Odd defragmenting problem, requesting assistance.

[Woolong]

Analyzation results

Now, I know that volume needs defragging. Problem is, I've already ran the defragger several times. It keeps telling me that what needs to be defragmented can't be. Anyone have any ideas as to why I'm getting that "some files couldn't be defragmented" message?

Thanks.

 

[Fardringle]

Generally, files that can't be defragmented are corrupt, in use, system files that can't be touched (these usually show up green though), or larger than the available space on the drive so they can't be moved.

I've also found that partial files such as the fragments that P2P sharing programs download from various locations before assembling the complete file frequently cannot be defragmented.

Does the error tell you specifically which files couldn't be moved? If so, that will give you an idea of where to look to find the actual source of the problem.

 

[Woolong]

Defragmentation for Volume C results:

Volume (C:[/b])
Volume size = 55.89 GB
Cluster size = 4 KB
Used space = 46.26 GB
Free space = 9.63 GB
Percent free space = 17 %

Volume fragmentation
Total fragmentation = 14 %
File fragmentation = 29 %
Free space fragmentation = 0 %

File fragmentation
Total files = 82,436
Average file size = 755 KB
Total fragmented files = 12
Total excess fragments = 7,248
Average fragments per file = 1.08

Pagefile fragmentation
Pagefile size = 1.50 GB
Total fragments = 79

Folder fragmentation
Total folders = 5,664
Fragmented folders = 1
Excess folder fragments = 0

Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
Total MFT size = 91 MB
MFT record count = 88,853
Percent MFT in use = 95 %
Total MFT fragments = 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fragments File Size Files that cannot be defragmented
5 408 MB \Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\sourcesdk.gcf
213 408 MB \Program Files\Rockstar Games\GTA San Andreas\audio\SFX\SPC_NA
21 723 MB \Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\day of defeat source.gcf
8 841 MB \Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\half-life 2 content.gcf
272 897 MB \Program Files\Rockstar Games\GTA San Andreas\models\gta3.img
213 901 MB \Program Files\Sierra\FEAR\FEARA.Arch00
735 1.03 GB \Program Files\Rockstar Games\GTA San Andreas\audio\SFX\SPC_GA
37 1.31 GB \Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\counter-strike source shared.gcf
2,219 1.33 GB \Program Files\Lionhead Studios\Black & White 2\Data\Everything.stuff
3,453 3.58 GB \Program Files\Sierra\FEAR\FEAR.Arch00






Basically, the things that can't be defragmented are Half Life 2, Counter Strike Source, the Source SDK, Day of Defeat Source, FEAR and Black and White 2. All of my Most played games and the Source SDK, which I just removed because I never use it.

Odd.

 

[montag451]

You may need to delete some data to get a good defrag going.
Can you back some up to DVD or another hdd for a short while. Do some heavy deleting. (maybe 2 full DVD's worth of data). Defrag, then copy back.

 

[Woolong]

Problem: I don't have a DVD burner. This computer's 3 years old.

The only thing I could possibly do is uninstall something, but I'm pretty much out of games I don't play anymore.

Crap.

 

[montag451]

No problems, have you got an old spare hdd to hand?
If you have, then hook it up as slave and copy the files over,
If not, it is time to consider a 'backup solution' and you could get a cheap hdd that you would be amazed about the speed.
Also, you can, if you don't want a full time extra internal hdd, get an external hdd usb2 caddy.
Worth their weight in gold.

 

[Woolong]

I would get an internal for the sake of learning, but I have one problem. THat problem being I'm dirt poor.

Any other way for this to get fixed? It's too close to Christmas for me to ask for a Hard drive, and even if I had by now, I'd probably not get one. And if I did, it'd probably be wrong.

And then I'd have my brothr bitching at me the whole time, and I don't need that.

 

[shawn130c]

I have had this problem a few times, but a check disc first and then another defrag worked.

 

[montag451]

ANY 'IDE' or 'EIDE' hard drive more than 10GB would be fine.
You can't get any new ones that are less that about 60GB now, and it works out a few cents more to get an 80GB, and a couple of quid/bucks more for a 100GB etc.
Don't get more than 130GB just to be sure it would be ok with your system. (what mobo is it)

You can get a 2nd hand cheapie off Ebay - maybe $/£20 if that.

Now, problem lies on if you aint got the cash, then you can't do it.

All you need to know to be sure that it will fit in your computer is that it should be:
3.5 inch
40 pin IDE or EIDE or DMA or UDMA or ATA -
not SATA - don't get sata.
I can't really think where it could go wrong -
2.5 inch is for laptops.

When/if you do get a drive, all you have to do to install it is to make sure the jumpers on the back of the drive are correct - post back when the time comes for more info on that, ok?
Plug the molex power chord (large 4 pin with red/yellow/black wires) into the drive without forcing it too much - the red faces the ribbon cable.
With the ribbon cable - just make sure that the red stripe goes to pin1 - will have a tiny arrow on the hdd where pin 1 is.

 

[Woolong]

Probelm there it that my primary drive IS an SATA, so I'd need a 40 pin(?) IDE (I think, I'm not too sure) SATA drive, atleast 80 gigs. But if I build a new computer, chances are I'm not going to need an SATA, so I'd be screwing myself over there.

I have an ASUS A7N8X Deluxe Mobo, an AMD Athlon XP 3000+ CPU and 1 Gig of RAM, composed of two 512 sticks. I'd have to get an SATA, but again, I have no money to spend and my family minus my brother is pretty much computer illiterate, so Christmas is out of the question. Plus my brother's not about to let me upgrade my computer, even though that sounds pretty damn inane, but he'd find a way.

So that leaves a disc check and a re-defrag. How do I do a disc check?

 

[montag451]

HOLD ON
SATA is fairly new - if you are using a 3 year old computer, then it is unlikely that you are using a SATA drive. - Just to check - If the drive is using a ribbon cable, (wide thin cable) with a little red stripe on one of the end wires, then you are definitely definitely using a NON SATA drive.
Even if you are using SATA, which is unlikely, you can still plug in any ole IDE drive as I have described above.
All I am advising you to do is to put a hdd in that you can copy stuff to. NOT to reinstall or move windows or anything like that, ok?

 

[montag451]

Hey, looking at your post again, i remembe those boards and they were nice, and can use a SATA drive, but as I just mentioned, it doesn't matter what drive you have in at the moment - just get an IDE drive.

 

[shawn130c]

Disk check or error checking can be found in the same place as defrag (C:/-Properties-Tools-Error Checking-and check check the two boxes and click yes to the dialog and restart it should then start the the error checking and when done it will then start up windows and then rerun defrag and that might fix it.

 

[Woolong]

Huh. Well, I did the disc checker, and then defragged and that fixed all of the other problems, minus the game fragmentations.

Volume (C:[/b])
Volume size = 55.89 GB
Cluster size = 4 KB
Used space = 45.62 GB
Free space = 10.27 GB
Percent free space = 18 %

Volume fragmentation
Total fragmentation = 14 %
File fragmentation = 28 %
Free space fragmentation = 0 %

File fragmentation
Total files = 82,665
Average file size = 744 KB
Total fragmented files = 11
Total excess fragments = 7,034
Average fragments per file = 1.08

Pagefile fragmentation
Pagefile size = 1.50 GB
Total fragments = 79

Folder fragmentation
Total folders = 5,674
Fragmented folders = 1
Excess folder fragments = 0

Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
Total MFT size = 91 MB
MFT record count = 89,092
Percent MFT in use = 95 %
Total MFT fragments = 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fragments File Size Files that cannot be defragmented
21 723 MB \Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\day of defeat source.gcf
272 897 MB \Program Files\Rockstar Games\GTA San Andreas\models\gta3.img
213 901 MB \Program Files\Sierra\FEAR\FEARA.Arch00
735 1.03 GB \Program Files\Rockstar Games\GTA San Andreas\audio\SFX\SPC_GA
37 1.31 GB \Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\counter-strike source shared.gcf
2,219 1.33 GB \Program Files\Lionhead Studios\Black & White 2\Data\Everything.stuff
3,453 3.58 GB \Program Files\Sierra\FEAR\FEAR.Arch00

Hoo boy. I mean, I could uninstall all of them, defragment, and then reinstall them, but I'd have to get my saves out first. And my control configurations. I mean, for all of my Steam games, doing that will be a breeze. However, for everything else, it'll be a pain in the ass, because I have no ide where those files are.


Edit: I hate smilies.

 

[xtknight]

They can't be defragmented because you don't have enough free space.

 

[xgsound]

I don't know if this will work. Don't do this until some others confirm that it will not ruin your games. I have zero experience with on-line games.

EDIT I just noticed that 1 file is 3.7 GB. I would leave that one alone (?2 Gb limit?) or copy it to be sure it doesn't get lost if there is an error.

I'm assuming that the "program files/*" in your summary refers to c:/program files/*. I would try to right click and move the files one at a time to a new (defrag?) directory followed by a defrag. Then right click and move them back to the original locations and defrag again. Total free space should remain the same at all times. The recycle bin and restore might seem to serve the same purpose, but I've never been clear on if the recycle and restore actually moves the data or mearly redefines the data and leaves it in the same fragmented location.

This should correct those files, but I see a DVD ($50 at newegg) burner or additional hard drive in your future somewhere.


Jim

 

[Woolong]

Well then, I need space. Meaning I probably need to uninstall a bunch of things, defrag and then reinstall them...

Pain in the ass. Guess It's staying fragmented until I get a new hard drive. Which will happen when I get a new computer.

 

[montag451]

Problems can come about if you have too much stuff on the hdd - Also, slows things down a bit.
Anyway,
if you do see the chance to get a small hdd, then do so.
Good luck.