Long Disk queues slows system

akraven · 22 Nov 2011

After reading everything I can find on the web I am still struggling with this. My computer is about 2 months old. Here are the spec's
OS Version: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Service Pack 1, 64 bit
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) CPU P6200 @ 2.13GHz, Intel64 Family 6 Model 37 Stepping 5
Processor Count: 2
RAM: 7980 Mb
Graphics Card: Intel(R) HD Graphics, -329 Mb
Hard Drives: C: Total - 451338 MB, Free - 343467 MB;

Seagate Momentus® XT 3Gb/s 500GB Hard Drive
Motherboard: ASUSTeK Computer Inc., K52F
Antivirus: Kaspersky Internet Security, Updated and Enabled
Browser Firefox 3.6

This problem seems to be getting worse and while watching the resource monitor
disk activity will spike and then the queue will go up and the computer sits there for 5-10 secs doing nothing. This is with Outlook 2003 open and Firefox open. Here is what I have done so far
Uninstalled Kaspersky 2011 with removal tool and Installed Kaspersky Internet security suite 2012
Ran Spybot search and destroy - no problems- since removed since possibly conflicts with Kasp.
Ran Malware Bytes -no problems-since removed since possibly conflicts with KAsp
Defrag hard drive
Ran CCCleaner
Cleaned Registry with JV16 power tools
Did all updates for Windows 7 and Microsoft office
Updated drivers and Bios.
Eliminated as much as I was comfortable from start up file.
Doesn't change with Firefox in safe mode with no add-ons.
Performance scan says
1 verfified AV is installed since its not recognized
If installed config security center to stop antivirus monitoring (Under action center heading it shows that it reconizes Kasp AV is running)
2. High avarage interupts/proccess's. Machine is 2 core and 6 network cards Total interuppts/sec 10363
3. Average queue length is 1 (I have seen above 5) Maybe @maxium transfer capacity due to throughputs and disk seeks.

akraven · 22 Nov 2011

Also when it is hanging by going into the resource monitor and looking at processes it shows either that svchost or firefox.exe has processes in the wait chain. The message will say that "one or more threads in Firefox is waiting for
waiting to finish network I/O. Frequently in the lower window will show that Ksapersky event.dat
The background system processes are about 13,000b/sec

fseal · 22 Nov 2011

Does the HD LED stay lit solid for these long pauses?

I had something similar happen to me when I switched to using an SSD. THough it may happen for normal drives too. Could be an issue with the specific drive/drive firmware/sata hardware/sata driver combo, but my fix was to go to the adapter and port that had the hard drive on it (in device manager) and turn off Native Command Queueing (NCQ). It got rid of the pausing and increased my WEI even, did not notice any detrimental effects while using it (It is SUPPOSED to speed up spinners but if it's broken for you...)

You may or may not see the NCQ option in the settings for your sata port. But if it's there, try turning it off...

whs · 22 Nov 2011

Did you ever make a test with Kaspersky set off. The AV programs often make all kinds of unnecessary checks that hold things up.

akraven · 22 Nov 2011

fseal I plead ignorance and can't find anything on the device manager that lists the ports for the hard drive. Can you point me in the direction alittle more.
WHS I just turned off KAspersky and it seems to be better. I will lay with it a little while to see if it holds and report back.
Thank you both for the replies.

whs · 22 Nov 2011

You will have to crawl thru all the Kaspersky settings and see which ones could be in the way. I have not used Kaspersky in a long time, so unfortunately I cannot point you into the right direction. But maybe some other member is a Kaspersky insider.

fseal · 23 Nov 2011

Hopefully it's settled now, but if you need to, the sata controllers are listed undr "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers" in the control panel. It's up to the driver for the ports to add the "Settings" or "Advanced Setings" tabs that have options to allow you to turn features like NCQ on and off though. WHich is why it may or may not be there.

But even then the symptom is that the computer will stall on disk writes (but not lock up completely ususaly) while the HD light is solid on. Then clear up some many seconds or a couple minutes later.

JimLewandowski · 23 Nov 2011

task Manager - click on RESOURCE MONITOR (lower left), then select the DISK/IO tab and see exactly which files (and processes) are responsible for I/O volumes OR delays (millisecond response time is over on the right). A long I/O response time is not necessarily bad depending on HOW MUCH data was transferred/sec.

akraven · 23 Nov 2011

Jim
In the Disk activity column it is either a Kaspeksy process or Firefox process. IN the Process with disk activity column it is almost always the Firefox that will have a wait chain. Occasionally it will be Outlook.exe

fseal I did look for the NCQ but it is not there as a selection

**cluberti** · 24 Nov 2011

Right, and network-based apps waiting like that would be indicative of a filter driver issue on the network stack, like firewall or antivirus. Always best to remove any third party security products that affect the network and retest.