System Idle Process

My hard disk activity suddenly shoots up after I leave my
computer idle for 10 minutes or so. I don't know what the
hell it is doing. The Windows Task Manager shows
that 90% of processing resource is taken up by
"System Idle Activity"

It might be the antivirus (but it doesn't show like
that in Task manager)

I have Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition installed. I
checked ever nook and corner for any "scheduled" activity
or similar kind of thing when the system is idle, but it looks
like it is not the antivirus.

I have ZoneAlarm, Spybot S&D, Adaware, etc but they don't
show anything suspicious.

The hard disk shows activity for a while and stops with I
move the mouse or press a key. It doesn't really interfere
with my work. I just want to know what the hell it is doing
and how I can stop it.

What could it be ? If it's the antivirus, where do I check it
in my Antivirus software because I couldn't find it..

My guess would be that your using WindowsXP, and it's the file indexing service which runs after a certain amount of idle time and stops as soon as you start using the computer again. The indexing service helps find files quicker by storing them in a database, so is best to be left running. You can disable it from the services menu if you don't like it though.

Well, the system idle process is exactly what the name implies. I'm not sure exactly of it's purpose, but when your CPU is in idle it is running. As other apps use the CPU, the system idle usage goes down. It's always a mix. Say one program uses 15%, another 20%, then the system idle would be at 65%.

I don't really know why your hdd is going though, unless for some weird reason it's using virtual memory during idle?

[edit] ah, that would explain the hdd usage :) [/edit]

I am using Windows 2000

same difference

yeah, but i don't see any services menu in Win 2000 :(

Right click My Computer -> Manage -> Services and Applications -> Services

i suggest you leave it as it is.. thats service really make accessing files faster.... And why do you care about it.. it is just using up the idle time..

why do i care about it ?

because deep inside.... i feel that my hard drive is getting
worn out... it is screaming for help dude... and some idle
process is raping it every 10 minutes :D

my laptop's getting really old (and so am i) and i can't afford
to lose it.

i just found out how to diable the indexing service (start > Search > For files or folders > under search options in bottom left below search fields)


i am gonna see if that's what is causing the hard disk to hum
and if enabling is really worth it. but first, i gotta leave this
thing idle for about 10 mins to see when the hell breaks loose
again

Ala dictionary.com:

Quote:

---

par·a·noi·a ( P )
n.
A psychotic disorder characterized by delusions of persecution with or without grandeur, often strenuously defended with apparent logic and reason.

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:D I wouldnt worry bout it man.

isn't that what they said when ppl spoted the plains flying toward perl harbor???