can try, such as:

• Check for Windows updates: You can check for Windows updates by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and clicking on Check for updates. If there are any available updates, you can download and install them, and then restart your computer. This may fix some disk usage spikes caused by Windows updates.
• Disable or uninstall antivirus or anti-malware programs: You can disable or uninstall any antivirus or anti-malware programs that you have installed on your computer, and see if that reduces the disk usage spikes. You can do this by going to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and selecting the program that you want to disable or uninstall, and then clicking on Uninstall or Modify. You may need to restart your computer after this. However, you should not leave your computer unprotected, so you should either enable Windows Defender, or install another antivirus or anti-malware program that is compatible with your SSD.
• Disable or modify system maintenance tasks: You can disable or modify any system maintenance tasks that may be causing disk usage spikes on your SSD, by using the Task Scheduler. You can access the Task Scheduler by typing taskschd.msc in the Run dialog box (press Windows + R to open it), and then pressing Enter. You can then browse through the different folders and tasks, and see if any of them are related to disk usage, such as Defrag, Optimize Drives, Chkdsk, Backup, Restore, etc. You can right-click on any task that you want to disable or modify, and then select Disable or Properties. You can also create your own tasks, or delete any tasks that you do not need.
• Scan for malware or virus infection: You can scan your SSD for any malware or virus infection, by using a reputable antivirus or anti-malware program, such as Windows Defender, Malwarebytes, Kaspersky, etc. You can run a full scan, or a custom scan, and see if any threats are detected and removed. You may need to restart your computer after this. You should also update your antivirus or anti-malware program regularly, and avoid opening any suspicious links, attachments, or downloads.
• Update or reinstall drivers: You can update or reinstall any drivers that may be causing disk usage spikes on your SSD, by using the Device Manager. You can access the Device Manager by typing devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog box, and then pressing Enter. You can then expand the different categories and devices, and see if any of them have a yellow exclamation mark, which indicates a driver issue. You can right-click on any device that you want to update or reinstall, and then select Update driver or Uninstall device. You can then follow the instructions on the screen, or search for the latest drivers online, and install them manually. You may need to restart your computer after this.
• Repair or replace SSD: You can repair or replace your SSD, if it has any corrupted or damaged files or sectors, by using a disk utility program, such as CrystalDiskInfo, SSD Life, SSD-Z, etc. You can download and install any of these programs, and then run them to check the health and status of your SSD. You can then see if there are any errors, warnings, or bad sectors, and try to fix them, or backup your data and replace your SSD with a new one.

Conclusion

Disk

usage spikes on an SSD can be annoying and frustrating, but they can be fixed with some simple steps. You should first identify the cause of the spikes, and then try the appropriate solution. You should also monitor your disk usage regularly, and keep your system updated and optimized. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading!