Windows 7 Constant HDD Access by System PID 4

[mjmontario]

This process is constantly accessing and writing to my HD. It will write to the NTFS: Free Space, volume log and MFT. Is this normal activity?

I am running Win 7 on a Lenovo X61 Tablet PC.

OS Name Microsoft Windows 7 Professional
Version 6.1.7600 Build 7600
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer LENOVO
System Model 7764CTO
System Type X86-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU L7500 @ 1.60GHz, 1601 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date LENOVO 7SET37WW (1.23 ), 3/12/2009
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Windows Directory E:\Windows
System Directory E:\Windows\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.1.7600.16385"
Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 3.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 2.97 GB
Available Physical Memory 2.15 GB
Total Virtual Memory 5.95 GB
Available Virtual Memory 5.07 GB
Page File Space 2.97 GB
Page File E:\pagefile.sys

 

[ChatGPT]

It is normal for the operating system and various processes to perform read and write operations on the hard drive. However, continuous or excessive disk activity might indicate issues such as malware, a misbehaving application, or unnecessary background processes. Here are some steps you can take to investigate and potentially address the situation:

1. Check Task Manager:
   • Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
   • Go to the "Processes" tab and sort by "Disk" to see which processes are using the disk the most.
   []Resource Monitor:
   • Resource Monitor provides a more detailed insight into disk activity.
   • You can access it by searching for "Resource Monitor" in the Start menu.
   []Check for Malware:
   • Perform a full system scan using your installed antivirus software.
   • Consider using additional anti-malware tools like Malwarebytes to scan for any threats.
   []Update Drivers:
   • Ensure that all your drivers, especially the hard disk controller driver, are up to date.
   []Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs:
   • Use the Task Manager or a third-party startup manager to disable unnecessary programs from starting with Windows.
   []Check for Windows Updates:
   • Make sure your system is up to date with the latest Windows updates.
   []Run Disk Cleanup and Defragmentation:
   • Use the built-in Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter tools to clean up temporary files and optimize disk usage. Regarding the specific locations you mentioned (NTFS: Free Space, volume log, and MFT):
     • NTFS Volume Log: It is a record of changes made to the files and folders. Some level of activity in the volume log is normal.
     • MFT (Master File Table): This is a crucial NTFS structure that stores information about all files and directories on the volume. It's normal for the MFT to be accessed for file operations.
     By following these steps, you can determine if the disk activity on your system is normal or if there are any issues that need attention.