[SOLVED] How do you permanently disable "Microsoft content" in task manager? It is making my disk usage go to 100%

Worius

Distinguished
Aug 22, 2016
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Today, I turned on my PC to find that I'm stuck with that 100% disk usage problem, which actually makes it run like a complete potato. I found some solutions that worked but there is a problem with that Microsoft content app that keeps ramping up my disk usage to 100% whenever it randomly decides to pop up. The other one was the "Windows search" app which I turned off through "services.msc". Where do I turned it off permanently? This is the name of the app when I go into the details section.
 
Solution
your usage doesn't make any sense,

Yes, disk is at 100% but that app is showing as using .1mb and yet its sorted in usage?

1qMdbMP.jpg


Win 10 1809 did have a problem showing correct usage of processes, but I am fairly sure that is fixed now. Do you have latest windows updates?

Have you got latest drivers for motherboard as sometimes lots of disk usage can be caused by old drivers

Download Process explorer and run it as admin (it comes from Microsoft so its safe) - its just a more powerful version of Task manager, shows WAY more info than you need.

the default view is tree structure meaning like your task manager screen, it will show what processes are under each service, but unlike task manager, it...

Colif

Win 11 Master
Moderator
your usage doesn't make any sense,

Yes, disk is at 100% but that app is showing as using .1mb and yet its sorted in usage?

1qMdbMP.jpg


Win 10 1809 did have a problem showing correct usage of processes, but I am fairly sure that is fixed now. Do you have latest windows updates?

Have you got latest drivers for motherboard as sometimes lots of disk usage can be caused by old drivers

Download Process explorer and run it as admin (it comes from Microsoft so its safe) - its just a more powerful version of Task manager, shows WAY more info than you need.

the default view is tree structure meaning like your task manager screen, it will show what processes are under each service, but unlike task manager, it shows the usage of each part so you can see what is eating your hdd but we will need to add a few columns first.

when you run it, right click on the header line that shows Process and click Select Columns
choose the Process Disk tab
as for which columns to add, I would try a few of them (Not sure what Delta Reads are?)
once you choose, click OK and the columns will be added to far right of the window, I would drag them to the left so you can see it all.

Needs to be run as admin to see hidden system processes.
 
Solution

Worius

Distinguished
Aug 22, 2016
60
0
18,530
your usage doesn't make any sense,

Yes, disk is at 100% but that app is showing as using .1mb and yet its sorted in usage?

1qMdbMP.jpg


Win 10 1809 did have a problem showing correct usage of processes, but I am fairly sure that is fixed now. Do you have latest windows updates?

Have you got latest drivers for motherboard as sometimes lots of disk usage can be caused by old drivers

Download Process explorer and run it as admin (it comes from Microsoft so its safe) - its just a more powerful version of Task manager, shows WAY more info than you need.

the default view is tree structure meaning like your task manager screen, it will show what processes are under each service, but unlike task manager, it shows the usage of each part so you can see what is eating your hdd but we will need to add a few columns first.

when you run it, right click on the header line that shows Process and click Select Columns
choose the Process Disk tab
as for which columns to add, I would try a few of them (Not sure what Delta Reads are?)
once you choose, click OK and the columns will be added to far right of the window, I would drag them to the left so you can see it all.

Needs to be run as admin to see hidden system processes.

Yes, I understand it doesn't make any sense, but that's it. The moment I click "end task" on that app my PC goes back to full power with 0% disk usage and has no problems with anything else. It will randomly decide to pop up throughout the day and I have to manually shut it down every time, if I want to use my PC. I have also waited for the app to do it's thing but it never goes down, it stays on 100% disk usage whenever it comes back.

I don't think it has to do anything with the motherboard, because then wouldn't I have more than just that one app causing the problem?

There was a win update somewhere a week ago I think. I never experienced this problem before that.

In Process explorer, the app appears to be lower in the column and has the name of the details section in task manager "backgroundTaskHost.exe"
This is what it looks like. Killing it in Process explorer has the same results as if in task manager.
The path of that app is: C:\Windows\System32\backgroundTaskHost.exe
 

Colif

Win 11 Master
Moderator
it seems its part of Cortana.

I can't find another example of it causing high hdd usage.

See if this helps:
right click start button
choose powershell (admin)
type SFC /scannow and press enter
once its completed, copy/paste this command into same window:
Repair-WindowsImage -Online -RestoreHealth and press enter
SFC fixes system files, second command cleans image files, re run SFC if it failed to fix all files and restart PC

I don't think background task host is the same file as Microsoft content background task host... i can find a few background hosts, there is also one for Edge.

I can't find almost anything on this process,

Try doing a clean boot - read instructions carefully and make sure NOT to disable any Microsoft services or windows won't boot right. See if the same application opens again,

Do you have Microsoft Office installed?
 

Worius

Distinguished
Aug 22, 2016
60
0
18,530
it seems its part of Cortana.

I can't find another example of it causing high hdd usage.

See if this helps:
right click start button
choose powershell (admin)
type SFC /scannow and press enter
once its completed, copy/paste this command into same window:
Repair-WindowsImage -Online -RestoreHealth and press enter
SFC fixes system files, second command cleans image files, re run SFC if it failed to fix all files and restart PC

I don't think background task host is the same file as Microsoft content background task host... i can find a few background hosts, there is also one for Edge.

I can't find almost anything on this process,

Try doing a clean boot - read instructions carefully and make sure NOT to disable any Microsoft services or windows won't boot right. See if the same application opens again,

Do you have Microsoft Office installed?

Yea, I disabled cortana but it wasn't the problem. I went to check my windows version and I saw I was on 1803ver... I thought I'm on the latest one as I was getting updates here and there but I wasn't. I manually checked for updates and there they were. I updated to the latest I think and everything is working fine now. The app is still running in the background but not causing my PC to go to 100% disk usage. Thanks for the help anyway!!!