ccmexec.exe is constantly rummaging through my hard drives, apparently looking for something.  It does not seem to be producing any kind of output file (at least none that I can find).

I have created a batch file to turn off the SMS service, and kill ccmexec.exe, however this is not the best solution.  Since the SMS service allows corporate to keep my computer updated, I do not wish to turn it off permanently.

Is there a way to find out more details on what the ccmexec.exe is looking for?  And what it does with the information it finds?

Note: I already posted this on the regular forums, however the response suggested I re-post it to this one:

The question is also better suited for the audience on TechNet. Please post your question in the following link for better assistance:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-us/sms/threads

Original Posting: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_xp-performance/windows-excessive-disk-activity-and-ccmexecexe/6a5904bd-8c5c-4c97-b589-4a370889c19f

Do you have software Inventory enabled?

That absolutely is NOT the thing to do. You kill all of SMS 2003 when you do that. If software inventory is enabled in your site, then that very likely is the cause. Software inventory, depending on its configured file types and paths, may check every single file on the hard drive to enumerate what the file is.

So I'd look at that first - is the Software Inventory Client Agent enabled, and if so, what path(s) is/are configured. Maybe you want to cut down on the paths scanned. Or even disable it. Most people don't need software inventory any more, as Add/Remove Programs (part of Hardware Inventory) or Asset Intelligence (also from Hardware Inventory) are much more effective at identifying software actually installed.

I am not sure if the software inventory is enabled.  I looked for anything with "inventory" in the name and did not find anything. 

The Software Inventory Client led me to  Configuration Manager, which also does not seem to be installed on my machine.

I can understand about software inventory, but this goes on every day, every time I start the computer.  

Typically I let the computer start up and run, then when it has become stable, i use a batch file to turn off the SMS service, and kill ccmexec.exe.  This stops the disk activity.  If it is the software inventory causing this disk activity, it probably does not need to run every day, and could be set to run evry couple of weeks instead.

How do I configure the software inventory?

Open the SMS 2003 console, browse to the Client agent setting. Find the Software Inventory Client Agent (SW Inv), adjust the SW Inv setting to once a week or turn it off altogether.

I assume that you are SMS 2003 admin for your site, if you are not then talk to them and get them to fix it.

Sorry, I am just a computer user in a corporate environment, trying to be a good corporate citizen and still be able to use the computer to do my work.  The excessive disk activity is annoying since the computer is busy with the inventory, instead of the things I need it to do.

I would probably not have much luck convincing our IT group to change their policies.  I just want to be able to control my end of the situation.

On the extreeme side, I can simply, permanently disable the SMS and then have no further issues with disk activity.  However, I would like to be able to keep the SMS active for corporate reasons, but just limit the excessive disk activity to a relatively reasonable level.

I would like to understand what this SMS inventory system does, what files are output, and how ofetn it needs to update these files.  I am assuming there is some kind of local configuration or policy file that provides these settings on my computer, since the activity happens whether I am on the corportae network or travelling.

Any ideas?

My best advice is to tell your boss that you need a new computer as the existing one is un-useable. Tell and more importantly show them what you mean. Tell them how long it is un-usable for and tell them how much it is costing them to have you unproductive. Then suggest that in order to be productive, you need to get a new (faster) computer or have them talk to the IT department to see what is going on with your PC. Ask you boss to have IT report back to them as to what the issue is with the PC and how they plan to fix it.

Then  sit and wait to see what happens.

BTW Disabling the CCMEXEC service will not solve anything as it will start up again from the begin and still continue until it is complete. Your only real option is to talk to you IT department.

OK, thank you for the advice.  It is interesting about the ccmexec service running until completion. 

Apparently it runs, finishes, then starts all over again.

I understand that your an MVP and all. But throwing hardware at a problem is a terrible answer. I too am having an issue with CCM and while it's an IT policy. I find the problem to be with MS rather than hardware. Please never give anyone the advice in a forum to upgrade their hardware. Especially when you don't know what their hardware specs are.

Not meaning to flame anyone. But JGreg7 is going to look like a fool when he tells his IT people this. And he will get ugly looks and ask where he heard this non-sense. At which point he will refer to a forum and the IT folks will mock him. JGreg7 is being proactive in determining something that I'm sure his IT deparment is unwilling to tackle. As the issue is puzzling to me as well and I'm a 20+ year IT veteran.

JGreg7 ignore the advice given. And rather try and persuade someone that is not lazy in IT to troubleshoot the problem.

Umm...Bubba, he's not telling him to get a new laptop, he's giving some pretty good advice on how to deal with management and IT service.  IT service is going to action this with a lot more urgency if they are being asked by management why staff computers are running so poorly.  Management understands dollars and cents and are gonna get pretty shirty if they find out that their staff are losing an hour or more a day due to poorly configured policy to.  Over a week/month/year that adds up pretty quickly for just the one employee, and it may well be an issue more far reaching that 1 user.

SQL_RobD, you got it right.. it is always amazing to see the results of what happens when management get involved.

This is useful advice for this user in this instance,

but it doesn't add to the online knowledge about this issue.

The really valuable answer would be, how would the IT department fix it?

You could post your answer to any question posted here...

A partial solution might be available here: http://superuser.com/questions/80924/why-is-ccmexec-thrashing-my-disk/309285#309285

A partial solution might be available here: http://superuser.com/questions/80924/why-is-ccmexec-thrashing-my-disk/309285#309285

Neither disabling the SMS agent nor rebuilding WMI are recommended solutions. I suggest that you dig deeper into the problem.

I did two things:

1) I killed ccmexec.exe (not the tree, just the instance - I wanted to try this first)

- That didn't help as MsMpEng.exe continued the process (of whatever)

2) I removed DVD disk from DVD drive. This stopped both the noice (it was my DVD drive and not hard drive that made the noice for me), but also calmed down my hard drive from keeping the led practically shining all the time.

Note that ccmexec.exe was mainly reading something. Resource monitor showed read B/sec as very high and write B/sec sometimes as zero, sometimes higher. Does DVD drive constitute as "Disk" in resource monitor? Anyway I expect that when ccmexec or msmpeng or typically both get stuck either with DVD drive or with something on your hard drive this will happen: they keep reading it in constant loop. So my recommendation is as quick fix to anyone is:

1) Remove DVDs and CDs from the drives

2) Make hard drive fix operation, so that problems on it will be isolated out of use

• Edited by Timo Riikonen1 Tuesday, July 22, 2014 6:09 AM

I did two things:

1) I killed ccmexec.exe (not the tree, just the instance - I wanted to try this first)

- That didn't help as MsMpEng.exe continued the process (of whatever)

2) I removed DVD disk from DVD drive. This stopped both the noice (it was my DVD drive and not hard drive that made the noice for me), but also calmed down my hard drive from keeping the led practically shining all the time.

Note that ccmexec.exe was mainly reading something. Resource monitor showed read B/sec as very high and write B/sec sometimes as zero, sometimes higher. Does DVD drive constitute as "Disk" in resource monitor? Anyway I expect that when ccmexec or msmpeng or typically both get stuck either with DVD drive or with something on your hard drive this will happen: they keep reading it in constant loop. So my recommendation is as quick fix to anyone is:

1) Remove DVDs and CDs from the drives

2) Make hard drive fix operation, so that problems on it will be isolated out of use

• Edited by Timo Riikonen1 Tuesday, July 22, 2014 6:09 AM

I was having a similar issue with CCMexec.exe dragging my system down.  I didn't have any physical media in my DVD drive, but I did have a virtual drive with a ISO enabled.  Disabling the virtual drive cleared up the problem just as effectively as removing a physical disk.

Hinted by Dan Cady's and Timo's answer, I realized, I had a virtual drive mounted by Daemon Tools LITE. I uninstalled Daemon Tools LITE and killed the WMIprvse.exe file (which was eating my CPU, but was really ccmexe.exe in disguise (see http://blogs.msdn.com/b/wmi/archive/2009/05/27/is-wmiprvse-a-real-villain.aspx)), and now my CPU load is back to normal idle (~1-2%) from 25% constantly before. Thanks guys.

We have the same problem with software inventory at my site.  The scheduled scan trashes my hard disk and brings my computer to a crawl every MWF morning.  You can check if software inventory is enabled by going to 'Control Panel -> Configuration Manager'.  Then, select the 'Components' tab and look for the status of 'Software Inventory Agent'.  If software inventory is enabled for your client, you probably do not have access to disable it.  However, you can configure software inventory to skip your hard drive by following instructions at https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb632671.aspx

Note that having the Software Inventory Agent enabled does not definitively mean your computer will be scanned for software.  Your IT shop must also instruct your client when and how to perform the scan.  However, your IT department probably has it enabled for a reason and it is likely to be part of the problem.

Additionally, following the technet instructions will likely put your computer out of compliance with IT's standards.  You should only follow them if you are desperate and not worried about getting in trouble.

• Edited by Mike at WFU 19 hours 58 minutes ago

We have the same problem with software inventory at my site.  The scheduled scan trashes my hard disk and brings my computer to a crawl every MWF morning.  You can check if software inventory is enabled by going to 'Control Panel -> Configuration Manager'.  Then, select the 'Components' tab and look for the status of 'Software Inventory Agent'.  If software inventory is enabled for your client, you probably do not have access to disable it.  However, you can configure software inventory to skip your hard drive by following instructions at https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb632671.aspx

Note that having the Software Inventory Agent enabled does not definitively mean your computer will be scanned for software.  Your IT shop must also instruct your client when and how to perform the scan.  However, your IT department probably has it enabled for a reason and it is likely to be part of the problem.

Additionally, following the technet instructions will likely put your computer out of compliance with IT's standards.  You should only follow them if you are desperate and not worried about getting in trouble.

• Edited by Mike at WFU Wednesday, February 18, 2015 4:05 PM

We have the same problem with software inventory at my site.  The scheduled scan trashes my hard disk and brings my computer to a crawl every MWF morning.  You can check if software inventory is enabled by going to 'Control Panel -> Configuration Manager'.  Then, select the 'Components' tab and look for the status of 'Software Inventory Agent'.  If software inventory is enabled for your client, you probably do not have access to disable it.  However, you can configure software inventory to skip your hard drive by following instructions at https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb632671.aspx

Note that having the Software Inventory Agent enabled does not definitively mean your computer will be scanned for software.  Your IT shop must also instruct your client when and how to perform the scan.  However, your IT department probably has it enabled for a reason and it is likely to be part of the problem.

Additionally, following the technet instructions will likely put your computer out of compliance with IT's standards.  You should only follow them if you are desperate and not worried about getting in trouble.

• Edited by Mike at WFU Wednesday, February 18, 2015 4:05 PM

Too often, IT teams become self-serving and are no longer business enablers.

This seems like a perfect example.  I see the same thing at my day job.  When these tools are taking up 10 or 20% of my 4-core CPU for excessive amounts of time; I totally fail to understand the business advantage.