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My Disk Defrag. doesn't do a good job! Help!

I have a question:

Why doesn't the Disk Defragmenter in Windows XP Pro work well for me? I defrag and afterwards, analyse the disk using Disk Defragmenter and it still comes up like the whole disk is still fragmented! I always run CHKDSK (It used to be called ScanDisk in older Windows versions) immediately before running Disk Defragmenter and my system's HDD's contents are not changing during the defragmentation process. Is there anything that I can do to make it defrag properly? Thanks!

Yes, I know your problem. Do you have a small (10-20gig) HD?

There's almost no difference between before defrag. and after.

The pc does feel a bit faster though...

quote:

Originally posted by jploveparade Yes, I know your problem. Do you have a small (10-20gig) HD? There's almost no difference between before defrag. and after. The pc does feel a bit faster though...

It's a 18.6 GB (~20 000 000 000 bytes) drive. Why isn't there any difference? I thought defrag makes all files contiguous. I still have files with hundreds or thousands of fragments.

i think that it doesnt do much because some files that are being used for windows at the moment cant be moved. try pressing f8 before you get into the windows loading screen while booting...if you dont know when just rpess it alot but dont keep it pressed it should be somewhere between your computers first screen and the windows xp screen. anyway, tell it to boot into safemode with command prompt. and then in the cmd type in "defrag c: -v" and that should do it...this way you can defrag your computer with minimal files being used. it takes a while so be aware of that. i leave it defragging while im at a long days worth of classes or while i sleep. when it is done, there will be a prompt for a new command and then you can just reboot. good luck let me know if it doesnt work.

Yeah it maybe a good idea to set up scan disk and the defragment program to do its bit before it loads into windows.

Otherwise invest in a program like norton system works, or fix it, both with defrag progs

Format C:

You won't have this kind of problem anymore

quote:

Originally posted by Maaz Format C: You won't have this kind of problem anymore

Thats like telling someone to smack themselves very hard over the leg if they have a headache. Stops u thinking about the headache.

how partition type u using? fat32 or ntfs? and the reason why it may not be defragging properley as you swap file (virtual memory) could be on the disk and that cant be moved about as it is in constent use.

quote:

Originally posted by DjJade i think that it doesnt do much because some files that are being used for windows at the moment cant be moved. try pressing f8 before you get into the windows loading screen while booting...if you dont know when just rpess it alot but dont keep it pressed it should be somewhere between your computers first screen and the windows xp screen. anyway, tell it to boot into safemode with command prompt. and then in the cmd type in "defrag c: -v" and that should do it...this way you can defrag your computer with minimal files being used. it takes a while so be aware of that. i leave it defragging while im at a long days worth of classes or while i sleep. when it is done, there will be a prompt for a new command and then you can just reboot. good luck let me know if it doesnt work.

"defrag c: -v" didn't do the trick. :-(

quote:

Originally posted by jonsimmonds how partition type u using? fat32 or ntfs? and the reason why it may not be defragging properley as you swap file (virtual memory) could be on the disk and that cant be moved about as it is in constent use.

I'm using NTFS filesystem and my swap file (virtual/page memory) IS on the same partition that I'm trying to defragment. Does this need to be like Linux where u NEED to make 2 seperate partitions: 1 for data/OS and one for Swap File/space?

Explore your Windows CD

go to Tools --> mtsutil

find the "Defrag" file, right click, and install.

reboot your system, and your defrag program should start. Start defrag.


(note: the location of the defrag file, as explained here, is for the Win98 CD. For other windows users, you may need to do a little exploring)



Or you can get this nifty program that has 1000's of different functions for your computer - including defragging. It's called Xteq Setup. (http://www.xteq.com) I highly recommend this program to everyone who needs to tweak their OS, softwares, hardwares, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by ali92 I'm using NTFS filesystem and my swap file (virtual/page memory) IS on the same partition that I'm trying to defragment. Does this need to be like Linux where u NEED to make 2 seperate partitions: 1 for data/OS and one for Swap File/space?

well you dont have to but it would make sense to have 2 partitions, as it keeps it all a bit more orginized. in my setup i have a seperate drive that i use to store my swapfile and tempory files etc.

did you format the drive as ntfs or use a tool to convert the drive to ntfs?

quote:

Originally posted by jonsimmonds well you dont have to but it would make sense to have 2 partitions, as it keeps it all a bit more orginized. in my setup i have a seperate drive that i use to store my swapfile and tempory files etc. did you format the drive as ntfs or use a tool to convert the drive to ntfs?

I installed WinXP over ME so, my HDD was converted to NTFS at installation.

quote:

Originally posted by Maaz Format C: You won't have this kind of problem anymore

actually it is a very good idea to format your computer every 6 months or so. just back up all your important files. delete everything and reinstall. you'll be amazed at how smoothly your computer runs after the format and reinstall.

quote:

Originally posted by ali92 I installed WinXP over ME so, my HDD was converted to NTFS at installation.

when it convets a FAT partition to a NTFS it sometimes sets the cluster size to 32K, where as it is set to 4K when you format it, so if its at all posibile id recomend you back up, and reformat your drive and reinstall everything, as imm 99% sure that havin the 32K cluster size will be slowing down your drive.

Jon

quote:

Originally posted by montie actually it is a very good idea to format your computer every 6 months or so. just back up all your important files. delete everything and reinstall. you'll be amazed at how smoothly your computer runs after the format and reinstall.

I'll be repartitioning (obviously backing up first!) my HDD after I get the proper hardware and am ready to install/run Linux. I'll have this 20 000 000 000 byte HDD set up as follows:

WinXP (OS/Programs): 9 000 000 000 bytes
WinXP (Swap/Paging File and/or Virtual memory): PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO SET THIS TO. I HAVE 128 MB OF SDRAM.
Linux Native: 9 000 000 000 bytes
Linux Swap: PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO SET THIS TO. I HAVE 128 MB OF SDRAM.

I'll have my 120 GB Western Digital Caviar SE w/ 8 MB cache HDD (when I get it) set up as follows:

There's only 1 NTFS partition on it and here's what the directories will look like:

E:\Media
E:\TEMP

Inside E:\Media is folders called Audio, Video, Images, Documents, and whatever else I'm putting there. In each of those sub-folders, I'll have more folders.
Inside E:\TEMP is where temporary files for every program that I use will go.

Please let me know if this is a good setup.

THANKS!

quote:

Originally posted by jonsimmonds when it convets a FAT partition to a NTFS it sometimes sets the cluster size to 32K, where as it is set to 4K when you format it, so if its at all posibile id recomend you back up, and reformat your drive and reinstall everything, as imm 99% sure that havin the 32K cluster size will be slowing down your drive. Jon

OK. I have the 6 floppy disks that are needed for me to boot the Windows XP Professional CD. Where in the setup is it going to ask me what I want the cluster size to be? I never saw this option before. Is 4K the smallest you can set it to? Thanks!

quote:

OK. I have the 6 floppy disks that are needed for me to boot the Windows XP Professional CD. Where in the setup is it going to ask me what I want the cluster size to be? I never saw this option before. Is 4K the smallest you can set it to? Thanks!

Don't worry about the cluster size now. If you reformat it and start from the beginning without going from FAT32 to NTFS (like your previous upgrade from ME->XP), your cluster size will immediately be 4K in NTFS. I've had a number of problems with upgrading XP from any OS here at work, including from W2K or NT (which are also both NTFS). I've had the best experience either Ghosting multiple computers with XP, or doing a clean install, which takes me longer. The latest patches and Service Pack 1 for XP has helped out a great deal, so you might want to check those out as soon as your installation is finished (www.windowsupdate.com). XP will get better, just takes the rest of the hardware and software world to catch up to all it's little tweaks and security problems.

aye wen u format from scratch it sets the cluster size to 4 k, you can change it by a option in the dos format command but there is no need to change it from 4k.

quote:

Originally posted by MisterOpus1 Don't worry about the cluster size now. If you reformat it and start from the beginning without going from FAT32 to NTFS (like your previous upgrade from ME->XP), your cluster size will immediately be 4K in NTFS. I've had a number of problems with upgrading XP from any OS here at work, including from W2K or NT (which are also both NTFS). I've had the best experience either Ghosting multiple computers with XP, or doing a clean install, which takes me longer. The latest patches and Service Pack 1 for XP has helped out a great deal, so you might want to check those out as soon as your installation is finished (www.windowsupdate.com). XP will get better, just takes the rest of the hardware and software world to catch up to all it's little tweaks and security problems.

I just found out that my cluster size is 512 bytes (1 sector per cluster). Is this good or bad? Thanks!

You're good to go, my man!

quote:

Originally posted by MisterOpus1 You're good to go, my man!

OK, so here's what I'll be doing in December/January when I get the new HDD: Put ALL of my personal files/data (Audio/Video/Docs/Program installation files/other programs that do NOT need to be installed to run) on the new HDD. Repartition this HDD into 4 partitions: 1 for WinXP OS, 1 for WinXP Swap/Paging file/virtual memory, 1 for Linux Native/OS, and 1 for Linux Swap file.
Now, I should be able to defrag the WinXP (OS) and the Linux (Native/OS) partitions! :-)

Also, I want to know how do you use one of the journaling file systems (Ext3, RaiserFS, JFS, etc.) in Mandrake Linux. How do you install onto the HDD with one of the journaling filesystems that Linux Mandrake can use? Thanks!

for anything linux related goto www.linuxnewbie.org, they have some excelent fourms there!

Re: My Disk Defrag. doesn't do a good job! Help!

quote:

Originally posted by ali92 I have a question: Why doesn't the Disk Defragmenter in Windows XP Pro work well for me? I defrag and afterwards, analyse the disk using Disk Defragmenter and it still comes up like the whole disk is still fragmented! I always run CHKDSK (It used to be called ScanDisk in older Windows versions) immediately before running Disk Defragmenter and my system's HDD's contents are not changing during the defragmentation process. Is there anything that I can do to make it defrag properly? Thanks!

Diskeeper does a great job for me.
http://www.executive.com/diskeeper/diskeeper.asp

If you need a hand 'finding' it PM me.

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