How can I find out what my computer's doing and is there a way to stop it?

[FunkyMonkee]

For most of the past 5 days, it's been busy doing SOMETHING but I have NO idea what!! Any time I've got it on, it's clattering away non-stop the entire time it's on and it's taking me FOREVER to be able to do much of anything else on it!!
How can I stop this bullshit and regain access to my computer?

[DoggyDude]

How much memory are you running? If you have less than 16gb in the modern age your probably facing thrashing fron your swapfile (this is a file the OS uses when memory is low to hide its running out of memory and seamlessly continue to run applications, but slower and with a lot of disk activity).

There are specific tools Microsoft didn't want to supply to check this. A team of developers broke from Microsoft and made all the tool MS didn't want to make but people needed to check what MS was up to with their OS. Lookup "Process Explorer" and "Process Monitor" from System Internals (now owned by Microsoft).

You can use Process Explorer easily to see what is running on your system, and you anc use Process Monitor to find out what files are being accessed by what process.

[FunkyMonkee]

I don't know how much memory it's got but I'm pretty sure I added a chip or two after I bought it, as well as another hard drive. I was hoping to add 2 but, unlike on my last computer, there doesn't seem to be a way to add the third one.

[Phoenix98]

Well just trouble shooting off of the vague details you gave us since you have no clue what's going on the following things popped up in my head.

1# Your hard drive is failing

2# You have to little memory in your computer

3# You have a virus that's using up a lot of memory and straining your CPU thus slowing down your computer immensely.

Without any real information about what it's doing that's all I can come up with. You should probably take it to a computer repair shop and have them take a look at it. Since I'm guessing your not very tech savy.

[TrunksSS34U2003]

Most of the time there are processes running in the background that Windows is monitoring and at times these programs become unresponsive. Using Task manager can fix some of the issues you may be experiencing. Now can you describe in detail what it is that your computer is doing?

[FunkyMonkee]

All I know is that's it's CONSTANTLY making this clattering sound like I've given it a file to search for and, while it's doing whatever it's supposedly doing, it becomes difficult to do anything else on it that I might want to do! I turn it on, I click on the icon to open up my online session, again and it'll take 5 or 10 minutes for it to actually open that! It FINALLY opens and I click on the tab I want to access and it takes another 3 to 5 just to get that to open. I click on a "link" in the tab to do what I want it to do and another 3 to 5 later, I'm still waiting! If I decide to go to another tab to get SOMETHING done there while I'm waiting for the first to do what I want, I have to wait ANOTHER 5 or 10 for THAT tab to open!! It's like being on dial-up, clicking on a link to a video in YT and having to wait an eternity for the video to start playing.
Every so often, a band appears near the top of the screen that tells me the computer is busy doing something and a STOP button shows up that I can click to get it to stop. I click the button but that doesn't get it to completely stop what it's doing!
I think this started Thu. and went on for two days. Sat. I had no problem at all. Sun., it started up all over again and hasn't stopped since!

[TrunksSS34U2003]

This sounds like a RAM issue. Also what kind of computer are you using and what's version of Windows/iOS?

[FunkyMonkee]

It's, maybe, a dozen years old and is running 8.1.
I tried 10, hated it, and I've heard 11 is garbage. So far, 8.1 and 7 are both working fine!

[Superreader]

Can you share a video? Have you scanned for viruses?

[FunkyMonkee]

No, I can't and, what would it prove? You'd have a hard time hearing it unless I got a mic very close to it. If you run a search for a file on your hard drives, that's what it sounds like but, it's constant for days on end.
I haven't run a scan but one did take place about 6 days ago and it was clean.

[Superreader]

I just find it hard to imagine what the clattering sounds like

[Superreader]

Maybe you can spray some canned air

[FunkyMonkee]

Like I said, it sounds like if you have the computer search for a file and you can hear it going through everything to look for it.
I opened the task manger and, under one of the tabs, it said there were errors on one of the hard drives that needed fixed or I might lose data. It said I'd have to shut off the computer in order for it to fix the errors so, I did, it fixed them and I haven't heard that sound since then. Apparently there's been something wonky going on with the D: drive because, it's very small and I never use it for anything but, it was almost completely filled! But, as soon as I turned it back on last night, the D: is now almost completely empty, like it's supposed to be. I noticed it being nearly full about half a year ago but had no idea what to do about it, if anything! Obviously, the computer had been storing stuff there, for some reason.

[DryGermanGuy]

If this is Windows, open the Task Manager and check the highest percentages for CPU and volume activities. That should give you indications what is going on. If it's not software, but hardware related, it's possible that your hard-drive is failing.

[FunkyMonkee]

Okay, I got the task manager open. Now what

[DryGermanGuy]

You check which program (s) use the most CPU percentages, to see what is constantly running and try to match it with the moment where constant traffic is going from/to the hard-drive.

[FunkyMonkee]

I checked out some other function before going to TM and it said there were errors that needed fixed and I had to shut down to get them fixed so, I did and haven't had a problem, since.

[DryGermanGuy]

That strongly points to an actual hard-drive problem, which may or may not temporarily fixed for now. You want to keep a regular backup of all important files.

[strateguy632]

seems like a minor loop or old virus. try saving work, closing all open folders files apps. then restart. after the restart should be smooth.

if still clatter, do shut down unplug check the fan of the desktop computer is not dusty. if can't open the screw bring to service center.

if lap top clicks don't worry.

[FunkyMonkee]

It said there were errors that needed fixed by shutting down so, I did and haven't had a problem since.

[exitseven]

Hit CTL + ALT + DEL and choose "Task Manager" . Look to see if the CPU is more that 20% and the memory is more than 50% . If your computer's resources are overtaxed there is something running in the background that should not be there.

[FunkyMonkee]

That will shut it off.

[BoopBoopBeep]

It shouldn't, but even if it did, hit windows then type task manager and you'll see the program, you'll see what's running. That said, if you're asking this question, you're probably also not going to know what 90% of the things running on task manager that pop up are going to be, so I'd say take it to the local computer place and tell them you need to get the drive optimized because you've got too much bloatware on it or something. I assume your virus protection is up to date and routinely scanned?

[exitseven]

@FunkyMonkee Not if you choose Task Manager. It will open up a window that will show you what applications are running and how much of the computer resources are being used.

[FunkyMonkee]

@BoopBoopBeep All I know is, anytime I've tried that, it shuts it off.
I opened the TM last night and looked through every tab and have NO idea what I was looking at! One of the things I looked at before going to TM said that there were errors on the hard drive that needed repaired or I'd lose data and I had to shut it off to have the computer fix them. So, I did and, once it came back on, the sound stopped, the problem was solved and the D: drive was no longer nearly full.

[FunkyMonkee]

I did that but have no idea what any of that info means.

[FunkyMonkee]

* the D drive

[BoopBoopBeep]

If your boot drive is hosed that would explain all your problems. Run a disk check at least once a month if not weekly

[exitseven]

@FunkyMonkee you are thinking ancient history.

[Curmudgeon]

It's tie to call a tech support guy and see what viruses you may have, or what surplus programs that are running "in the background", that you can delete/remove or make inactive.

[FunkyMonkee]

I did a scan last night and it says there's no viruses.
I also shut down, as the computer suggested, to fix errors it fund so, I did that and it's running fine, now.

[Curmudgeon]

Time, ugh typos

[FunkyMonkee]

*Found, me, too!!

[NathanDavis]

it's probably dirty... or the hard drive is tired of spinning

probably both... you might salvage it if you switch to an SDD

[FunkyMonkee]

Yeah, I guess it WOULD be tired after spinning non-stop for 5 days!! But that's THE COMPUTER''S fault, NOT mine!!

[NathanDavis]

that's probably a 10 to 12 year old Hard Drive... when did you got that PC?

[FunkyMonkee]

I don't remember, at least 10 or 12 years ago but, I've got much older computers than that that still run perfectly fine. I've got an old Tandy laptop from the `80's that still works well and a 365 (I think) that my cousin found in someone's garbage back in the `90's and that still works. Used HP and Dell laptops at least 10 years old that still work well. Both are running versions Windows 7.

[NathanDavis]

[genericname85]

i mean you can open the ressource monitor which is a sub function of the task manager and then you can look what your computer is busy with. however "clattering" sounds a bit like a failing hard disc.

[FunkyMonkee]

No, it's a normal sound, it's the same sound I've heard for decades, like when you run a search and you can hear the hard drives clattering away looking for your search. I just don't know what else to call that sound.

[genericname85]

ok. well i would check the task manager to see what component is being taxed. then i'd open the ressource monitor. open the component that is taxed the most. and then sort the processes by the ammount of ressource allocation and try to figure out wha tthe issue is. if you find nothing, i'd run a hdd health check software then if nothing is obviously wrong i'll do a complete system wipe and if that doesn't change anything i bring it to a repair shop. because i don't have the spare parts on hand to figure out what part is fucked.

[genericname85]

in my experience when my pc is hella slow doing some shit, it's usually windows updating shit in the backround.

[FunkyMonkee]

As far as I know, windows does not update 8.1 anymore.
Anyway, it seems to be fixed, now. It was telling me that there were errors on the hard drive that needed repaired and I'd have to shut the computer off to fix them so,. I did and all that garbage stopped. I think it had something to do with all the junk that it put on the D drive, for some reason. Normally, there's hardly any space used on it but, the past couple months, it's been nearly full and I didn't put any of that there!

[genericname85]

yeah that's right there's no updates anymore for that version unless you upgrade, which i guess is possible for free. just rebooting should always be the first fix you try :D

[FunkyMonkee]

I did reboots at least 3 times and it still continued. Finally, the last one took.
I tried 10 for a while and hated it, it was too confusing! I could never find anything I wanted and I had to jump through all sorts of hoops to get the same I could get here with just a click or two so, I switched back to 8.1. I would've tried 11 but, I've heard some real horror stories about it!

[Anonymous]

Bring it to a nerd who knows how to use Process Explorer.

[Mr_twoface]

Its saying move on to a Mac!

[FunkyMonkee]

No, it said, MAC isn't all it's cracked to be and that I should stick with what I've got.

[austinbooth]

Trade it in for a Mac

[dustybiker2]

Thank goodness someone said it 😏

[FunkyMonkee]

Why? Those are awful!

[dustybiker2]

Mine have frozen twice in 15 years. I I was really burning the midnight oil at the time. But enjoy windows. lol

[austinbooth]

Windows is crap

[FunkyMonkee]

I now 10 and 11 are. That's why I never got either of them. I tried 10 for a few weeks and hated it so, I switched back to 8.1 and haven't had much trouble with it, since. I was thinking about switching to 11 until I heard a lot of horror stories about it!

[dustybiker2]

@FunkyMonkee I have heard a lot of people have done the same.

[FunkyMonkee]

*I know...

[dustybiker2]

I was trying to throw a little support. 🤓

[FunkyMonkee]

@dustybiker2 I know, thanks.

[dustybiker2]

👍🏻👍🏻