Defragmenting

[terrydoughty]

I have tried to defrag and all I get is checking drive for errors - 0% complete - this is after several hours.
What is the solution?

 

[onepc]

Try using Norton Utilities, it's much faster and better. If there are problems it will fix them for you too.

http://www.one-pc.com

 

[cdogg]

terrydoughty,

Sounds like you've got the case of the "restarting" woes! If you watch the defragmenter for a bit (5 minutes or so), I'm sure you'll see the message that it's restarting.

In any case, you need to try and disable all apps that are runnning:
- check the system tray, right click as many as you can and exit them
- disable your screen saver
- hit CTRL-ALT-DEL and end task on everything except SYSTRAY and EXPLORER (you may need to do this more than once on some entries)
- run it again

* If the above doesn't help, restart the pc in safe mode and run it there. To do so, hit F8 several times during boot up to get the menu prompt for safe mode.

 

[terrydoughty]

I have tried ctrl+alt+del and ended all except explorer (there isn't a systray - is this a problem??)

 

[cdogg]

What OS do you have? Win95/98/ME? You don't need the systray to run with windows. It is located in the bottom right corner of your screen (usually contains one or more icons and your clock).

Just try defragmenting from safe mode if all else fails.

 

[terrydoughty]

I have ME - I ended all tasks and the icons in the systray disappeared.
I will try safe mode as advised.
Many thanks.

 

[CitrixEngineer]

Or you could start in normal mode, and disable everything in the system tray. If just one of those devices is something that checks for disk activity, like DirectCD, then Defrag will never start!

Also check what is being loaded in Start\Programs\Startup

A tool like XSetup is useful for disabling these utilities - some of them refuse to close.

I hope this helps

 

[Speccie]

Hmmm, You dont mention which OS. Still if you click 'start' 'run' and then type Msconfig you will get a window. The general tab is selected, click the radio button to selective startup and then click the startup tab, you will be able to uncheck your start up programs and hopefully remove the one that is interfering with the defrag. Hit apply and exit, then try your defrag. You can reverse the selections by executing msconfig when you have finished and re-activating your programs.

regards Michael

 

[Speccie]

Ouch... you need to restart for the changes to take effect.
Michael

 

[cdogg]

Speccie,

terrydoughty mentioned in the last post that the OS is ME. Also as a tip, you don't have to select "selective startup". You can just go directly to the startup tab and start unchecking. It will automatically change to "selective startup".

FYI...

 

[terrydoughty]

Many thanks for all the messages. I am hoping to try the various suggestions out over the next few days.
I am most grateful but will post again if I encounter further problems.

Terry Doughty

 

[CitrixEngineer]

But the problem with doing a defrag in safe mode is that it takes such a loooooooong time |-I

 

[Speccie]

Thanks Cdogg...just following the manual......one of my habits. (chuckle) Michael

 

[BajaRulez]

Hey guys, the solution is Diskeeper, its pretty good and fast. I use it because it can handle NTFS partition as well. Windows default defragmenter is slow and unreliable!

Balázs

 

[terrydoughty]

THANKS EVERYONE. COMPLETED DEFRAG IN SAFE MODE.
Terry Doughty

 

[mainegeek]

Reboot and press F5 to start you directly in safe mode. Run a standard scandisk first. You can't defrag a drive that contains errors. Running scandisk before defrag is a good practice anyway. The first 10%-15% always seem to take for ever. After defrag has completed, run it again. Heavily fragmented drives can require several passes. Don't give up. Good Luck!!

 

[terrydoughty]

Thanks - I am OK now.
Terry Doughty

 

[dunnjt]

Try running the defrag process in the Safe Mode. This works for me. When you are finished, simply reboot.
HTH

 

[FatesWebb]

uh, hmm he DID THAT IN FEBRUARY! cant you READ?