defrag problem-help

Skip Cole · Post by **Skip Cole** » 6 Mar 2004 12:44 pm

My defrag program keeps re-running after only 2% is completed. What problem/s could be causing this snafu? thanks for any suggestions----Skip

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"I Can Only Imagine" Mercy Me

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 6 Mar 2004 12:59 pm

The simplest possibility is----turn off your screen saver. When that kicks in, the defrag kicks off, starts over. Could be other stuff but try that.

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 6 Mar 2004 2:16 pm

I had an old computer that would do the same thing. I turned off everything and it still would restart. A 'geek' friend told me to run it in safe mode. That did the trick. Might work for you, too...

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My best,
Ernie

www.buddyemmons.com

John Hawkins · Post by **John Hawkins** » 6 Mar 2004 4:39 pm

Skip,
In addition to the other info. you got here,and if you are using Norton Anti- Virus program , it should be disabled. It is a strong program and if you do not disable it before starting defrag. the defrag. just keeps re-starting .

Be sure to enable your Norton program after the defragmenting is complete .
John

Skip Cole · Post by **Skip Cole** » 7 Mar 2004 12:37 pm

Jon, Ernie, and John, thanks for your responses to my post. I will give all the tips a try. I do have the Norton AV program so that may be a fix. The screen saver tip i have tried but still have the same problem when it is disabled. Thanks again, God bless,

skip

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"I Can Only Imagine" Mercy Me

Post by **Joey Ace** » 7 Mar 2004 3:09 pm

Start your computer in the SAFE mode, then run DEFRAG.

Cairo Zoots · Post by **Cairo Zoots** » 9 Mar 2004 11:07 am

In lieu of all of the above, run the "System File Checker" first, before running the De-frag program. After you fix all the boogers, your de-frag program will run fine. (but what Joey said works mo' bettah)

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ree-00-dee-doo

Skip Cole · Post by **Skip Cole** » 11 Mar 2004 8:06 pm

Joey, how do i get to the "safe mode"? CZ, where is the "system file checker"? Thanks for your help, guys-----Skip

Cairo Zoots · Post by **Cairo Zoots** » 12 Mar 2004 7:44 pm

Skip, To run in "Safe Mode", restart and hold down the "Ctrl" key while the system restarts.....Choose "Safe Mode" when prompted. Then when you see the desktop, go to START, PROGRAMS, ACCESSORIES, SYSTEM TOOLS. THEN DISK DEFRAGMENTER. tHEN YOU'LL SEE A WINDOW THAT SAYS "SELECT DRIVE". If your C Drive is the main drive in your system, choose it. Select "OK". Then a box appears and defragmenting will begin. When complete you'll usually get a message saying that it's complete. You'll want to restart, (this time you'll want to restart as you normally do....no 'safe mode' this time, just let it restart by itself.......and you're done!
.............................................

To run "system file checker"...

GoTo Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-System Information-

Then clik on "Tools", then clik on "System File Checker"

Then you want to "scan for altered files" & correct whatever problems arise. I run Windows 98, but if you run something else, this may not apply.....................<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Cairo Zoots on 12 March 2004 at 08:13 PM.]</p></FONT>

Skip Cole · Post by **Skip Cole** » 12 Mar 2004 9:25 pm

CZ, thanks again for the instructions, i will follow them and let you know how it comes out. Also, thanks to all who responded for your tips, ------Skip

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"I Can Only Imagine" Mercy Me

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 12 Mar 2004 10:19 pm

Here on Windows ME it is the F8 key, not Ctrl key, that gets to Safe mode. Start pushing early in the boot process, after the text stops appearing on screen.

Skip Cole · Post by **Skip Cole** » 15 Mar 2004 5:17 am

Defrag has been completed, thanks to all who contributed to the solution. It took about 3 hours to do but it had been a long time since the last time it was done. Instead of the "ctrl" key i used the "F8" and it worked just right in the "safe" mode. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

God bless you all.--Skip

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"I Can Only Imagine" Mercy Me

John Pelz · Post by **John Pelz** » 18 Mar 2004 2:33 pm

Sorry to throw a wrench into the works, but what do you think of THIS?--

I'm running Win ME on a computer that's 22 months old. When I defrag, I disconnect the DSL, and disable Norton AntiVirus (to an extent that it won't restart when I reboot-- I have to make sure that I manually turn it back on after defragging & restarting the computer). I never use a screensaver (or wallpaper, for that matter) so the latter is a non-issue.

When I then re-boot in safe mode, I STILL occasionally get the message "the contents of the hard drive have changed," and Defrag starts over again! In fact it did just that several times today.

It's really not a problem for me-- I get Defrag up & running and then I just leave the computer for a period of time until Defrag is done. It restarts again & again, but Defrag eventually gets the job done. For the record, I defrag on a regular basis, usually every 10 days or so.

Since we're on this topic, though, I do find it curious that Defrag STILL occasionally restarts, despite no internet connection, NAV disabled, and no screensaver. Am I perhaps missing something, or is my computer possessed?

Comments, anyone?

John Hawkins · Post by **John Hawkins** » 18 Mar 2004 3:47 pm

I will be the first to tell that I am not computer savy and almost everyone knows more about one than I do . A good friend of mine who really knows a computer and how it works ,told me the best way to keep mine operating good is by doing the following PRIOR to defragmenting in this order . Clean disk , scan disk and then defrag.

I don't have any idea if the above has anything to do with "restarts" . I shut off the screen saver,disable Norton,clean disk , scan disk and then Defrag. As I understand it from those who know , "restarts" are caused by some program ( or programs) running at the same time while Defra. is taking place .I do not go to "safe mode" and defragmenting seems to go through ok in about 40 mins. I run Windows 98 .

John

Recluse · Post by **Recluse** » 18 Mar 2004 4:52 pm

Try closing all programs using Task Manager (ctrl+alt+delete). End all tasks except Systray and Explorer. At that point it will not be necessary to be in safe mode. Defrag will sometimes appear to stop but it is really just sorting.
BTW it is a good idea to end all but systray and explorer when installing a new program. A few clicks save a lot of headaches.
Fun, eh?
Steve Bailey

John Pelz · Post by **John Pelz** » 18 Mar 2004 9:39 pm

How did we EVER get by without computers?

Lou[NE] · Post by **Lou[NE]** » 19 Mar 2004 12:19 am

You can kill systray as well - systray contains programs that are run at startup. All the system really needs is Explorer.