Can't defrag hard-drive!!!!

[dragonic]

Always when I try to defrag my hard-drive it quits before its finished! it goes to 16% then it jumps to 100% and says "Your hard-drive is defragged" But it hasnt defragged it! What's the problem?

I am using WinXP Home Edition SP1 with all of Windows Update updates

 

[corkyg]

There is a big difference between defragging and optimizing. Defragging is fast and simple. Optimizing takes more time. What are you using? The XP defragger? Have you tried optimizing?

 

[dragonic]

I am using XP Defragger and what's optimizing? =)

 

[smiley2billion]

Also, how much free space is on the drive? And what is the makeup of it, meaning, is it full of 800meg files? I've noticed that the MS defrag tool sometimes has problems defragmenting when the drive is near full, this is esp. true if it contains large files.

 

[dragonic]

well it has 20% free and it has about 8 gig of 800meg files =)

 

[smiley2billion]

Yep, I had the same problem. Maybe try burning some of that stuff off and getting the free space up to around 30 - 40 %? Of course, if you're in a situation where you've got more than 60% fragmented or so it may be better to just backup everything you need and reformat. The general consensus for Windows is a reformat every 4 to 6 months for smoothly operating system. My system is in need of a reformat right now from slow bootup times and whatnot but I haven't taken the time to figure out how to backup my golfer on Tiger Woods 2004.

 

[corkyg]

Optimizing is defragging plus arranging the files in an optimum fashion for access efficiency based on usage and other factors. Most good defrag programs give you the choice. What happens with the XP defragger is it gets interrupted unless you disable all sorts of gee whiz automatic things in XP. Also, you need to fix your page file so that it doesn't dynamically change all the time. Every time it changes, and you have it on the C drive, it causes the defragger to start over. Also - if you have NTFS - your usable free space is a whole lot less than what you think it is. The MFT Reserved area can take as much as 25% of your free space, and the defragger is not allowed to use that area. If your drive is 80% full - you are at best marginal. Get a bigger drive or shuck some stuff. I like to keep a good 40% open with NTFS.

 

[dragonic]

okay thanks for the advices! I'll gonna try them and see if they work!