Solved Peculiar HDD busy manifestation

OK, I run Avast! anti-virus and it's up to date, as well as scanning my system regularly. I've also got Malwarebytes installed and ran it recently (it found a few "PUP" items in files I'd downloaded to check out but not yet run; nothing else suspicious was found).

So... this weird problem crops up when I'm using Internet browsers, of which I predominantly use Google Chrome. I'm going along, doing a few searches, looking at my usual trusted websites, when suddenly the disk light gets busy. A typical thing that triggers it is when I right mouse click to save an image file and wait for the dialog to appear. I still have control of my computer. I can go to other tabs in Google Chrome. I can switch over to other programs I have running, like Photoshop and Textpad.

But then, suddenly... FREEZE. I have no control of my keyboard or mouse. The HDD activity light is practically solid. I wait... 10, 15, 30 seconds goes by. About a minute later, FINALLY it stops and my UI catches up to all the keystrokes and mouse movements I've done since the first sign of freezing.

So, basically this seems to start when I'm waiting on the Windows Explorer process. Another weird manifestation is that I sometimes notice Explorer consuming almost all available free CPU processing, peaking at around 50%. When I minimize Windows Explorer, it abruptly minimizes in CPU load, and then pops right back up when I restore the window. With the window restored, if I switch focus to another window, the task manager still shows the high CPU activity. But again, if I minimize Windows Explorer, it subsides. While this is happening, there's hardly any disk activity mind you.

Also, throughout this whole thing I don't see much internet activity. My first suspicion is that perhaps there's an undetected rogue program that has gathered up a payload of files and is now busy trying to send it somewhere. Why do I suspect this? Because I notice my free HDD space can grow and shrink by a few gigabytes for no reason I can see (didn't run Windows update or download anything, and my swap file is a fixed 4Gb file; plus, purging all temp files from browsers doesn't recover much disk space). But the network connection status doesn't show an abnormally high amount of sent bytes.

How often does this happen? Maybe once per day, more or less. When did it start? I can't quite remember... it has been a few months, so I can't recall exactly the last thing I did prior to this starting. I am going to try running in SAFE mode and see if it still happens, although it's a pain to do that for a long period due to the terribly small resolution.

If my anti-virus and anti-malware haven't found anything, I'm left baffled as to what it could be. Any plausible ideas as to what's going on with my system? Are there any known system services that can do this, bring the UI to its knees when doing some activity?

Hi Cytherian,

Firstly, could you update your display drivers please:

NVIDIA DRIVERS 296.10WHQL

Then let's see how a SFC gets on

SFC Scan

1. Open your start menu and in the search box, type Command Prompt
2. When you see Command Prompt on the list, right-click on it and select Run as administrator
3. When command prompt opens, copy and paste the following commands into it, press enter after each
   
   sfc /scannow
   
   Wait for this to finish before you continue
   
   findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\logs\cbs\cbs.log >%userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt
   
   start notepad.exe %userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt
   
   
4. This will open a text file with the results of the scan. Please Copy (Ctrl + C) and Paste (Ctrl + V) the contents of this into your next post.

Tom

Hi Tom, my NVidia drivers were updated to that version a while back and I ran SFC scannow earlier today. I just checked and there's an NVidia 301.42 update available, though. Here's the SFC output:


2012-08-08 12:55:05, Info CSI 00000006 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:55:05, Info CSI 00000007 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:55:08, Info CSI 00000009 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:55:09, Info CSI 0000000a [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:55:09, Info CSI 0000000b [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:55:12, Info CSI 0000000d [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:55:16, Info CSI 0000000e [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:55:16, Info CSI 0000000f [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:55:19, Info CSI 00000011 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:55:22, Info CSI 00000012 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:55:22, Info CSI 00000013 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:55:24, Info CSI 00000015 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:55:27, Info CSI 00000016 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:55:27, Info CSI 00000017 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:55:30, Info CSI 00000019 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:55:32, Info CSI 0000001a [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:55:32, Info CSI 0000001b [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:55:34, Info CSI 0000001d [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:55:35, Info CSI 0000001e [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:55:35, Info CSI 0000001f [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:55:37, Info CSI 00000021 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:55:39, Info CSI 00000022 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:55:39, Info CSI 00000023 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:55:41, Info CSI 00000025 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:55:44, Info CSI 00000026 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:55:44, Info CSI 00000027 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:55:46, Info CSI 00000029 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:55:48, Info CSI 0000002a [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:55:48, Info CSI 0000002b [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:55:50, Info CSI 0000002d [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:55:52, Info CSI 0000002e [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:55:52, Info CSI 0000002f [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:55:54, Info CSI 00000031 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:55:55, Info CSI 00000032 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:55:55, Info CSI 00000033 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:55:57, Info CSI 00000035 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:55:59, Info CSI 00000036 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:55:59, Info CSI 00000037 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:56:01, Info CSI 00000039 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:56:02, Info CSI 0000003a [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:56:02, Info CSI 0000003b [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:56:04, Info CSI 0000003d [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:56:06, Info CSI 0000003e [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:56:06, Info CSI 0000003f [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:56:08, Info CSI 00000041 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:56:10, Info CSI 00000042 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:56:10, Info CSI 00000043 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:56:12, Info CSI 00000045 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:56:14, Info CSI 00000046 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:56:14, Info CSI 00000047 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:56:16, Info CSI 00000049 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:56:18, Info CSI 0000004a [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:56:18, Info CSI 0000004b [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:56:19, Info CSI 0000004d [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:56:21, Info CSI 0000004e [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:56:21, Info CSI 0000004f [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:56:23, Info CSI 00000051 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:56:25, Info CSI 00000052 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:56:25, Info CSI 00000053 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:56:28, Info CSI 00000055 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:56:30, Info CSI 00000056 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:56:30, Info CSI 00000057 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:56:35, Info CSI 00000059 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:56:36, Info CSI 0000005a [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:56:36, Info CSI 0000005b [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:56:39, Info CSI 0000005d [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:56:41, Info CSI 0000005e [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:56:41, Info CSI 0000005f [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:56:45, Info CSI 00000061 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:56:47, Info CSI 00000062 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:56:47, Info CSI 00000063 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:56:50, Info CSI 00000065 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:56:53, Info CSI 00000066 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:56:53, Info CSI 00000067 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:56:55, Info CSI 00000069 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:56:57, Info CSI 0000006a [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:56:57, Info CSI 0000006b [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:56:59, Info CSI 0000006d [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:57:00, Info CSI 0000006e [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:57:00, Info CSI 0000006f [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:57:05, Info CSI 00000071 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:57:06, Info CSI 00000072 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:57:06, Info CSI 00000073 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:57:08, Info CSI 00000075 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:57:10, Info CSI 00000076 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:57:10, Info CSI 00000077 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:57:12, Info CSI 00000079 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:57:14, Info CSI 0000007a [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:57:14, Info CSI 0000007b [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:57:15, Info CSI 0000007d [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:57:17, Info CSI 0000007e [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:57:17, Info CSI 0000007f [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:57:22, Info CSI 00000081 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:57:24, Info CSI 00000082 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:57:24, Info CSI 00000083 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:57:33, Info CSI 00000085 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:57:34, Info CSI 00000086 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:57:34, Info CSI 00000087 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:57:42, Info CSI 0000008b [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:57:43, Info CSI 0000008c [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:57:43, Info CSI 0000008d [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:57:57, Info CSI 00000090 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:57:59, Info CSI 00000091 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:57:59, Info CSI 00000092 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:58:08, Info CSI 00000096 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:58:09, Info CSI 00000097 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:58:09, Info CSI 00000098 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:58:20, Info CSI 0000009a [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:58:21, Info CSI 0000009b [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:58:21, Info CSI 0000009c [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:58:37, Info CSI 000000be [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:58:39, Info CSI 000000bf [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:58:39, Info CSI 000000c0 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:58:49, Info CSI 000000c5 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:58:50, Info CSI 000000c6 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:58:50, Info CSI 000000c7 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:59:02, Info CSI 000000c9 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:59:04, Info CSI 000000ca [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:59:04, Info CSI 000000cb [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:59:14, Info CSI 000000cd [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:59:15, Info CSI 000000ce [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:59:15, Info CSI 000000cf [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:59:32, Info CSI 000000d1 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:59:33, Info CSI 000000d2 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:59:33, Info CSI 000000d3 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 12:59:53, Info CSI 000000d7 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 12:59:54, Info CSI 000000d8 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 12:59:54, Info CSI 000000d9 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:00:14, Info CSI 000000ef [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:00:16, Info CSI 000000f0 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:00:16, Info CSI 000000f1 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:00:50, Info CSI 000000f3 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:00:51, Info CSI 000000f4 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:00:51, Info CSI 000000f5 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:01:04, Info CSI 000000f7 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:01:06, Info CSI 000000f8 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:01:06, Info CSI 000000f9 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:01:12, Info CSI 000000fb [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:01:12, Info CSI 000000fc [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:01:12, Info CSI 000000fd [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:01:17, Info CSI 000000ff [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:01:18, Info CSI 00000100 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:01:18, Info CSI 00000101 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:01:35, Info CSI 0000010c [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:01:36, Info CSI 0000010d [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:01:36, Info CSI 0000010e [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:01:48, Info CSI 00000118 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:01:49, Info CSI 00000119 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:01:49, Info CSI 0000011a [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:01:53, Info CSI 0000011c [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:01:54, Info CSI 0000011d [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:01:54, Info CSI 0000011e [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:02:01, Info CSI 00000120 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:02:03, Info CSI 00000121 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:02:03, Info CSI 00000122 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:02:14, Info CSI 00000124 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:02:17, Info CSI 00000125 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:02:17, Info CSI 00000126 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:02:35, Info CSI 00000129 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:02:36, Info CSI 0000012a [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:02:36, Info CSI 0000012b [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:02:47, Info CSI 0000012d [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:02:48, Info CSI 0000012e [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:02:48, Info CSI 0000012f [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:02:53, Info CSI 00000131 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:02:54, Info CSI 00000132 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:02:54, Info CSI 00000133 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:03:08, Info CSI 00000135 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:03:09, Info CSI 00000136 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:03:09, Info CSI 00000137 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:03:19, Info CSI 00000139 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:03:20, Info CSI 0000013a [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:03:20, Info CSI 0000013b [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:03:42, Info CSI 00000145 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:03:43, Info CSI 00000146 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:03:43, Info CSI 00000147 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:04:04, Info CSI 00000157 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:04:06, Info CSI 00000158 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:04:06, Info CSI 00000159 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:04:51, Info CSI 0000015b [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:04:53, Info CSI 0000015c [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:04:53, Info CSI 0000015d [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:05:09, Info CSI 0000015f [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:05:10, Info CSI 00000160 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:05:10, Info CSI 00000161 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:05:29, Info CSI 00000163 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:05:31, Info CSI 00000164 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:05:31, Info CSI 00000165 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:05:43, Info CSI 00000167 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:05:44, Info CSI 00000168 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:05:44, Info CSI 00000169 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:05:57, Info CSI 0000016b [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:05:58, Info CSI 0000016c [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:05:58, Info CSI 0000016d [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:06:07, Info CSI 00000171 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:06:08, Info CSI 00000172 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:06:08, Info CSI 00000173 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:06:33, Info CSI 00000175 [SR] Repairing corrupted file [ml:520{260},l:46{23}]"\??\C:\Windows\System32"\[l:22{11}]"recdisc.exe" from store
2012-08-08 13:06:34, Info CSI 00000177 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:06:36, Info CSI 00000178 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:06:36, Info CSI 00000179 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:06:53, Info CSI 0000017b [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:06:54, Info CSI 0000017c [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:06:54, Info CSI 0000017d [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:07:06, Info CSI 0000017f [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:07:08, Info CSI 00000180 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:07:08, Info CSI 00000181 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:07:30, Info CSI 00000183 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:07:32, Info CSI 00000184 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:07:32, Info CSI 00000185 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:07:46, Info CSI 00000187 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:07:48, Info CSI 00000188 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:07:48, Info CSI 00000189 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:07:57, Info CSI 0000018b [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:07:58, Info CSI 0000018c [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:07:58, Info CSI 0000018d [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:08:26, Info CSI 00000190 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:08:28, Info CSI 00000191 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:08:28, Info CSI 00000192 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:08:44, Info CSI 00000194 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:08:45, Info CSI 00000195 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:08:45, Info CSI 00000196 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:08:58, Info CSI 00000198 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:09:00, Info CSI 00000199 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:09:00, Info CSI 0000019a [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:09:13, Info CSI 0000019d [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:09:14, Info CSI 0000019e [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:09:14, Info CSI 0000019f [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:09:29, Info CSI 000001a3 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:09:30, Info CSI 000001a4 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:09:30, Info CSI 000001a5 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:09:45, Info CSI 000001a8 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:09:46, Info CSI 000001a9 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:09:46, Info CSI 000001aa [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:10:01, Info CSI 000001ac [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:10:02, Info CSI 000001ad [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:10:02, Info CSI 000001ae [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:10:09, Info CSI 000001b0 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:10:10, Info CSI 000001b1 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:10:10, Info CSI 000001b2 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:10:14, Info CSI 000001b4 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:10:16, Info CSI 000001b5 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:10:16, Info CSI 000001b6 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:10:29, Info CSI 000001b8 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:10:31, Info CSI 000001b9 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:10:31, Info CSI 000001ba [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:10:44, Info CSI 000001bc [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:10:46, Info CSI 000001bd [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:10:46, Info CSI 000001be [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:10:58, Info CSI 000001c0 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:10:59, Info CSI 000001c1 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:10:59, Info CSI 000001c2 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:11:21, Info CSI 000001c4 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:11:22, Info CSI 000001c5 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:11:22, Info CSI 000001c6 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:11:28, Info CSI 000001c8 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:11:29, Info CSI 000001c9 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:11:29, Info CSI 000001ca [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:11:37, Info CSI 000001cc [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:11:39, Info CSI 000001cd [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:11:39, Info CSI 000001ce [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:11:56, Info CSI 000001d9 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:11:58, Info CSI 000001da [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:11:58, Info CSI 000001db [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:12:05, Info CSI 000001dd [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:12:08, Info CSI 000001de [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:12:08, Info CSI 000001df [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:12:21, Info CSI 000001e1 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:12:22, Info CSI 000001e2 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:12:22, Info CSI 000001e3 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:12:40, Info CSI 000001e5 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:12:41, Info CSI 000001e6 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:12:41, Info CSI 000001e7 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:12:45, Info CSI 000001e9 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:12:46, Info CSI 000001ea [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:12:46, Info CSI 000001eb [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:12:49, Info CSI 000001ed [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:12:51, Info CSI 000001ee [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:12:51, Info CSI 000001ef [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:13:08, Info CSI 000001f4 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:13:10, Info CSI 000001f5 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:13:10, Info CSI 000001f6 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:13:42, Info CSI 000001fc [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:13:43, Info CSI 000001fd [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:13:43, Info CSI 000001fe [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:13:59, Info CSI 0000020f [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:14:00, Info CSI 00000210 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:14:00, Info CSI 00000211 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:14:06, Info CSI 00000213 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:14:07, Info CSI 00000214 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:14:07, Info CSI 00000215 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:14:16, Info CSI 00000217 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:14:17, Info CSI 00000218 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:14:17, Info CSI 00000219 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:14:27, Info CSI 0000021e [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:14:28, Info CSI 0000021f [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:14:28, Info CSI 00000220 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:14:35, Info CSI 00000222 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:14:36, Info CSI 00000223 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:14:36, Info CSI 00000224 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:14:52, Info CSI 00000249 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:14:53, Info CSI 0000024a [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:14:53, Info CSI 0000024b [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:15:04, Info CSI 0000024d [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:15:05, Info CSI 0000024e [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:15:05, Info CSI 0000024f [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:15:13, Info CSI 00000251 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:15:14, Info CSI 00000252 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:15:14, Info CSI 00000253 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:15:24, Info CSI 00000264 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:15:25, Info CSI 00000265 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:15:25, Info CSI 00000266 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:15:42, Info CSI 00000268 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:15:43, Info CSI 00000269 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:15:43, Info CSI 0000026a [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:16:01, Info CSI 00000278 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:16:02, Info CSI 00000279 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:16:02, Info CSI 0000027a [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:16:07, Info CSI 0000027c [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:16:09, Info CSI 0000027d [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:16:09, Info CSI 0000027e [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:16:21, Info CSI 00000281 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:16:22, Info CSI 00000282 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:16:22, Info CSI 00000283 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:16:34, Info CSI 00000285 [SR] Repairing corrupted file [ml:520{260},l:64{32}]"\??\C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions"\[l:24{12}]"inetres.admx" from store
2012-08-08 13:16:36, Info CSI 00000288 [SR] Repairing corrupted file [ml:520{260},l:76{38}]"\??\C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US"\[l:24{12}]"InetRes.adml" from store
2012-08-08 13:16:37, Info CSI 0000028c [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:16:38, Info CSI 0000028d [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:16:38, Info CSI 0000028e [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:16:42, Info CSI 00000290 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:16:43, Info CSI 00000291 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:16:43, Info CSI 00000292 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:16:59, Info CSI 00000294 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:17:00, Info CSI 00000295 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:17:00, Info CSI 00000296 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:17:09, Info CSI 00000298 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:17:14, Info CSI 00000299 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:17:14, Info CSI 0000029a [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:17:49, Info CSI 000002b0 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:17:51, Info CSI 000002b1 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:17:51, Info CSI 000002b2 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:18:17, Info CSI 000002ba [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:18:20, Info CSI 000002bb [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:18:20, Info CSI 000002bc [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:19:26, Info CSI 000002be [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:19:28, Info CSI 000002bf [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:19:28, Info CSI 000002c0 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:19:38, Info CSI 000002c2 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:19:40, Info CSI 000002c3 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:19:40, Info CSI 000002c4 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:19:53, Info CSI 000002c6 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:19:55, Info CSI 000002c7 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:19:55, Info CSI 000002c8 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:20:05, Info CSI 000002cb [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:20:07, Info CSI 000002cc [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:20:07, Info CSI 000002cd [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:20:45, Info CSI 000002cf [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:20:47, Info CSI 000002d0 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:20:47, Info CSI 000002d1 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:21:01, Info CSI 000002d3 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:21:03, Info CSI 000002d4 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:21:03, Info CSI 000002d5 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:21:15, Info CSI 000002d7 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:21:17, Info CSI 000002d8 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:21:17, Info CSI 000002d9 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:21:31, Info CSI 000002dc [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:21:34, Info CSI 000002dd [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:21:34, Info CSI 000002de [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:21:43, Info CSI 000002e0 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:21:45, Info CSI 000002e1 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:21:45, Info CSI 000002e2 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:21:59, Info CSI 000002e4 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:22:01, Info CSI 000002e5 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:22:01, Info CSI 000002e6 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:22:19, Info CSI 000002ea [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:22:21, Info CSI 000002eb [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:22:21, Info CSI 000002ec [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:22:36, Info CSI 000002ef [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:22:38, Info CSI 000002f0 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:22:38, Info CSI 000002f1 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:22:47, Info CSI 000002f3 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:22:49, Info CSI 000002f4 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:22:49, Info CSI 000002f5 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:23:02, Info CSI 000002f7 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:23:04, Info CSI 000002f8 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:23:04, Info CSI 000002f9 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:23:17, Info CSI 000002fb [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:23:19, Info CSI 000002fc [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2012-08-08 13:23:19, Info CSI 000002fd [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:23:31, Info CSI 000002ff [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:23:31, Info CSI 00000300 [SR] Verifying 15 (0x000000000000000f) components
2012-08-08 13:23:31, Info CSI 00000301 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:23:32, Info CSI 00000303 [SR] Verify complete
2012-08-08 13:23:32, Info CSI 00000304 [SR] Repairing 3 components
2012-08-08 13:23:32, Info CSI 00000305 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2012-08-08 13:23:33, Info CSI 00000307 [SR] Repairing corrupted file [ml:520{260},l:46{23}]"\??\C:\Windows\System32"\[l:22{11}]"recdisc.exe" from store
2012-08-08 13:23:33, Info CSI 00000309 [SR] Repairing corrupted file [ml:520{260},l:64{32}]"\??\C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions"\[l:24{12}]"inetres.admx" from store
2012-08-08 13:23:33, Info CSI 0000030c [SR] Repairing corrupted file [ml:520{260},l:76{38}]"\??\C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US"\[l:24{12}]"InetRes.adml" from store
2012-08-08 13:23:34, Info CSI 0000030f [SR] Repair complete
2012-08-08 13:23:34, Info CSI 00000310 [SR] Committing transaction
2012-08-08 13:23:35, Info CSI 00000314 [SR] Verify and Repair Transaction completed. All files and registry keys listed in this transaction have been successfully repaired

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

recdisc.exe is expected, because I replaced it with an earlier version (write-up on recovery covers this technique). inetres.admx, InetRes.adml always come up, even right after being repaired. I don't know why this happens, but malwarebytes and other anti-virus products don't find any discrepancies.


So are these visual freezes usually associated with video driver issues?

By the way, I found out over in Microsoft TechNet that these two files I mentioned have to deal with IE9. There's some kind of defect when upgrading to IE9 from IE8, whereby the system backup does not get the right files. Thus, SFC scannow copies over the old ones, after which IE9 replaces them. It becomes a ping-pong game. So, if IE9 updates them afterward, I can pretty much ignore what SFC does. The only way to remedy it is to completely uninstall IE9 and install it from the base IE7 that comes with Vista.

Cytherian said:

Hi Tom, my NVidia drivers were updated to that version a while back and I ran SFC scannow earlier today. I just checked and there's an NVidia 301.42 update available, though.

Click to expand...

Update your NVIDIA drivers and see how you get on

recdisc.exe is expected, because I replaced it with an earlier version (write-up on recovery covers this technique). inetres.admx, InetRes.adml always come up, even right after being repaired. I don't know why this happens, but malwarebytes and other anti-virus products don't find any discrepancies.


So are these visual freezes usually associated with video driver issues?

Click to expand...

Before this thread, I've never heard of this happening before! So I'm just trying to rule out things

Let's see if Process Explorer shows us anything. Download it from here:

Process Explorer

Run it, then click File > Save as and save the text file somewhere. Then copy and paste the contents of this into your next post for me please

Cytherian said:

By the way, I found out over in Microsoft TechNet that these two files I mentioned have to deal with IE9. There's some kind of defect when upgrading to IE9 from IE8, whereby the system backup does not get the right files. Thus, SFC scannow copies over the old ones, after which IE9 replaces them. It becomes a ping-pong game. So, if IE9 updates them afterward, I can pretty much ignore what SFC does. The only way to remedy it is to completely uninstall IE9 and install it from the base IE7 that comes with Vista.

Click to expand...

Are you running Vista prior to SP1? If so I recommend putting the SP on if possible. I bought an HP tower with Vista before SP1. It would not let me install SP1. The HD ran on like crazy. I bought another machine with Vista SP1 pre-installed. It didn't have these problems.

Because I could not get SP1 to go on the first machine I just got Windows Seven and installed that. No HD thrashing.

No, MilesAhead--I'm on SP2. No persistent thrashing is going. It's just once in a while there will be an intense HDD activity. I don't recall experiencing this before, though.


Tom, here's my Process Explorer output:


Process PID CPU Private Bytes Working Set Description Company Name
System Idle Process 0 84.69 0 K 24 K
System 4 0 K 3,668 K
Interrupts n/a 1.53 0 K 0 K Hardware Interrupts and DPCs
smss.exe 528 476 K 984 K
csrss.exe 676 2,768 K 7,164 K
wininit.exe 720 1,760 K 4,792 K
services.exe 816 3,320 K 8,224 K
svchost.exe 988 3,536 K 7,416 K Host Process for Windows Services Microsoft Corporation
unsecapp.exe 1360 2,700 K 5,288 K
WmiPrvSE.exe 2924 5,728 K 11,144 K
unsecapp.exe 1252 3,224 K 6,832 K Sink to receive asynchronous callbacks for WMI client application Microsoft Corporation
ehmsas.exe 3100 2,240 K 6,448 K Media Center Media Status Aggregator Service Microsoft Corporation
nvvsvc.exe 324 4,388 K 7,460 K NVIDIA Driver Helper Service, Version 296.10 NVIDIA Corporation
nvxdsync.exe 1436 6,912 K 15,304 K
nvtray.exe 4028 7,244 K 13,608 K NVIDIA Settings NVIDIA Corporation
nvvsvc.exe 1448 5,136 K 11,412 K
svchost.exe 364 5,516 K 8,980 K Host Process for Windows Services Microsoft Corporation
svchost.exe 448 38,552 K 43,684 K Host Process for Windows Services Microsoft Corporation
svchost.exe 832 16,348 K 15,884 K Host Process for Windows Services Microsoft Corporation
audiodg.exe 1216 14,460 K 16,948 K
svchost.exe 624 139,008 K 142,068 K Host Process for Windows Services Microsoft Corporation
wlanext.exe 1896 7,752 K 14,036 K
dwm.exe 3288 1.53 57,032 K 68,412 K Desktop Window Manager Microsoft Corporation
svchost.exe 1036 112,780 K 126,536 K Host Process for Windows Services Microsoft Corporation
taskeng.exe 3332 2,716 K 7,116 K
taskeng.exe 3380 < 0.01 12,764 K 15,480 K Task Scheduler Engine Microsoft Corporation
stacsv64.exe 1056 10,276 K 8,512 K IDT PC Audio IDT, Inc.
svchost.exe 1280 2,644 K 5,948 K Host Process for Windows Services Microsoft Corporation
SLsvc.exe 1312 8,548 K 11,956 K Microsoft Software Licensing Service Microsoft Corporation
svchost.exe 1336 10,948 K 17,300 K Host Process for Windows Services Microsoft Corporation
hpservice.exe 1520 3,300 K 5,372 K HpService Hewlett-Packard Company
vfsFPService.exe 1620 0.77 9,672 K 12,788 K Validity Sensors Fingerprint Service Validity Sensors, Inc.
svchost.exe 1672 18,696 K 20,388 K Host Process for Windows Services Microsoft Corporation
AvastSvc.exe 1864 0.77 42,964 K 29,080 K avast! Service AVAST Software
spoolsv.exe 1992 8,140 K 13,044 K Spooler SubSystem App Microsoft Corporation
DpHostW.exe 2044 14,504 K 17,580 K DigitalPersona Local Host DigitalPersona, Inc.
svchost.exe 1484 18,112 K 22,376 K Host Process for Windows Services Microsoft Corporation
armsvc.exe 2116 2,436 K 4,648 K Adobe Acrobat Update Service Adobe Systems Incorporated
mDNSResponder.exe 2128 2,212 K 5,168 K Bonjour Service Apple Inc.
BDTUpdateService.exe 2248 5,228 K 2,524 K Browser Defender Update Service Threat Expert Ltd.
svchost.exe 2260 2,712 K 4,248 K Host Process for Windows Services Microsoft Corporation
HPDrvMntSvc.exe 2300 1,216 K 4,004 K HP Quick Synchronization Service Hewlett-Packard Company
LSSrvc.exe 2316 1,444 K 4,816 K LightScribe Service Hewlett-Packard Company
BLService.exe 2484 4,264 K 7,860 K Application MFC STServices
RegSrvc.exe 2688 2,248 K 5,796 K Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Registry Service Intel(R) Corporation
svchost.exe 2720 5,720 K 8,280 K Host Process for Windows Services Microsoft Corporation
vmnat.exe 2776 1,440 K 4,612 K
svchost.exe 2800 1,780 K 4,316 K Host Process for Windows Services Microsoft Corporation
SearchIndexer.exe 2816 105,876 K 16,944 K Microsoft Windows Search Indexer Microsoft Corporation
EvtEng.exe 2876 9,948 K 15,500 K Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Event Log Service Intel(R) Corporation
vmnetdhcp.exe 2956 1,312 K 4,276 K
iPodService.exe 4040 3,912 K 7,432 K iPodService Module (64-bit) Apple Inc.
svchost.exe 3968 2,888 K 21,104 K Host Process for Windows Services Microsoft Corporation
daemonu.exe 3496 3,676 K 8,796 K NVIDIA Settings Update Manager NVIDIA Corporation
svchost.exe 1352 3,436 K 7,528 K Host Process for Windows Services Microsoft Corporation
lsass.exe 828 4,320 K 2,696 K Local Security Authority Process Microsoft Corporation
lsm.exe 836 3,328 K 5,404 K
csrss.exe 736 5,592 K 10,020 K
winlogon.exe 764 2,768 K 7,124 K
explorer.exe 3320 3.06 43,704 K 65,192 K Windows Explorer Microsoft Corporation
sttray64.exe 3712 9,336 K 17,356 K IDT PC Audio IDT, Inc.
ipoint.exe 3736 < 0.01 7,844 K 15,236 K IPoint.exe Microsoft Corporation
sidebar.exe 3760 3.06 37,224 K 60,956 K Windows Sidebar Microsoft Corporation
sidebar.exe 1588 < 0.01 17,852 K 37,024 K Windows Sidebar Microsoft Corporation
sidebar.exe 2916 < 0.01 12,308 K 28,584 K Windows Sidebar Microsoft Corporation
RocketDock.exe 3768 < 0.01 5,104 K 11,496 K
ehtray.exe 3784 2,860 K 3,964 K Media Center Tray Applet Microsoft Corporation
SynTPEnh.exe 3848 < 0.01 9,340 K 14,072 K Synaptics TouchPad Enhancements Synaptics Incorporated
chrome.exe 4740 < 0.01 146,576 K 176,688 K Google Chrome Google Inc.
chrome.exe 4468 42,432 K 63,472 K Google Chrome Google Inc.
chrome.exe 3884 73,108 K 88,544 K Google Chrome Google Inc.
chrome.exe 3756 12,100 K 43,264 K Google Chrome Google Inc.
chrome.exe 6040 29,988 K 57,360 K Google Chrome Google Inc.
chrome.exe 5848 < 0.01 48,148 K 80,628 K Google Chrome Google Inc.
chrome.exe 5920 32,224 K 56,584 K Google Chrome Google Inc.
chrome.exe 5644 < 0.01 36,584 K 62,308 K Google Chrome Google Inc.
procexp.exe 4960 2,648 K 8,016 K Sysinternals Process Explorer Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com
procexp64.exe 4688 4.59 21,288 K 35,004 K Sysinternals Process Explorer Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com
GoogleCrashHandler.exe 3620 1,500 K 1,304 K
GoogleCrashHandler64.exe 3628 1,712 K 628 K
AvastUI.exe 3912 < 0.01 8,196 K 6,436 K avast! Antivirus AVAST Software
hpwuschd2.exe 3924 1,944 K 5,500 K hpwuSchd Application Hewlett-Packard
FLVSrvc.exe 3940 < 0.01 2,200 K 5,860 K FLV Service for Freecorder 4 Applian Technologies, Inc.
DpAgent.exe 3952 5,640 K 11,568 K DigitalPersona Local Agent DigitalPersona, Inc.
DpAgent.exe 3140 1,600 K 4,236 K DigitalPersona 64-bit Helper Process DigitalPersona, Inc.
iTunesHelper.exe 4016 < 0.01 5,572 K 12,352 K iTunesHelper Apple Inc.
jusched.exe 1552 1,676 K 5,536 K Java(TM) Update Scheduler Sun Microsystems, Inc.
SynTPHelper.exe 5892 1,900 K 4,052 K

Do you have an image backup? If not, I would make one. If so, then if you are running real-time av shields, try turning them off. See if the machine settles down. Also you can turn off Windows Indexing.

When I got super disk busy on my system, I found that Explorer was opening like every single file on my system. Seems like WMP and Windows indexing service were cataloging every file. I turned off Windows Indexing and use Everything Search. I turned off WMP library indexing and media file sharing over the Lan. Yet another reason to index all your medial files.

I found out that it was Explorer opening all my files by using SysInternals tools. I believe there's a file monitor tool that shows what's opening your files. Usually the file indexing is done via svchost. That's why it's not easy to pick off. svchost runs another program. So you have to go into Task Manager or some other monitor and see what svchost is running that's accessing the drive incessantly.

(Or you can cheat and just put W7 on)

^ I do have indexing on, but I think it's set to just a limited number of locations. I'll have to check it. Maybe it was inadvertently reset and is now indexing the whole drive. It's a 250Gb drive with only 21Gb free right now.

I recently picked up Vista Ultimate, but haven't installed it yet because I'm not quite ready to do it (I have to get another external hard drive so I can make a full back-up, not just a partial). So, not really going to go for W7 just yet...

Anyone have any other ideas?

As I already mentioned, the svchost.exe will not show any information unless you look in Task Manager to see what process that instance is hosting. svchost is usually the culprit. But you have to find out what it's loading.

It's interesting, as Process Explorer does show what service is being run through svchost in some cases, but not in others (it's listed without any association to other programs). In Task Manager, I can find the PID for a given svchost instance and then look it up under "Services", but... it's weird. I see one particular svchost hosting a boat load of net services.

Anyway, I'll just have to wait until this pops up again. But interestingly enough, since I turned off indexing on my C: drive, I haven't seen the momentary freeze (yet). Is it useful to have indexing on for just the folders that you may search and leave it off for all the others?

I disable indexing and use Everything Search. The nice thing about it is it hooks into NTFS file system rather than using the Folder Change Notification of Windows(which runs your drive and is wicked slow.) I don't know the details. Maybe something to do with MFTs. When you first run it a window comes up and it searches the drives you have listed to watch. After that it just uses the update mechanism. You don't have to keep indexing. It's very neat. For some reason they don't update the site with the latest version. See this Page for a link to v. 1.2.1.451a that I've been using for over a year it seems. Don't know why they haven't updated their download page.

Well, it happened again. Another mysterious period of very busy HDD use, to the point where the UI becomes unresponsive (except for the mouse).

I had started up my computer from a shutdown the night before. Everything was working fine. When the logon screen appeared, I went to swipe my fingerprint on the reader at the right time (you have to wait for the driver to be ready), and then nothing happened. I noticed my HDD light showing steadily on, with hardly any flicker. I tried to click on my user icon directly so that I could manually enter a password, but nothing happened.

A full 3.5 minutes go by. Then finally, my UI becomes responsive again and I can log on.

Mind you, normally if the hard drive is a little extra busy during logon, it might take 30 seconds or a little more to wind down. But over 3 minutes and nothing can be done until it's finished? No Windows updates or any other program revisions had been installed. Sometimes you can experience delays as newly installed or refreshed programs update themselves upon restart of the system. No such condition existed.

Anyway, when the desktop appeared I immediately launched Process Explorer in hopes to spying on the possible culprit. The only thing I saw busy for a little while was Windows Defender. I use the firewall supplied by it, but my anti-virus is Avast!. There wasn't any other sign of a high CPU process.

This behavior is the same as what I'd raised earlier, which appeared to be happening less often after turning off Windows Indexing for most of the hard drive. Most of the software I have installed is identical to what I've had across the past year, and I first noticed this behavior a few months ago. This was the first time I saw it happen during start-up. Prior to this I've NEVER had to wait nearly 4 minutes for the HDD to finish intense processing before I could log on. So, seeing it now mystifies me.

Is it possible that the internal management of the hard drive eventually becomes bloated/fragmented/compromised and slows down accessing? That no amount of defragging will really help resolve it? I think I may have to try that Everything Search (thanks for that, MilesAhead).

This is one of those problems that is an annoyance, but not a show stopper. So... I'm expecting I may never know. I'm eventually going to re-install Vista from scratch with the Ultimate version (once I get my replacement SSD hard drive). But I hate stepping over a problem like this and not learning why it happened in the first place.

I don't know what else to say except I went through all my services and either disabled or set to manual anything that might make local copies of files, index files, detect file change over the Lan, share medial files over the Lan etc..

I don't run any real time av or firewall. I use manual scans for malware detection and make image backups of my system, use restore points and back up my Registry with ERUNT. It's been my experience that always running AV type software interferes with the normal operation of the PC to the extent that you are inflicting a virus on yourself to try to avoid same. To me that makes about as much sense as defrag in the background.

I try to keep my system disk about 70% free space and do frequent "light" defrags using Purin defrag.. but MyDefrag is fine using the fastest type(since I've been happy with Purin I haven't kept up on the other defrag softwares for a year or so.)

If bad news is happening right at logon then I'd go through all your auto starts to find the culprit. But I've found with Windows, the system wants to index,WMP wants to index, everything wants to index. Turning all that crap off is a step in the right direction. If you are determined to keep some form of Windows indexing service running then I suggest you try 'Windows Annoyances to see if anyone has figured it out. To me it's a lot cause.

Once I installed a new hybrid drive and a fresh install of Windows Vista, the problem went away. I then formatted the other drive and then installed a fresh OS on it again, followed by all of the software I could think of that I previously had loaded onto it. No problems. No lag.

Yeah, this indexing business really bugs me. I guess with a pure SSD drive, this issue is completely bypassed as no separate indexing is required. It's just batty how Windows isn't transparent enough to help one identify what processes are doing, in addition to what launched them. Microsoft does a heck of a lot right, but what remains "unfinished" is well within Microsoft's ability to handle. If only they'd see things a little differently. Apple did that... with their mantra of keeping things simple. Their software is truly usable by almost everyone, no special training required. I often take for granted what I can do in Windows with my knowledge, whereas many people I know who aren't technical would be stuck in the mud without a rope. Hopefully W8 is a little more of a step in the right direction, making it easier for the masses while still leaving a back door for those with more skills.