Hi

Im using a TOSHIBA satellite windows 8.1 about one year old.

up until to days ago everything was just fine. recently my PC began to slow down almost to a stop. my disk is up to 100% when the problem accrues. anti virus scan didnt help nor did closing all programs or rebooting.the ntoskrnl.exe process seems to be the aggressive disk consumer. i researched online and found these tow nice answers/threads: 

http://slopjong.de/2013/04/23/extremely-high-disk-activity-with-windows-8-and-how-to-fix-it/

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/ee8834d0-3c6e-4eb8-9c31-a6d1651d61de/ntoskrnlexe-100-disk-usage-windows-80-and-81?forum=w8itprogeneral

the latter is a bit of a problem to me since i have no idea what is a .etl file or how to extract it in order to get your help. 

changing my power plan to high performance did cause the problem to go away however i would like to be able to work in balanced mode/eco.

can you help?

regads

Hi eshalev,

Since we have got the culprit process is ntoskernl.exe. We can use Windows Process Explorer to have a check:
Process Explorer v16.04
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

We also can use the Windows Performance Toolkit to analyze this issue .The .etl file is generated by this tool .It can be used to analyze the performance issue .

To use this tool ,here is a link for reference(The example is based on Windows 7 ,Win 8.1 take the same situation):
WPT: WPR/Xperf: Capture high cpu, disk i/o, file, registry, networking, Private bytes, Virtual bytes, Paged Pool/Nonpaged pool and/or application slowness.
http://blogs.technet.com/b/yongrhee/archive/2012/11/23/wpr-xperf-capture-high-cpu-disk-i-o-file-registry-networking-private-bytes-virtual-bytes-paged-pool-nonpaged-pool-and-or-application-slowness.aspx

Here is the tool downloading link(It is included in the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit ) :
Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) for Windows 8.1 Update
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=39982

Please upload the .etl file to the OneDrive and paste the link here .
How to use OneDrive to upload a file and get a link
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-hk/onedrive/share-file-folder

Best regards 

Hi

I have an .etl file on one drive in the following link:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=6A982B85D76B8C2B!1741&authkey=!ALR8Rg0Uw3ksmM0&ithint=file%2cetl

please help me find out what is causing the problem.

Hi eshalev,

After analyzing the .etl file ,it seems that the culprit is the SkyDrive(OneDrive). This issue seems to be related to the SkyDrive sync the settings all the time .Please shut down the SkyDrive to have a check .

To troubleshoot this issue deeply ,please check the Event View for related errors and warnings about SkyDrive(OneDrive).

Best regards

• Marked as answer by Brandon RecordsModerator 20 hours 57 minutes ago

Hi eshalev,

After analyzing the .etl file ,it seems that the culprit is the SkyDrive(OneDrive). This issue seems to be related to the SkyDrive sync the settings all the time .Please shut down the SkyDrive to have a check .

To troubleshoot this issue deeply ,please check the Event View for related errors and warnings about SkyDrive(OneDrive).

Best regards

• Marked as answer by Brandon RecordsModerator Tuesday, February 03, 2015 2:47 PM

Hi

The problem started way before i have ever opened/used the OneDrive app. I fear this is just a symptom that can be observed just the same with any other application such as chrome, windows explorer or any other app.

Correct me if i'm wrong but i think that the OneDrive is not the root of the problem.

The only solution i found so far is going into high performance in the power plan and even that solution becomes futile when i lower the screens brightness and contrast. might the problem be related?

Regards

Hi eshalev,

Have you tried to shut down the OneDrive to have a check ?

According to the analysis result, the OneDrive process is very suspicious. We can shut down this process to have a check .As I have posted before ,there is a much possibility that this issue is related to the Sync .The "SettingSyncHost.exe" occupied much disk resources. If that is the issue ,please check the Event Viewer for information about Sync .

"The only solution i found so far is going into high performance in the power plan and even that solution becomes futile when i lower the screens brightness and contrast"

In my opinion ,the high performance of the power plan can be used to improve the whole system performance ,so it will be useful sometimes.

Please keep us aware ,if the issue persists when you shut down the OneDrive process.

Best regards

• Edited by MeipoXu Tuesday, January 20, 2015 1:51 AM
• Proposed as answer by Yolanda ZhuMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Thursday, January 22, 2015 1:00 AM

Hi eshalev,

Have you tried to shut down the OneDrive to have a check ?

According to the analysis result, the OneDrive process is very suspicious. We can shut down this process to have a check .As I have posted before ,there is a much possibility that this issue is related to the Sync .The "SettingSyncHost.exe" occupied much disk resources. If that is the issue ,please check the Event Viewer for information about Sync .

"The only solution i found so far is going into high performance in the power plan and even that solution becomes futile when i lower the screens brightness and contrast"

In my opinion ,the high performance of the power plan can be used to improve the whole system performance ,so it will be useful sometimes.

Please keep us aware ,if the issue persists when you shut down the OneDrive process.

Best regards

• Edited by MeipoXu Tuesday, January 20, 2015 1:51 AM
• Proposed as answer by Yolanda ZhuMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Thursday, January 22, 2015 1:00 AM

Hi

I have tried ending the OneDrive Process and the SettingSyncHost.exe process in order to run a test, but the SettingSyncHost.exe process keeps coming back. how do i permanently kill it?

Hi eshalev,

We just need to end the OneDrive Process to have a check .The SettingsSyncHost.exe process is an important part of the system which is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. I suspect the OneDrive will sync all the time and it may use this process. The OneDrive process is the key point , there is no need to end SettingsSyncHost.exe process.

Best regards

• Edited by MeipoXu Friday, January 23, 2015 5:18 AM

Hi eshalev,

We just need to end the OneDrive Process to have a check .The SettingsSyncHost.exe process is an important part of the system which is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. I suspect the OneDrive will sync all the time and it may use this process. The OneDrive process is the key point , there is no need to end SettingsSyncHost.exe process.

Best regards

• Edited by MeipoXu Friday, January 23, 2015 5:18 AM

Hi again

problem seems to be resolved with OneDrive process closed. how do i further understand what in the specific problem with the OneDrive? when i turn it back on it asks me "which library would you like to sync". sync now batten leads me to an error msg:"we can't connect to the specified sharepoint site".

Is that the problem? how can i resolve this?

Thanx

Hi eshalev ,

OK, the OneDrive seems to be the culprit.

First of all ,please run the OneDrive troubleshooter to have a check .
Run the OneDrive troubleshooter
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-hk/windows-8/onedrive-troubleshooter

To verify whether this is casued by the Sync ,we can manually turn off the sync settings to have a check .
Win+C\Settings \Change PC Settings \OneDrive \Sync Settings

If it is indeed caused by the sync ,we can try the following methods to have a check
Possible SkyDrive Sync Fix for Windows 8.1
https://aurir.wordpress.com/2014/01/08/possible-skydrive-sync-fix-for-windows-8-1/

Please check the Event Viewer for errors or warnings related to the OneDrive to troubleshoot this issue further .

NOTE: This response contains a reference to a third party World Wide Web site. Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. Microsoft does not control these sites and has not tested any software or information found on these sites.

Best regards

Hi

It seems as if the fix tool made the job done. thanks for all the help.

• Marked as answer by eshalev 20 hours 23 minutes ago
• Unmarked as answer by eshalev 20 hours 23 minutes ago

Hi

It seems as if the fix tool made the job done. thanks for all the help.

• Marked as answer by eshalev Tuesday, February 03, 2015 3:20 PM
• Unmarked as answer by eshalev Tuesday, February 03, 2015 3:21 PM

Hi eshalev ,

So the issue has been resolved ,anything to update ?

Best regards

Yes it has and nothing to update.

thanks again.