SDD Disk at 100% even after Windows Reinstall

[Amadan]

Hi folks,

I'm a graphic designer and today my DTR laptop seems to have died. Trying everything I can find on Google to fix. Have everything backed up so decided to reinstall windows. As soon as it started up the disk drive shot to 100. Anyone have any ideas on how I can fix the issue?

It's a PC Specialist machine, bought exactly 3 years and 1 month ago

Specs:
Chassis & Display Nova Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD 144Hz 72% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU) AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Eight Core CPU (3.6GHz-4.4GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)
Memory (RAM) 32GB Corsair 2666MHz SODIMM DDR4 (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2060 - 6.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st Storage Drive 1TB PCS 2.5" SSD, SATA 6 Gb (520MB/R, 470MB/W)
Memory Card Reader Integrated Micro-SD Memory Card Reader
AC Adaptor 1 x 230W
AC Adaptor Power Cable 1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Battery Nova Series Detachable 4 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card 2 Channel High Def. Audio + SoundBlaster™ Cinema
Bluetooth & Wireless GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options 1 x USB 3.2 PORT (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.2 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Keyboard Language 15" NOVA SERIES UK KEYBOARD
Operating System Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser Google Chrome™
Notebook Mouse INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty 3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery 2 - 3 DAY DELIVERY TO REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Build Time Standard Build - Approximately 8 to 10 working days
Welcome Book PCSpecialist Welcome Book - United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland

 

[SpyderTracks]

What process did you take to clean install windows?

Can you post a screenshot of your disk manager on the c drive?

 

[Amadan]

What process did you take to clean install windows?

Can you post a screenshot of your disk manager on the c drive?

I went to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery

 

[SpyderTracks]

I went to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery

That's not a clean install, that's just a windows reset so will leave behind any issues that were already there. I'd suggest a clean install and properly wipe the drive.

When you say the disk drive went straight to 100, what exactly do you mean? Can you post a screenshot?

 

[Martinr36]

Clean install instructions

Download a new copy of Windows using the Media Creation Tool (Second option on linked page) to an 8GB (min) USB.
Boot that USB and choose a Custom Install.
Delete all UEFI partitions on the system drive (EFI System, Recovery, MSR Reserved, Primary).
Select the unallocated space that results and click the Next button. The installer will create the correct partitions and install Windows.
Run Windows Update repeatedly, even across reboots, until no more updates are found.
You may need/want to download and install the latest graphics driver from the Nvidia/AMD website (they change so regularly the latest version isn't always in the Windows libraries).
This is also worth a watch

 

[Amadan]

That's not a clean install, that's just a windows reset so will leave behind any issues that were already there. I'd suggest a clean install and properly wipe the drive.

When you say the disk drive went straight to 100, what exactly do you mean? Can you post a screenshot?

Thanks for the help. I'll do a clean install in the morning.

I'll get a screenshot, but what I mean is without anything being used, on Task Manager the disk shoots up to 100. Barely dropping. Can't open anything. After I reset windows I could only download Chrome, but I couldn't do anything simple such as run a broadband speed check.

 

[Amadan]

Clean install instructions

Download a new copy of Windows using the Media Creation Tool (Second option on linked page) to an 8GB (min) USB.
Boot that USB and choose a Custom Install.
Delete all UEFI partitions on the system drive (EFI System, Recovery, MSR Reserved, Primary).
Select the unallocated space that results and click the Next button. The installer will create the correct partitions and install Windows.
Run Windows Update repeatedly, even across reboots, until no more updates are found.
You may need/want to download and install the latest graphics driver from the Nvidia/AMD website (they change so regularly the latest version isn't always in the Windows libraries).
This is also worth a watch

Am I OK to use a external harddrive? Assume it's basically the same thing as a USB stick. Can there be other stuff on said device?

How do I boot the USB?

Edit: Can you relink the Media Creation Tool

Edit 2: Have googled. Booting from USB looks grand.

 

[Martinr36]

Edit: Can you relink the Media Creation Tool

sorted

 

[Amadan]

Thanks both!

Followed Martins steps and did a clean install (although weirdly, after I reset window I put 4 files on my desktop, and they were still there after the clean install, making me think I had taken a wrong return, I didn't restore or sync anything, however, I can now use the laptop as normal).

Nvidia updated. When I download latest driver from AMD (https://www.amd.com/en/support/cpu/...-ryzen-7-desktop-processors/amd-ryzen-7-3700x) It wont install as it needs both a HDD and a SSD. Googled it and read not to bother updating the processor, would you agree with that?

Disk currently sitting at 0, rarely venturing above 20 so far.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Thanks both!

Followed Martins steps and did a clean install (although weirdly, after I reset window I put 4 files on my desktop, and they were still there after the clean install, making me think I had taken a wrong return, I didn't restore or sync anything, however, I can now use the laptop as normal).

Nvidia updated. When I download latest driver from AMD (https://www.amd.com/en/support/cpu/...-ryzen-7-desktop-processors/amd-ryzen-7-3700x) It wont install as it needs both a HDD and a SSD. Googled it and read not to bother updating the processor, would you agree with that?

Disk currently sitting at 0, rarely venturing above 20 so far.

If you're downloading drivers individually, you're doing it wrong and not following the guide

You don't have an AMD GPU, you have an Nvidia card, so no need to install the AMD driver from the site.

If the files were still there, you didn't delete all partitions as in the guide as well.

 

[Amadan]

If you're downloading drivers individually, you're doing it wrong and not following the guide

You don't have an AMD GPU, you have an Nvidia card, so no need to install the AMD driver from the site.

If the files were still there, you didn't delete all partitions as in the guide as well.

Well Nvidia is updated now - and the laptop is working, although will be putting in an order for a new one I think. It wouldn't let me delete all of the partitions (2 were greyed out). If anything pops up I'll redo it and send a screenshot. Whole process only took around an hour.

Would you recommend any anti-malware software?

 

[SpyderTracks]

Well Nvidia is updated now - and the laptop is working, although will be putting in an order for a new one I think. It wouldn't let me delete all of the partitions (2 were greyed out). If anything pops up I'll redo it and send a screenshot. Whole process only took around an hour.

Would you recommend any anti-malware software?

Use windows defender for anti-virus / Malware, it's the best going in both protection and performance.