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Disk Usage At 100% When Downloading and Downloads Become Very Choppy
I've been trying to download anything via Steam, the downloads become very choppy and I notice that my disk usage is always at 100%. I bought a new computer, I'm pretty positive that it isn't just a slow drive, my drive have SSD 1TB. I've very briefly used CrystalDiskInfo to check my drive's 'health' and it said it was good. It's only Steam with this problem. Downloads via battlenet or Uplay, riotgame are fairly stable and at the right speed. It's been over week and the issue hasn't resolved itself and I can't find any forums with my specific problem. Sorry for my bad english.
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Showing 1-15 of 19 comments
Elucidator Jan 30, 2023 @ 9:25am 
If the disk usage is 100%, your disk is too busy to download.
Find out what is using the disk. If it is just Steam, its normal. If there is more going on, then you could stop those things.

I am guessing some antivirus maybe scanning the files while you download causing disk usage to go up or something like that.
Darkghoulnecro Jan 30, 2023 @ 9:40am 
Originally posted by Elucidator:
If the disk usage is 100%, your disk is too busy to download.
Find out what is using the disk. If it is just Steam, its normal. If there is more going on, then you could stop those things.

I am guessing some antivirus maybe scanning the files while you download causing disk usage to go up or something like that.

I turned off antivirus but again the same
Elucidator Jan 30, 2023 @ 9:47am 
You can find out what is using your disk by using tools, like Performance Monitor, Process Explorer, Task Manager, etc.
Darkghoulnecro Jan 30, 2023 @ 10:00am 
Originally posted by Elucidator:
You can find out what is using your disk by using tools, like Performance Monitor, Process Explorer, Task Manager, etc.

I checked task manager steam and system more using
Ettanin Jan 30, 2023 @ 10:02am 
Which antivirus solution and firewall solution do you use?

Most antivirus and firewall solutions run on the kernel level (also known as ring 0) and thus show up as "System" under usage.
Last edited by Ettanin; Jan 30, 2023 @ 10:04am
Darkghoulnecro Jan 30, 2023 @ 10:11am 
Originally posted by Ettanin:
Which antivirus solution and firewall solution do you use?

Most antivirus and firewall solutions run on the kernel level (also known as ring 0) and thus show up as "System" under usage.

Bitdefender
Ettanin Jan 30, 2023 @ 10:20am 
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Last edited by Ettanin; Jan 30, 2023 @ 10:22am
Darkghoulnecro Feb 5, 2023 @ 10:22pm 
Problem sloved. Just turn off Enable Windows write caching.
Elucidator Feb 6, 2023 @ 7:47am 
Originally posted by Tora:
Problem sloved. Just turn off Enable Windows write caching.

You're the second person to reportthat Write Caching slowed down the system, rather than speeding it up. Its supposed to write files to the buffer on the device, and then slowly put them into the storage part of the SSD, allowing you to much more quickly access the file.
Never mind that modern systems are so fast currently, that it shouldn't even matter too much anymore.
It makes little sense that writing to its buffer is slower for you. I am also not sure why this bug is so selective.

edit:
here, read: https://www.game-debate.com/news/25719/why-your-ssd-is-slowing-down-and-how-windows-write-caching-could-save-the-day

edit 2:
omg, that article .. it says things I didn't know.
and it also makes it clear why your download slows down all of the sudden while disk usage is full. xDD
I see how it is....

No, disabling Windows's Write Caching didn't fix it. It made your SSD slower by default, making it appear as if the Usage and download are now normal, but they aren't. You slowed down your disk, and now it keeps up with it's internal actual writing speed. xD

There was nothing to fix. Writing to the buffer is fast. Buffer gets full, buffer needs to empty (which it was already doing) by writing the file to the SSD's storage, that is why Disk Usage is full and download stopped.
You disabled the buffer, so now it writes directly and is slower.
Last edited by Elucidator; Feb 6, 2023 @ 8:02am
Darkghoulnecro Feb 8, 2023 @ 4:01am 
I forgot to write yet, i download software Western Digital Dashboard and turned it off there, not on device Manager, disk drives, properties, policies, i don't have anything marked there, not disabled there or enabled.
McTesticle Sep 17, 2023 @ 9:15pm 
3
[LIKELY SOLUTION] Device Manager -> Right Click SSD Drive -> Policies -> Uncheck them and enjoy :steamthumbsup:
Nodah Jan 18, 2024 @ 5:13am 
Turning off "Enable write caching" saved the day, and no it didn't go slower it's actually became faster, for comparison:
ON:
download speed: 0 - 50 MB/s - 0 - 50 - 0
Disk usage: 50 MB/S
--
OFF:
Downlaod speed: 58 MB/s stable
Disk Usage: 150+ MB/s
octane2k Jan 24, 2024 @ 1:33pm 
Originally posted by McTesticle:
[LIKELY SOLUTION] Device Manager -> Right Click SSD Drive -> Policies -> Uncheck them and enjoy :steamthumbsup:

you are the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ goat
Wt is Mar 5, 2024 @ 8:32am 
Originally posted by EcchiSenpai:
Turning off "Enable write caching" saved the day, and no it didn't go slower it's actually became faster, for comparison:
ON:
download speed: 0 - 50 MB/s - 0 - 50 - 0
Disk usage: 50 MB/S
--
OFF:
Downlaod speed: 58 MB/s stable
Disk Usage: 150+ MB/s
Its not working for me even i uncheck enabling write chache
CrankyGolem4 Mar 24, 2024 @ 6:25pm 
Originally posted by McTesticle:
[LIKELY SOLUTION] Device Manager -> Right Click SSD Drive -> Policies -> Uncheck them and enjoy :steamthumbsup:
was downloading spiderman for 1 hour was at 20%, unchecked the policies and got instant results, disk drive went from 100% usage to around 20% when downloading and was finally able to get consistent 800+mbps download speeds, miles morales took about 10 minutes to download
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Date Posted: Jan 30, 2023 @ 7:52am
Posts: 19