High HDD Activity after Startup

Gideon_CC · External Since: Jun 02, 2007 Posts: 53

After I have logged into my account, I have my statup entries load fine.
After AVG and MSN etc have loaded, the HDD activity seems to be constant for
2-3 minutes afterwards. During this time, if I look at the Reliability and
Performance Monitor for Disk, I see loads of files randomly on there, like
system files, some program files like Office and the odd document I have. The
IO priority is Background during this time. After 2-3 minutes, the HDD
activity goes back down to normal which is every few seconds it would flash a
little. The IO status would change to Normal and the number of files that are
being monitored by the HDD drops a lot.

What is this? It happened when I start the computer, just after the startup
entries have loaded. I don't remember this happening before.

I tried making this question topic before but couldn't see the post so I
re-wrote it, if people have responded in the other and it actually exists,
then ignore this.

Ian D · External Since: Mar 21, 2007 Posts: 10

You can use Process Monitor to see what's going on.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/FileAndDisk/processmonitor.mspx

Lord Takyon · External Since: Apr 25, 2007 Posts: 94

"Gideon_CC" <GideonCC DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5C64B66B-9E19-453A-A17B-D7C83BF8367F@microsoft.com...
> After I have logged into my account, I have my statup entries load fine.
> After AVG and MSN etc have loaded, the HDD activity seems to be constant
> for
> 2-3 minutes afterwards. During this time, if I look at the Reliability and
> Performance Monitor for Disk, I see loads of files randomly on there, like
> system files, some program files like Office and the odd document I have.
> The
> IO priority is Background during this time. After 2-3 minutes, the HDD
> activity goes back down to normal which is every few seconds it would
> flash a
> little. The IO status would change to Normal and the number of files that
> are
> being monitored by the HDD drops a lot.
>
> What is this? It happened when I start the computer, just after the
> startup
> entries have loaded. I don't remember this happening before.
>
> I tried making this question topic before but couldn't see the post so I
> re-wrote it, if people have responded in the other and it actually exists,
> then ignore this.

I would say this is just Vista loading the RAM up etc.... with the
SuperFetch stuff. This is a good thing.

--
Can't think of a sig at the moment.
Read this instead.

Gideon_CC · External Since: Jun 02, 2007 Posts: 53

I found that Windows Defender is set to do a quick scan at 2 am so it may be
because of that. I disabled it but I am not sure if it is the real reason. I
will turn off and on machine later and see. Otherwise, I am not sure, maybe
it is prefetch but it does it every time.

"Lord Takyon" wrote:

> "Gideon_CC" <GideonCC.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:5C64B66B-9E19-453A-A17B-D7C83BF8367F@microsoft.com...
> > After I have logged into my account, I have my statup entries load fine.
> > After AVG and MSN etc have loaded, the HDD activity seems to be constant
> > for
> > 2-3 minutes afterwards. During this time, if I look at the Reliability and
> > Performance Monitor for Disk, I see loads of files randomly on there, like
> > system files, some program files like Office and the odd document I have.
> > The
> > IO priority is Background during this time. After 2-3 minutes, the HDD
> > activity goes back down to normal which is every few seconds it would
> > flash a
> > little. The IO status would change to Normal and the number of files that
> > are
> > being monitored by the HDD drops a lot.
> >
> > What is this? It happened when I start the computer, just after the
> > startup
> > entries have loaded. I don't remember this happening before.
> >
> > I tried making this question topic before but couldn't see the post so I
> > re-wrote it, if people have responded in the other and it actually exists,
> > then ignore this.
>
>
> I would say this is just Vista loading the RAM up etc.... with the
> SuperFetch stuff. This is a good thing.
>
> --
> Can't think of a sig at the moment.
> Read this instead.
>
>

Lord Takyon · External Since: Apr 25, 2007 Posts: 94

"Gideon_CC" <GideonCC.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8C5537B6-5D1D-4AF8-A73B-BDDA94571A95@microsoft.com...
>I found that Windows Defender is set to do a quick scan at 2 am so it may
>be
> because of that. I disabled it but I am not sure if it is the real reason.
> I
> will turn off and on machine later and see. Otherwise, I am not sure,
> maybe
> it is prefetch but it does it every time.
>
> "Lord Takyon" wrote:
>
>> "Gideon_CC" <GideonCC.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:5C64B66B-9E19-453A-A17B-D7C83BF8367F@microsoft.com...
>> > After I have logged into my account, I have my statup entries load
>> > fine.
>> > After AVG and MSN etc have loaded, the HDD activity seems to be
>> > constant
>> > for
>> > 2-3 minutes afterwards. During this time, if I look at the Reliability
>> > and
>> > Performance Monitor for Disk, I see loads of files randomly on there,
>> > like
>> > system files, some program files like Office and the odd document I
>> > have.
>> > The
>> > IO priority is Background during this time. After 2-3 minutes, the HDD
>> > activity goes back down to normal which is every few seconds it would
>> > flash a
>> > little. The IO status would change to Normal and the number of files
>> > that
>> > are
>> > being monitored by the HDD drops a lot.
>> >
>> > What is this? It happened when I start the computer, just after the
>> > startup
>> > entries have loaded. I don't remember this happening before.
>> >
>> > I tried making this question topic before but couldn't see the post so
>> > I
>> > re-wrote it, if people have responded in the other and it actually
>> > exists,
>> > then ignore this.
>>
>>
>> I would say this is just Vista loading the RAM up etc.... with the
>> SuperFetch stuff. This is a good thing.
>>
>> --
>> Can't think of a sig at the moment.
>> Read this instead.
>>
>>

It would have too, RAM is volatile and loses all data stored when the power
is removed. TBH I would not worry about it, my copy does this, as do all
the others I have seen so far.

--
Can't think of a sig at the moment.
Read this instead.

Gideon_CC · External Since: Jun 02, 2007 Posts: 53

It doesn't seem to be Defender now.

It still happenas every time windows finishes loading and it happened very
briefly again a few minutes later but for shorter period of time.

A screen shot: http://www.tezmania.com/mypc/start.jpg
Hundeds of things like the above show in that and then suddently after 2-3
mins, the IO Priority drops to Normal and then the number goes down gradually.

"Ian D" wrote:

> You can use Process Monitor to see what's going on.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/FileAndDisk/processmonitor.mspx
>
>
>

Charlie Tame · External Since: Apr 15, 2007 Posts: 210

Gideon_CC wrote:
> It doesn't seem to be Defender now.
>
> It still happenas every time windows finishes loading and it happened very
> briefly again a few minutes later but for shorter period of time.
>
> A screen shot: http://www.tezmania.com/mypc/start.jpg
> Hundeds of things like the above show in that and then suddently after 2-3
> mins, the IO Priority drops to Normal and then the number goes down gradually.
>
> "Ian D" wrote:
>
>> You can use Process Monitor to see what's going on.
>>
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/FileAndDisk/processmonitor.mspx
>>
>>
>>

Double click "Computer" and right click>properties for the drive(s).

If "Index this drive for faster searching" is checked try unchecking that.

This screwed my system pretty badly so worth a try. Please post back if
there's any improvement so others can benefit.

Charlie

Rock · External Since: Feb 10, 2007 Posts: 2069

"Gideon_CC" <GideonCC DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AE5FB86F-B6CB-4A43-B0A4-AAD36C95CAEB@microsoft.com...
> It doesn't seem to be Defender now.
>
> It still happenas every time windows finishes loading and it happened very
> briefly again a few minutes later but for shorter period of time.
>
> A screen shot: http://www.tezmania.com/mypc/start.jpg
> Hundeds of things like the above show in that and then suddently after 2-3
> mins, the IO Priority drops to Normal and then the number goes down
> gradually.
>
> "Ian D" wrote:
>
>> You can use Process Monitor to see what's going on.
>>
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/FileAndDisk/processmonitor.mspx

That looks normal. It's probably superfetch working. If you want track it
down further, get take the PID for the svchost processes accessing the
files, open task manager locate the svchost by PID, right click, Go to
service(s). That will show the services running under those instances of
svchost. Track it down from there.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

Gideon_CC · External Since: Jun 02, 2007 Posts: 53

When I first got the machine, I unticked "Index my files for faster searching".
I tracked the PID down to 980 mostly and 896.

980 had:
Superfetch
Portable Desktop Manager Session Manager
Portable Device Emumerator Service
Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework

896 had:
Windows Defender

I timed it and after around 2 and a half minutes, the HDD activity goes down
to normal and then the processes change from IO Background to Normal and then
most of the processes go.

"Rock" wrote:

> "Gideon_CC" <GideonCC.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:AE5FB86F-B6CB-4A43-B0A4-AAD36C95CAEB@microsoft.com...
> > It doesn't seem to be Defender now.
> >
> > It still happenas every time windows finishes loading and it happened very
> > briefly again a few minutes later but for shorter period of time.
> >
> > A screen shot: http://www.tezmania.com/mypc/start.jpg
> > Hundeds of things like the above show in that and then suddently after 2-3
> > mins, the IO Priority drops to Normal and then the number goes down
> > gradually.
> >
> > "Ian D" wrote:
> >
> >> You can use Process Monitor to see what's going on.
> >>
> >> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/FileAndDisk/processmonitor.mspx
>
>
> That looks normal. It's probably superfetch working. If you want track it
> down further, get take the PID for the svchost processes accessing the
> files, open task manager locate the svchost by PID, right click, Go to
> service(s). That will show the services running under those instances of
> svchost. Track it down from there.
>
> --
> Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
>
>

Gideon_CC · External Since: Jun 02, 2007 Posts: 53

Sorry ignore that, I missed out a few on the 980 one. Here the full post
again with the correct services.

When I first got the machine, I unticked "Index my files for faster
searching".
I tracked the PID down to 980 mostly and 896.

980 had:
Superfetch
Portable Desktop Manager Session Manager
Portable Device Emumerator Service
Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework
Program Compatibility Assistant Service
Network Connections
Windows Audio Endpoint Builder

896 had:
Windows Defender

I timed it and after around 2 and a half minutes, the HDD activity goes down
to normal and then the processes change from IO Background to Normal and then
most of the processes go.

"Gideon_CC" wrote:

> When I first got the machine, I unticked "Index my files for faster searching".
> I tracked the PID down to 980 mostly and 896.
>
> 980 had:
> Superfetch
> Portable Desktop Manager Session Manager
> Portable Device Emumerator Service
> Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework
>
> 896 had:
> Windows Defender
>
> I timed it and after around 2 and a half minutes, the HDD activity goes down
> to normal and then the processes change from IO Background to Normal and then
> most of the processes go.
>
> "Rock" wrote:
>
> > "Gideon_CC" <GideonCC.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:AE5FB86F-B6CB-4A43-B0A4-AAD36C95CAEB@microsoft.com...
> > > It doesn't seem to be Defender now.
> > >
> > > It still happenas every time windows finishes loading and it happened very
> > > briefly again a few minutes later but for shorter period of time.
> > >
> > > A screen shot: http://www.tezmania.com/mypc/start.jpg
> > > Hundeds of things like the above show in that and then suddently after 2-3
> > > mins, the IO Priority drops to Normal and then the number goes down
> > > gradually.
> > >
> > > "Ian D" wrote:
> > >
> > >> You can use Process Monitor to see what's going on.
> > >>
> > >> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/FileAndDisk/processmonitor.mspx
> >
> >
> > That looks normal. It's probably superfetch working. If you want track it
> > down further, get take the PID for the svchost processes accessing the
> > files, open task manager locate the svchost by PID, right click, Go to
> > service(s). That will show the services running under those instances of
> > svchost. Track it down from there.
> >
> > --
> > Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
> >
> >

Charlie Tame · External Since: Apr 15, 2007 Posts: 210

Gideon_CC wrote:
> Sorry ignore that, I missed out a few on the 980 one. Here the full post
> again with the correct services.
>
> When I first got the machine, I unticked "Index my files for faster
> searching".
> I tracked the PID down to 980 mostly and 896.
>
> 980 had:
> Superfetch
> Portable Desktop Manager Session Manager
> Portable Device Emumerator Service
> Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework
> Program Compatibility Assistant Service
> Network Connections
> Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
>
> 896 had:
> Windows Defender
>
> I timed it and after around 2 and a half minutes, the HDD activity goes down
> to normal and then the processes change from IO Background to Normal and then
> most of the processes go.

Then try removing / disabling Windows Defender. Have heard a few suggest
that it can cause problems - may depend on your installation I suppose.

Sorry if this is a bit lame, but I've had a few drive mysteries that
defy explanation, then just go away Smile

One tries to avoid doing anything
too drastic, too soon

Gideon_CC · External Since: Jun 02, 2007 Posts: 53

It isn't Windows Defender that is the problem.
It is more about the Prefetching or the other processes are.

Do you have this 2-3 min hard disk activity after startup.

"Charlie Tame" wrote:

> Gideon_CC wrote:
> > Sorry ignore that, I missed out a few on the 980 one. Here the full post
> > again with the correct services.
> >
> > When I first got the machine, I unticked "Index my files for faster
> > searching".
> > I tracked the PID down to 980 mostly and 896.
> >
> > 980 had:
> > Superfetch
> > Portable Desktop Manager Session Manager
> > Portable Device Emumerator Service
> > Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework
> > Program Compatibility Assistant Service
> > Network Connections
> > Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
> >
> > 896 had:
> > Windows Defender
> >
> > I timed it and after around 2 and a half minutes, the HDD activity goes down
> > to normal and then the processes change from IO Background to Normal and then
> > most of the processes go.
>
> Then try removing / disabling Windows Defender. Have heard a few suggest
> that it can cause problems - may depend on your installation I suppose.
>
> Sorry if this is a bit lame, but I've had a few drive mysteries that
> defy explanation, then just go away Smile

One tries to avoid doing anything
> too drastic, too soon
>

Charlie Tame · External Since: Apr 15, 2007 Posts: 210

Maybe not, but it certainly has been a problem on a couple of machines
here - and it's not a real difficult one to eliminate and reinstall.

Gideon_CC wrote:
> It isn't Windows Defender that is the problem.
> It is more about the Prefetching or the other processes are.
>
> Do you have this 2-3 min hard disk activity after startup.
>
> "Charlie Tame" wrote:

Gideon_CC · External Since: Jun 02, 2007 Posts: 53

Well, do you have this 2-3 mins of constant HDD activity after startup?

"Charlie Tame" wrote:

> Maybe not, but it certainly has been a problem on a couple of machines
> here - and it's not a real difficult one to eliminate and reinstall.
>
>
> Gideon_CC wrote:
> > It isn't Windows Defender that is the problem.
> > It is more about the Prefetching or the other processes are.
> >
> > Do you have this 2-3 min hard disk activity after startup.
> >
> > "Charlie Tame" wrote:
>

Gideon_CC · External Since: Jun 02, 2007 Posts: 53

After testing each of those services, I have found it to be:

Superfetch
Windows Defender

The above two processes are the cause for the 2-3 min constant HDD activity
after startup. I have them enabled again but not sure why it is doing this
every startup. Does anyone else get this?

"Gideon_CC" wrote:

> Well, do you have this 2-3 mins of constant HDD activity after startup?
>
>
> "Charlie Tame" wrote:
>
> > Maybe not, but it certainly has been a problem on a couple of machines
> > here - and it's not a real difficult one to eliminate and reinstall.
> >
> >
> > Gideon_CC wrote:
> > > It isn't Windows Defender that is the problem.
> > > It is more about the Prefetching or the other processes are.
> > >
> > > Do you have this 2-3 min hard disk activity after startup.
> > >
> > > "Charlie Tame" wrote:
> >

Rock · External Since: Feb 10, 2007 Posts: 2069

"Gideon_CC" wrote
> After testing each of those services, I have found it to be:
>
> Superfetch
> Windows Defender
>
> The above two processes are the cause for the 2-3 min constant HDD
> activity
> after startup. I have them enabled again but not sure why it is doing this
> every startup. Does anyone else get this?

Yes. Superfetch is loading RAM. In it's default configuration Defender is
set to monitor real time access. My system is sluggish for the first couple
of minutes too.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

Gideon_CC · External Since: Jun 02, 2007 Posts: 53

It is very annoying to hear 2-3 mins of constant hard disk noise after startup.
I swear Superfetch isn't mean to use constant HDD every single startup -
does everyone have this?

"Rock" wrote:

> "Gideon_CC" wrote
> > After testing each of those services, I have found it to be:
> >
> > Superfetch
> > Windows Defender
> >
> > The above two processes are the cause for the 2-3 min constant HDD
> > activity
> > after startup. I have them enabled again but not sure why it is doing this
> > every startup. Does anyone else get this?
>
> Yes. Superfetch is loading RAM. In it's default configuration Defender is
> set to monitor real time access. My system is sluggish for the first couple
> of minutes too.
>
> --
> Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
>
>

Rock · External Since: Feb 10, 2007 Posts: 2069

"Gideon_CC" wrote
> It is very annoying to hear 2-3 mins of constant hard disk noise after
> startup.
> I swear Superfetch isn't mean to use constant HDD every single startup -
> does everyone have this?
>
> "Rock" wrote:
>
>> "Gideon_CC" wrote
>> > After testing each of those services, I have found it to be:
>> >
>> > Superfetch
>> > Windows Defender
>> >
>> > The above two processes are the cause for the 2-3 min constant HDD
>> > activity
>> > after startup. I have them enabled again but not sure why it is doing
>> > this
>> > every startup. Does anyone else get this?
>>
>> Yes. Superfetch is loading RAM. In it's default configuration Defender
>> is
>> set to monitor real time access. My system is sluggish for the first
>> couple
>> of minutes too.

Yes Superfetch runs at each startup to populate RAM. The drive on which
Vista is installed in this system isn't noisy so it's not bothersome.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

Gideon_CC · External Since: Jun 02, 2007 Posts: 53

How long does the activity last for on yours?
Also, How long have you had Vista?
I was told somewhere else that it learns your usage patterns and it might
calm down afew a few weeks but I don't know if this will happen.

"Rock" wrote:

> "Gideon_CC" wrote
> > It is very annoying to hear 2-3 mins of constant hard disk noise after
> > startup.
> > I swear Superfetch isn't mean to use constant HDD every single startup -
> > does everyone have this?
> >
> > "Rock" wrote:
> >
> >> "Gideon_CC" wrote
> >> > After testing each of those services, I have found it to be:
> >> >
> >> > Superfetch
> >> > Windows Defender
> >> >
> >> > The above two processes are the cause for the 2-3 min constant HDD
> >> > activity
> >> > after startup. I have them enabled again but not sure why it is doing
> >> > this
> >> > every startup. Does anyone else get this?
> >>
> >> Yes. Superfetch is loading RAM. In it's default configuration Defender
> >> is
> >> set to monitor real time access. My system is sluggish for the first
> >> couple
> >> of minutes too.
>
> Yes Superfetch runs at each startup to populate RAM. The drive on which
> Vista is installed in this system isn't noisy so it's not bothersome.
>
> --
> Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
>
>

Rock · External Since: Feb 10, 2007 Posts: 2069

"Gideon_CC" wrote
> How long does the activity last for on yours?
> Also, How long have you had Vista?
> I was told somewhere else that it learns your usage patterns and it might
> calm down afew a few weeks but I don't know if this will happen.
>
> "Rock" wrote:
>
>> "Gideon_CC" wrote
>> > It is very annoying to hear 2-3 mins of constant hard disk noise after
>> > startup.
>> > I swear Superfetch isn't mean to use constant HDD every single
>> > startup -
>> > does everyone have this?
>> >
>> > "Rock" wrote:
>> >
>> >> "Gideon_CC" wrote
>> >> > After testing each of those services, I have found it to be:
>> >> >
>> >> > Superfetch
>> >> > Windows Defender
>> >> >
>> >> > The above two processes are the cause for the 2-3 min constant HDD
>> >> > activity
>> >> > after startup. I have them enabled again but not sure why it is
>> >> > doing
>> >> > this
>> >> > every startup. Does anyone else get this?
>> >>
>> >> Yes. Superfetch is loading RAM. In it's default configuration
>> >> Defender
>> >> is
>> >> set to monitor real time access. My system is sluggish for the first
>> >> couple
>> >> of minutes too.
>>
>> Yes Superfetch runs at each startup to populate RAM. The drive on which
>> Vista is installed in this system isn't noisy so it's not bothersome.

Been using Vista Ultimate since it went RTM in November. It's sluggish for
the first 2 minutes or so. I have watched it with Performance monitor to
see the progression. I just login, fire up the apps I need, go fill my
coffee and when I return things are fine. Even if I'm sitting at the
computer during that time I can still do things. It doesn't bother me.

Yes superfetch improves performance the more consistent you in in what you
run, but still superfetch has to load RAM at startup. That's what gives the
increased performance later on.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]