Constant Disc Access

[paulfr]

My laptop often will be accessing the disc much more than it should be.

If I close down all programs/apps, it keeps going.

Task Mgr shows a process ..... msiexec running but when I ask TM to shut it down, it will not disappear from the process window.

How can I find out what is going on here ?

I run a few spyware programs and nothing shows up as malware/virus/spyware etc.

Thanks for your help.

[geoffphuket]

This might be stating the obvious, but if it's just started doing it, I'd try a restore point back a few days. That might get rid of any bug that your security scans have missed.

geoffphuket

[joka]

I agree with Geoff, I have had this problem before and a sysem restore to an earlier time fixed it.

[lomatopo]

Possibly not enough free disk space? Your OS may be constantly swapping data in/out of the HDD.

How much free disk space do you have, as a percentage of the overall disk space?

Do a CTRL-ALT-Delete, click on Processes, click on CPU once or twice to prioritize greatest to least to see which are hogs.

[solo siam]

Defrag?

[Jamie]

Windows is a well known memory hog. It gets worse as time goes by. My computer used to run very fast but even after a year it has slowed down significantly, even after adding more RAM. The way windows saves useless information such as if you check your e-mail or open a document is well known. After a while, all this data slows the ability of the computer to access needed data at a normal pace. You may notice your hard drive working more and more to access the needed information.

[bkkguy1970]

The way windows saves useless information such as if you check your e-mail or open a document is well known. After a while, all this data slows the ability of the computer to access needed data at a normal pace.

some references or links to reliable sources that support this claim or is it just based on your assumption that this is why your system has "slowed down significantly"

bkkguy

[brianinbangkok]

Windows definitly slows down as over time you install more and more programs running in the background , auto updaters and so.

Fact is clean install always runs fastest due to it not having all this junk loaded in the background. (most non MS programs btw)

Likely the OP should add some memory to the system.

Edited June 4, 2007 by brianinbangkok

[Veazer]

My guess is that windows is using the pagefile aggressively due to low memory. Download filemon and run it run for 10-20 seconds or so to find the culprit.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysintern...kutilities.mspx

[dave_boo]

My laptop often will be accessing the disc much more than it should be.

If I close down all programs/apps, it keeps going.

Task Mgr shows a process ..... msiexec running but when I ask TM to shut it down, it will not disappear from the process window.

How can I find out what is going on here ?

I run a few spyware programs and nothing shows up as malware/virus/spyware etc.

Thanks for your help.

FWIW:

Msiexec.exe is the Windows Installer Service. It's normally started when you install a new program, and can often be left running afterwards. It may start automatically on reboot in some cases where the installation process has indicated that a reboot was required, or the installation failed to complete successfully.

Have you installed something recently that didn't install all the way?

[dsys]

Very difficult to diagnose on the basis of the information provided. As stated earlier the peoces msiexec is to do with installing programs. It is usually set as a manual service, called only when needed. It is self restarting (usually) thats why it keeps reappearing. Check the following (assumes XP or vista which needs admin rights to run)-

1.In a command box type: services.msc.

2.Then find the "windows installer" service.

3. right click and select properties

4. change the startup type to disabled and click OK

5. Restart the PC and see if the problem is still there.

6. Whether it is or not change the service back to manual startup type.

If the problem is no longer there then you more than likely have a key in the registry that makes windows think it is still trying to install something. Best get a good registry cleaner. I use registry mechanic. google it if you are interested.

If the problem is still present then -

What version of windows are you running?

How old is the PC?

When was the last time you defrag'd the disks?

When you say you shut down all the programs do you mean that there are no programs showing in the TM?

What services are you running - do you have a webserver on the PC?

How full are your disks?

How much free RAM do you have

If its not the installer service issue its more than likely a page file swapping issue. The other more unlikey situation is the following http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/virus_w32_expiro_a.shtml virus. It went undetected for a while but it is worth making sure your virus defs are up to date and you have done a full scan recently.

Hope that puts you in the right direction.

[paulfr]

I want to thank everyone for the suggestions and comments.

Much appreciated.