HARD DISK usage hits 100% (skype, oovoo, AVG) windows 8.1

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uglyparrot

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my HDD usage in my laptop hits 100% when i try to run skype, oovoo, and AVG...i tried almost everything i found in here without any luck...its doesn't do that radomly...it does that when i try to run specific programs.
 
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uglyparrot

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dell inspiron 3521...recently installed windows 8.1...at first i had no problem with skype...but now as soon as i sign in to skype or oovoo cpu hits 100% and crashes the program. Also AVG does that.
 
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cklaubur

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Any video chat program (Skype and Oovoo) can have a high CPU usage, along with a virus scan, especially if you have a weak CPU. Whether it's normal or not, that's hard to say. It won't hurt the computer to have a high CPU usage, but of course if the CPU usage constantly sits at 100%, that can cause issues with video chats, and anything else that is running.

If it is a real problem, is it possible you could run AVG at a later time? On my computer, I usually try to set up my virus scans for when I'm not on the computer anyways.

Casey
 
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uglyparrot

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sorry for my poor explanation...when the cpu hits 100% it crashes the program that i was trying to run...(skype, oovoo, AVG)
and i didnt even try to scan for viruses...i just clicked so that the AVG interface appear in my Desktop...and immediately the cpu usages goes to 100% and AVG crashes
 
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uglyparrot

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No...it just crashes...actually is my sister's laptop...i dont remember getting any error mesaage but i'll try it again as soon as she gets home.
 
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volcanoscout

volcanoscout

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First thing I would recommend is going to the Dell website support page for your laptop (linked below) and make sure your drivers are all up-to-date. If you have your Windows update set on automatic, it's possible that you downloaded and installed a couple of bad updates that came out a short while back that are known to induce crashes. I'll post a link to the MS support page in a minute.
 
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uglyparrot

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ok i got it all wrong...its not the CPU which goes to 100% is the HDD...once i log in to skype or oovoo the disk goes to 100% and crashes the program.
 
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uglyparrot

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As far as the drivers are concerned, a chipset driver was needed an update...then i downloaded Seagate...it passed the S.M.A.R.T test...but then it failed the fix all fast...

Basically is:

SMART check Pass
Short Generic Pass
Long Generic Fail
Fix all fast Fail
Short DST Fail

i also noticed that when i open AVG, in task manager "System" is the one which uses most of the disk and then the AVG crashes!
 
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volcanoscout

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If you have an external backup drive, as soon as possible save an image of your HDD using the Windows imaging feature or third-party cloning software. If you don't have a backup drive, I would recommend getting one quickly.

Once you have a good backup image, you can try right clicking on the OS drive and select Properties/Tools/Error Checking, and click Check Now. Make sure you've got the backup image first - if the drive is failing, as it appears to be, this process may fix it, but it also may push it over the edge into full failure. If it looks like the process completed and worked, run Sea Tools again and see if you still get failures. If the process doesn't complete or you're still getting Sea Tool failures, you'll want to replace the drive. Hopefully your warranty is still active.

If it passes on the Sea Tool test after the error check, you'll want to actively maintain a current image backup of your OS drive if you decide to continue to use it, as there's no way to tell how long the fix will be good for. Frankly, I would just replace the drive.
 
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cklaubur

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+1 to volcanoscout's post.

That hard drive sounds like it is on its way out. 100% hard drive I/O usage shouldn't crash anything, just slow things down until the hard drive catches up.

"System" is a catch-all process for the various functions Windows does in the background, including disk access.

Casey
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Is it a hard drive or an SSD? I've been seeing a LOT of SSD's lately with similar 100% drive activity and many of them were firmware problems. If it is an SSD and you go to the manufacturers website there is likely a firmware update which I would recommend you install. If not, then it's possible volcanoscout is correct. What is your exact model of laptop from the sticker on the unit or printed on the case under the battery?
 
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uglyparrot

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ok guys i couldn't find a solution so i installed win 7 instead...everything works fine now...but im having another problem...when i have my earphones plugged in...the internal mic does not work...any idea why this is happening?
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Well, more than likely it's still highly possible you didn't FIX anything. Reinstalling the operating system probably just used a portion of the drive where it doesn't have an issue. Since your drive failed the DST, Fix all fast and the long generic, I'd say there is definitely an issue somewhere. Great and wonderful for you if that turns out to not be the case but I would for sure keep my personal files backed up. AND, if you are already having errors with devices not working it may well be that some driver or system files have already been written to portions of the hard drive where there are problems.

Now that you have a clean install and say everything is working correctly, run the drive tests again to see if the drive is actually bad or if it was a result of software. THEN worry about the microphone. The microphone doesn't matter if your installation is already beginning to show problems. While this may be a driver or settings issue, I would double check the drive tests since you ALREADY had failed test results before. Usually, problems like that don't go away just because you reinstall the operating system.
 
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uglyparrot

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Well...windows 8.1 was full of problems...if not for everyone at least for a lot of people out there...i guess i was one of them...i can run the test again...but since all working fine (at least for now)...what bothers me is that issue with the mic.
I checked the drivers via the dell website and they're fine.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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You are obviously misunderstanding me. I'm not trying to say the drivers themselves have problems. I'm trying to say there can be problems with the area of the hard drive that the drivers are WRITTEN ON can have problems. Drivers are just software files like anything else and they have to be written somewhere on the hard drive.

The same goes for all manner of files related to the operating system. If any, ANY, of those files is written on a bad sector of the hard drive, it will result in a widely varying result of problems that can include devices not working correctly, errors, BSOD's and even complete failure of the operating system. Just check it again and tell me what the result is this time.

If there are no errors, great, we'll see what we can do about the microphone. If you still get the same failures as before, the microphone doesn't matter because you still have a bigger problem. Those tests don't show failing results just for fun. They do it when there is a problem. If you ignore the problem and continue using the drive, you WILL end up with a catastrophic failure at some point down the road and will not be able to recover your files or settings. It's up to you what you want to do.

As for the microphone, does it FOR CERTAIN work without the headphones plugged in?
 
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uglyparrot

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Yeah, sure it does...its like an on/off switch as soon as i plug the earphones in.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Your unit has a combination headphone/microphone combination port. It does not have separate ports for external mic and headphones. If headphones are plugged in the internal mic will automatically be disabled. There is no way around this. You will need a headset that includes the microphone if you want to use headphones with a mic. If you want to use the internal mic you will have to do without the use of headphones. That information is straight from the 3521 quick start guide.
 
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