Need help troubleshooting a disk thrashing lockout

[gregrocker]

While you are at the top tech forums on the web, you'll need to comport yourself decently with the volunteers. Rudeness is not tolerated. Many of us have seen problems like this thousands of times before, have always solved them when there is cooperation, and won't put out the extra effort we're known for if not treated with appreciation.

 

[DavidE]

I have a Windows7 64bit system. All Windows and other software is current. Hard drive has been cleaned and defragged. Ckdisk runs clean. Several different Av and malware scans have been run and are clean. Startup programs are at a minimum. Almost every day, the system starts to disk thrash. This will last from 10 to 15 minutes. The disk indicator light is on solid. There is usually only a light load on the system, but there is almost no response. I try to start Performance Monitor, but it does not respond. I try to start Task Manager (clt-alt-delete), but it does not respond. When the thrashing is done, then the monitors appear, too late to help. How can I troubleshoot this?

Open Resource Monitor Disk Tab BEFORE the problem starts.
If you can arrange windows so you can see the resource monitor while working in other windows, so much the better.
If not, maybe you can just click on the RM Icon in the Taskbar and see the RM window.
My screen print is an example of this.
If Disk thrashing starts for me, I have a good chance of seeing what is causing it.
I can also see TM CPU usage the way I have windows arranged in my example...

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Derek found something useful, perhaps. check the size of your page file, increase it if it's less than 2GB.

Thrashing (computer science) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What is thrashing?

When referring to a computer, thrashing or disk thrashing is a term used to describe when the hard drive is being overworked by moving information between the system memory and virtual memory excessively. Thrashing is often caused when the system does not have enough memory, the system swap file is not properly configured, or too much is running on the computer and it has low system resources.
When thrashing occurs, a user will notice the computer hard drive always working and a decrease in system performance. Thrashing is bad on a hard drive because of the amount of work the hard drive has to do and if is left unfixed will likely cause an early failure of the hard drive.

Thanks Gary it would have been nice to know this before made a right clod of myself.

 

[Britton30]

You're fine John, I'd never heard of "thrashing" before either.

 

[Gandalf]

You're fine John, I'd never heard of "thrashing" before either.

I would never have guessed!

 

[Indianatone]

You're fine John, I'd never heard of "thrashing" before either.

I would never have guessed!

If memory serves disk thrashing was something Windows 95 did when you only had 4 megabyte of RAM and tried to print something or load a 20 mb spreadsheet into Excel 95.
With this kind of behaviour I would suggest the OP checks the hard drive with Download Hard Disk Sentinel and check it is not failing, furthermore if the drive is not faulty a format and reinstall is what I would suggest as I suspect the OS is corrupted and loaded with malware.

 

[davenk23]

To gregrocker

Gregrocker,

As I said, I appreciate the constructive suggestions and respect your volunteers efforts.
I think some comments were rude and condescending -- for instance
You have a lot of "crap" on your system
Lord only knows what else is on his machine.

I hope you insist your volunteers show respect as well.

davenk23

 

[Golden]

Did you manage to determine whether Norton is the culprit or not? it might be useful to check that so you can at least tick it off the list.

 

[davenk23]

NAV

I am reluctant to remove NAV from my system. I have used it since the early 90's on many systems and
have never experienced a virus. I only use the anti-virus product (not all of the overhead stuff). Do you know of problems like this caused by NAV?

 

[gregrocker]

Our crash analysts who are the best in the world find that removing Norton can resolve many problems. May I suggest you remove it using the Norton Removal Tool (as required by any of the most bloated AV's) just to try MSE for awhile, then you can reinstall it if it's removal doesn't bring better performance. https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/kb20080710133834EN_EndUserProfile_en_us

Please don't take personally the way we regard "crud" found on PC's. This is not a comment about you but the malware. The most chronic case of infection I've dealt with is for my own Dad, which was solved by adding Malwarebytes Real Time protection ($29.95 for life) which simply won't let a user install something bad.

To resolve malware infection, I start with Malwarebytes free Full Scan and a full AV scan, then SuperAntiSpyware full scan, then disable all Add-on's and Search in browser Tools, uninstall anything you don't use in Control Panel.

I would also type "Indexing" in Start Search box, in Indexing Options, click Modify and confirm what's selected is only the User account and any external drive (plugged in) plus anything else you want indexed to show up in searches. Then select Rebuild Index. Watch Task Manager>Processes to monitor Indexing during thrashing. Index - Rebuild - Windows 7 Forums

 

[matts6887]

Derek found something useful, perhaps. check the size of your page file, increase it if it's less than 2GB.

Thrashing (computer science) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What is thrashing?

When referring to a computer, thrashing or disk thrashing is a term used to describe when the hard drive is being overworked by moving information between the system memory and virtual memory excessively. Thrashing is often caused when the system does not have enough memory, the system swap file is not properly configured, or too much is running on the computer and it has low system resources.
When thrashing occurs, a user will notice the computer hard drive always working and a decrease in system performance. Thrashing is bad on a hard drive because of the amount of work the hard drive has to do and if is left unfixed will likely cause an early failure of the hard drive.

From the sounds of this post; it sounds like he needs to increase the amount of ram in the system if it can be expanded any further; as doing that should hopefully help to increase the amount of not just ram available but virtual memory available as well(hopefully)

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well I am suggesting this as it will scan without the need for the drive or OS being involved

Download Kaspersky Rescue Disk 10 it will take some time to run and at least take a "look" from the very start up.

Other than that a new drive and install as I still think the drive itself is at fault.

 

[davenk23]

I have not experienced this problem since I installed the last Windows Update maintenance.
7 days without a hitch.

 

[Britton30]

Good to hear Windows Updates fixed something for a change.