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General discussion

Disk Defragmentor

Apr 23, 2004 12:22AM PDT

I am needing help using my Disk Defragmentor. It used to work but now it doesn't. It just keeps starting over and over and it never get past 1%. I have Windows ME. I have had my computer about 3 years but still don't know very much. I don't have any other programs running at the time I try to defragment but something must be writing to it thats why it doesn't work but for the life of me I don't know what it could be. My computer is a Dell Dimension 2100.

Discussion is locked

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Re:Disk Defragmentor
Apr 23, 2004 1:14AM PDT

There are a few things you can do. Hit control alt delete and end task to all items except for explorer and systray. Also go into your control panel and turn off your active desktop, which is turned on when you have certain wallpapers present. Also you may want to try standard scan disk after doing the suggestions above before defrag.

This should allow you to run defrag

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Re:Re:Disk Defragmentor
Apr 23, 2004 1:27AM PDT

I agree with kwiat87268. I have a Dell and when I defrag I first disconnect from the internet. Then I turn off all programs except explorer and systray; that includes my antivirus program, firewall and anything else running. This can be done by the instructions kwiat87268 gave you.

Next I run a scan disk, then I defrag. When done, reboot and connect to the internet again. Your firewall and antivirus program should be on again after reboot.

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Re:Disk Defragmentor
Apr 23, 2004 1:33AM PDT

I wouldn't use the built-in Windows defragmenter. It has rarely worked out well for me. I recommend O&O Defrag - it not only works very well, it even has different ways to sort the physical data on your hard disk which makes a lot of difference in access speed. For example, you can sort things by folder and filename - thus, all the files that a program uses are going to be clustered together, and seek time will be much less.

Basically, if it comes with Windows, don't use it is my advice.

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Re:Disk Defragmentor
Apr 23, 2004 2:50AM PDT
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Re:Re:Disk Defragmentor
Apr 23, 2004 6:10AM PDT

Dana Thank you for all your help. I did have a couple of problems though. I didn't know how to find safe mode I have had my computer for about 3 years now but still don't know very much about anything but I was able finally to defragment. Also I didn't know how to disable my screensaver. Thanks again for your help. Allyson

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Re:Disk Defragmentor
Apr 23, 2004 4:34AM PDT

If it is running, turn off Microsofts "Fast Find" file indexer (see your control panel).

Fast Finds job is to keep a directory of where your files are on your disk drives, so when you search for a file you can (obviously) find it faster.

When you defrag you are moving the files around. The defrag routine knows this is happening and handles it gracefully.

However, Fast Find does not know you are defrag'ing so it continually updates its directory (by writing the new/moved locations to its disk list). This causes the defragment routine to re-start.

Unless you do a lot of file searches, Fast Find is not that helpful (and it hogs resources, slows boot time, etc).

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Re:Re:Disk Defragmentor
Apr 23, 2004 7:10AM PDT

The 98 built in will run forever if you have any other applications running. It is an old version of Norton Speed disk. Download and run Diskeeper trialware or you can get Diskeeper Lite - a freebie that runs like a bomb on 98. Your best best is to go automatic with Diskeeper.