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General discussion

Couple of questions

Dec 3, 2004 8:41PM PST

#1 - I have just started using Firefox as my browser and I am noticing that some web pages are begining to not load correctly (including CNET Help) even though I think they were before. Is there anyway I can correct this? I have the latest version.

#2 - I run standard scandisk once weekly, just before I defrag - how often would anyone recommend I run a thorough check? Also, is there any way i can speed up the process? - it currently takes about 8 hours.

#3 - It has been recommended to me that I partition my drive - system files / media files / program files etc. Would doing this improve how my puter runs? If so - how do I do it?

WinMe (with all necessary updates)
Intel P4 1.3g
60 g h/d

I have listed more specs in my profile - please let me know if anything is missing.

All help appreciated

Discussion is locked

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Re: Couple of questions
Dec 3, 2004 9:18PM PST

Run scan disk in the safe mode or turn off all the programs running in the background including your screen saver. To turn off the programs, do a ctrl/alt/delete and end each program except systray and explorer.

I've never partitioned my hard drives and they work just fine. I think it is a personal preference whether you do it or not.

You didn't list how much RAM you have. That can effect the performance of your computer especially if you have too little.

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Re: Couple of questions
Dec 3, 2004 9:26PM PST

I have 256mb of RAM - Also, I only ever run scandisk and defrag in safemode - I did notice today that defrag restarted a couple of times (due to the "drive contents changed") - is this normal?

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Re: Couple of questions
Dec 3, 2004 10:47PM PST

You get the restart message when a pogram writes to the hard drive. If you have anything running in the background, it can cause the defrag to start over and over again. Make sure you end all programs including your screen saver. It will make to defrag process run faster.

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Re: Couple of questions
Dec 3, 2004 11:32PM PST

thanks glb - i think i forgot to switch off the screensaver during defrag - but I was still wondering how come it takes so long to do a thorough scandisk - I thought doing it in safemode would help speed it up. My h/d is pretty small and I have nothing running in the background (i usually remember to switch off my screensaver!) Is 8 hours excessive? - is it because of the amount of RAM I have? Because it takes so long I only do it every couple of months or so, should i run a thorough check more often?

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Re: Couple of questions
Dec 4, 2004 12:09AM PST

I have XP which doesn't have the option of a thorough scan disk. But, I didn't do that when I was using Windows 98. I find it unnecessary.

I defrag once a month. I will do it more often if I uninstall or install several programs.

Many find that doing these tasks in the safe mode make it faster.

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Couple of answers.
Dec 3, 2004 11:34PM PST

#1: No comment.

#2.
- Scandisk standard should only take a few minutes. It's not really necessary to run it before defrag, but it won't harm.
- No need to ever do a thorough scan with scandisk on the hard disk in my opinion, unless you get severe errors reading or writing information. It's only useful for disketttes.
- No need to defrag once a week. Especially not if it takes 8 hours. The risk of it going wrong (power outage) is much greater then the possible benefits, which are very small. If you've got Windows 98: Start>Run defrag c: /u will only take a couple of minutes and is good enough. Even that I'm doing only occasionally.

#3:
You wouldn't notice any performance difference in normal daily use. To do it, use a program like Partition Magic.

Kees

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Sorry - maybe I wasn't clear enough in my original post
Dec 4, 2004 1:35AM PST

It only takes me about 10/15 to do a standard scandisk and about 20/30 mins to run defrag. It only takes forever to run a thorough scandisk - which is why I asked if it was at all necessary.

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TJT, a digression.
Dec 4, 2004 12:32AM PST

Can you honestly say that your system performs noticeably better after each of your weekly defrags????

Seems like a lot of unnecessary wear and tear on the drive.

I would think that it might be better to extend the time between defrags, until it actually results in better performance.

It is possible the things that you do on the computer could make weekly defrags useful, BUT?

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For me. No.
Dec 4, 2004 12:44AM PST

I notice ZERO difference after I defrag my system. At first I wondered why this was so for me and most of our office computers.

But time passed and I found a reason why some machines did benefit and others didn't. The ones that did benefit were running the hard disks in PIO mode. What's even more puzzling is that XP bug where it will show DMA, but is indeed in PIO mode. Here's the article about it.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/IDE-DMA.mspx

Bob

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Also...
Dec 4, 2004 1:47AM PST

What does PIO stand for? Although not a complete newbie, I have only recently started to learn about how to run this thing more efficiently, so I have still to learn what a lot of the acronyms you guys on here use. As for the weekly defrags, I tend to do it that often because it doesn't take so long each time. I also used to d/l a lot of rubbish onto this machine before I realised I wasn't doing myself any favours. I then of course ended up removing a lot of the stuff and so got into the habit of defragging weekly. I did read the long discussion about defragging not being good for your pc (sorry, can't remember where it was, I just followed a link from the CNET newsletter) and I came to the conclusion that it probably wouldn't do too much harm. Was I mistaken in this?

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How stuff works.
Dec 4, 2004 1:58AM PST
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Re: How stuff works.
Dec 4, 2004 2:08AM PST

Thanks Bob Happy - I just bookmarked this site - I think it may just overtake CNET Help as my most visited site!!

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Re: Also...
Dec 4, 2004 2:19AM PST

The debate over how often to defrag or if it causes harm to the hard drive is an old one. I defrag regularly and it has never caused any harm that I have noticed. A lot depends on how you use your computer. If you add and remove a lot of programs or other data, you may need to do it more often. I do it once a month and find that meets my needs.

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(NT) (NT) Thanks to everyone for their help - Appreciated.
Dec 4, 2004 2:26AM PST