PC crashes during defrag!

[bulldawg1979]

I have Norton System Works installed and use its Speed Disk feature to defrag my hard drive. Lately, my PC crashes during the defrag process. I tried using the Windows defrag utility and the same thing happens. My system is getting seriously fragmented. NSW reports 73% fragmentation, while pcpitstop claims that my HD is 39% fragged. BTW, I can't run scandisk without crashing too. Is my HD sick and in need of a reformat, or what?

 

[TWills]

Plug it into another computer and defrag. Are you using Windows XP?

 

[bulldawg1979]

Yes, I use Windows XP. Why switch comps?

 

[imported_hopeless]

You might want to try running disk check. It won't run with windows running but it will ask you if you want it to run the next time the pc is booted up.

 

[GamerExpress]

Don't defrag then.

 

[Oyeve]

Doesnt XP defrag in the background if left idle for a while? Leave your PC on and see if it defrags itself.

 

[acole1]

defraging on another system will make it less likely to crash since your not defraging the OS drive (best idea). have you tried the XP defrag tool? also try a defrag in safe mode. if none of this works having a defragmented drive isn't a BIG deal so just leave it. if it really bothers you reformat.

 

[TWills]

EDIT: I hate it when that happens ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Originally posted by: bulldawg1979
Yes, I use Windows XP. Why switch comps?

When you plug your drive into a different computer, it no longer juggles the responsibility of being the boot drive while it's defragging. Sometimes that causes intalbilities when it's trying to move all the files around on your computer (defragging) and run an operating system at the same time. Thus, its more stable to defrag an extra drive than it is to defrag a single drive. But, if it doesn't defrag on the other computer, then I suggest you get your data off it and get another hd post haste!

 

[Slowlearner]

There's a problem somewhere - so run chkdsk - you do this by opening explorer right click on the drive - properties - tools -check disk for errors, in XP there is no scandisk. I have never found Norton Systemworks to do anything other than clutter a pc.

 

[redhatlinux]

The Q&D answer is that your hard drive is sick. Scandisk should run error free. I'd look to back up important files ASAP.

 

[Wellsoul2]

Originally posted by: Slowlearner
There's a problem somewhere - so run chkdsk - you do this by opening explorer right click on the drive - properties - tools -check disk for errors, in XP there is no scandisk. I have never found Norton Systemworks to do anything other than clutter a pc.

Yes - Run checkdisk as Slowlearner says.

If no go then take hd out and put in another comp and try it.

Still bad then buy new hard drive and hope you can copy old data.

Most of the time this kind of thing means very bad news-bad sectors/head crash.