Defragmentation

[Damaso]

Back in old school, a 500mhz computer with 11GB/12GB HD wont defrag because defragmentation needs 15% space to be used for temporary file library. This time, I came accross with defragmentation issue which none of my coworkers can fix. A 2.5ghz with 60GB HD (60% free) laptop has stopped @ 1% Compacting Files. I let my laptop defrag all night and next morning, it was still @ 1% Compating Files. I restarted it, cleaned files, ran antivirus, etc. but still stucked @ 1% Compacting Files. Any information regarding this issue, perhaps a website recommendation will be appreciated.

[Genesis F5]

Compacting files? Are you trying to compress your hard drive?

If it stays at 1%, it sounds like it's your screen saver. Everytime I go to defrag, it has to restart because of the screensaver for some reason.

I just turn my screen saver and monitor off while it's working. Also, make sure that no background apps are running while it defrags.

-genesis f5 (mx)

[the sherrif]

Originally posted by Genesis F5
Also, make sure that no background apps are running while it defrags.

good point. goto start > run > "msconfig" > startup and check out whats running at start up. if anything trys to write even 1 byte to disk, your screwed.

[Damaso]

No user apps and screensaver were running including sys apps such as antivirus and firewall. I searhed microsoft's website but it appears my topic is not included in the troubleshooting homepage. Looking at the process closely, compacting files starts after analyzing finishes. At 1% Compacting files for a long period of time, computer sometimes freezes. It seems that the Defragmentation program itself is corrupted or disfunctional. I really need my comp to be defragmented as soon as possible before I could ever use and install mammoth application. My last propositition would be buying a new 3rd party defragmentation.
Thanks for your input, but I need some info and suggestions before I could throw bucks for another defragmentation apps.

[gerbick]

The MS Defrag on a lot of machines at the last place I consulted for would freeze, and they'd have over 73% of the drive still free!

A lot of times, it's better to basically clear out the Internet Explorer cache, as well as trash by hand any *.dmp and *.tmp files - do not delete any Set**.tmp files (where ** is usually a two digit number) as those are system files! - as well as finding/deleting any/all *.chk files too.

Then, run analyze, and then defrag. Skip compression - it honestly is not even fixed/useable really in Win2k3 Server. It's a messed up Win32 app that doesn't really work as well as it should, imho.

But for third party apps for defrag, I'd look into O&O Defrag... I remember that one working rather well, even with most system file allocation(s)... as long as you gave it System role access.

[Ultima Designs]

Not really the most direct answer, but I've read quite a few times that it isn't really necessary to defrag hard drives with the NTFS file system.

[the sherrif]

Originally posted by Ultima Designs
I've read quite a few times that it isn't really necessary to defrag hard drives with the NTFS file system.

maybe, but it makes us feel better

[gerbick]

Originally posted by Ultima Designs
Not really the most direct answer, but I've read quite a few times that it isn't really necessary to defrag hard drives with the NTFS file system.

that's been proven wrong on so many times.

[Ultima Designs]

Originally posted by gerbick
that's been proven wrong on so many times.

Really? I am 95% sure that the main place I read it in was Maximum PC, but that's good to know that I haven't been defragging my HD for no reason.

[PCRIDE]

plug it into a another computer as a slave and defrag that way
if you have that option

[wiReZ]

People have a big misconception about defragging. It doesn't fix problems, if anything, it moves your problem. It won't speed up your performance much at all. Now, if you're a video editor and large files are constantly being moved, modifed and deleted, then I would say defragmentation is very neccessary. Other than that, I wouldn't worry about doing it that much. Now, if you can't defragment completely in a decent amount of time, there are other problems with your PC than fragmentation. I would consider fixing those problems instead of trying to defragment. Just my 2 cents.

[Damaso]

Originally posted by gerbick
Skip compression - it honestly is not even fixed/useable really in Win2k3 Server. It's a messed up Win32 app that doesn't really work as well as it should, imho.

Skip compression? Compression starts automatically before defragmentation starts. The only actions available once defragmentation starts are pause and start. One more symptoms, defragmentation still runs eating up 99% of CPU Usage under Task Manager although I've already shut it down and clicked End Process many times. I checked analyzing files report and it turn out that most of the fragmented files are sys files under C:\WINDOWS\system and system32. I didn't even touched those window craps. It's really frustating when this happens in the middle of a project.

Originally posted by PCRIDE
plug it into a another computer as a slave and defrag that way
if you have that option

That might me another options but I haven't done it before. It could be a hassle since time is running out. New workstation is on its way and I rather rely on it and put this frustation on the side for awhile.

[gerbick]

you should be able to turn that off. there's a list of options - compress, disk cleanup, internet temp files cleanup, what not - that you have, a checklist.

uncheck compress. I believe you get that via disk cleanup, not defragmenter. thus enforcing what I said about what you should before a defrag.

[Damaso]

I believe you're talking about Disk Clean Up if you mentioned checklist. Windows XP Pro, as far as I know, doesn't have a checklist on Disk Defragmenter, if it does, pardon me for being ignorant. Main actions you can take once you open Disk Defragmenter are Analyze and Defragment. I can't seem to find checklist here even though in the toolbar as I am looking at it right now.

[gerbick]

Are you actually telling me that you can not analyze, and defrag, that it actually compresses your files, and then it defrags your machine, but it get's stuck on compress?

then that doesn't exactly sound like disk defrag, does it? Compress is a disk cleanup option. not defrag.

that is why I said uncheck compress. well, you said compact.

*edit* just ran defrag on my Win2k3 Server... went straight from Analyze to Defrag. No compact/compress... went straight to moving files around *damn, I should defrag more often*

[gerbick]

HA!

Compacting files is at the tail end of defrag, not in the beginning. And what it's doing if you have not only the RAM, but free space - free space is important - is that it's writing from one location to another.

And if the drive is severely defragmented, it will take some time. And if you have less than 10% - mind you, I'm actually paraphrasing parts of defragging an Exchange server from MS Technet, gotta be the same - this process may take longer.

In otherwords, it would rather put the stuff down onto the hard drive, and some of these blocks are just plain huge.

But some, are 32k. and it sits there with an allocation table, and writes potentially your whole hard drive in bits in pieces from one place to another in just 32k "bites"... ouch.

[Damaso]

Originally posted by gerbick
[B]Are you actually telling me that you can not analyze, and defrag, that it actually compresses your files, and then it defrags your machine, but it get's stuck on compress?

Yes, it gets stuck on compress.
I'm here right now on my office machine and ran Defragmenter smoothly.
Process are:
1. Analyzing files
2. Defragmenting... *%
___a. Compacting Files *%(this is where my laptop gets stuck @1%)
___b.. Moving File *%