Fragmented files in System Volume Information

[PCGCU]

According to the Defrag program I have about 4 GB of fragmented files in the System Volume Information Folder (where System Restor files are placed I guess) that cannot be defragged. How can I (or even can I) delete those files so I can have a nicely defragged volume?

Eph 2:10

 

[linney]

Use Disk Cleanup, and look for System Restore via the "More Options" tab.

 

[PCGCU]

Did that but I continue to get the same response. The wierd thing here is that when I unhide system files and right click on the folder it says there is nothing there!

Can I change the Security Rights to this folder, delete it and then create another?

PC

Eph 2:10

 

[linney]

With the hidden files and system files visible you still have to make sure your access permissions are correct.
This is not your problem, probably, but at least you can then see what is going on in there.

Disk Cleanup only removes all but the last restore point. To remove that one you have to turn off System Restore then you can turn it back on later (which creates a new restore point). Of course you can use that last information in conjunction with creating a restore point then running Disk Cleanup.

How to Turn On and Turn Off System Restore in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q310/4/05.asp

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking (tick both boxes).

 

[PCGCU]

Yep, done all that too. I've reset my permissions to that folder so that only the Administrator has full rights. Even then I cannot "see" anything in that folder. This is really strange but I think I know what caused this situation. I had a registry crash and when I tried to restore the backup it too was corrupted as it resided on a section of the disc that evidently was written to by Nero during a disc copy session. So, since it had been a long time (2 yrs) since I reinstalled XP I decided this was an oportune time.

My guess is that during that fresh re-install it failed to clean out the old restore points (or they were corrupted too somehow) and it is these that are causing me trouble. Short of a low-level removal of these files, is there any way that you or any of our compatriates may know to get rid of files that have their privilages screwed up to the point where they are not accessible? Several years ago I vaguely remember somone showing how to delete a folder that could not be deleted the old fashioned way. (Searched for two days and couldn't find it here, it might have been in another forum.) But in essenece this situation is the same just that it is a system folder instead of a data folder.

BTW, thanks for your time and thinking efforts in this.

PC

EPH 2:10

Eph 2:10

 

[linney]

A couple of things you could try before we get to deleting things.

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP (Q308421)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/4/21.asp

How To Reset Security Settings Back to the Defaults

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=313222#appliesto

Any deletion on in use System folders will probably have to be done outside of the loaded Windows install.

You could try Recovery Console, a parallel install of XP or similar, or even moving the drive to another machine.

You could try deleting from Safe Mode or use this free program.

DelLater.

http://www.diamondcs.com.au/index.php?page=products

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q307/6/54.asp

An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

This is a layman's version of Q307545 in simple language.

You might be able to make use of BartPE (a mini XP self contained on a bootable CD and run from CD).

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

The same might be possible with a parallel install of XP.

266465 - HOW TO: Perform a Parallel Installation of Windows 2000

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;266465&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

You can do the same with XP. Don't install any unnecessary programs just some virus scanners, keep the parallel installation as simple as possible.

Or the paragraph in this article.

"To install Windows XP to a new folder (to perform a parallel installation):"

How to install or upgrade to Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316941&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

With so much corruption it is worthwhile considering backing up your valuable data and doing a format and clean install of XP

 

[PCGCU]

Okay, first; sorry for taking so long to get back to this but was side-railed by another pressing matter.

The issue is resolved and was done so by taking ownership of the folder. Once this was done all I had to do was delete the files and defrag and now I have a nice clean and contiguous file system.

What I think caused this was that I did a OS re-install several months ago and only recently (bored one night) looked at the weekly defrag report. That started me trying to solve the issue. Thanks linney for just the right links.

Blessings,
PCGCU

Eph 2:10