new scandisk & defrag tip?

I've had sucessful 'no restart' and speedy runnings of both me defrag (as defrag.exe) and scandisk (as scandskw.exe) with the method outlined on THIS site and I'm anxious for feedback from y'all.

The process involves minor (but very significant) editting (and editting back) of 2 lines from the sysem.ini file.

As mentioned in the instructions, there are precaustions necessary; nevertheless, it's a relatively straightforward process for advanced or confident intermediate users, I suppose.

I'm just wondering if there are drawbacks to this method?

I usually just run scandisk from dos, but the scandskw.exe seems to work very efficiently this way too.

Comments please?
TIA...

That is sort of a clumsy way of running Defrag and/or scandisk at the next boot. Since you then have to go in an undo the change in order to boot normally again.

A couple of options:

1. Create a REG file that has the execution of defrag / scandisk in the RUNONCE reg key. You then just double click the file, and reboot. After the execution, the RunOnce key is automatically deleted.

2. Download and run ScanDefrag, which seems like an even easier way.

^dAvEy^, thanks for the info.
But it seems a little much for me.
I can run scandisk while online or off with no problems.
For defrag I close screensaver and run EndItAll.
Never had a hiccup or choke doing this. Quick and easy.
But if this tip helps anyone, great!!
Have a good one.:cool:

I'm with Whitphil's option 1.

That's the only way I run Defrag.

As for Scandisk I run it in DOS by using the boot disk.

Using WinMe.

Thanks for the feedback, Nick Grana & WhitPhil

So far looks like I have a winner!
Although there are other possible solutions to eliminate restarts and speeds up both scandisk and defrag, this method seems safe and works great, despite being a bit of an awkward workaround.

WhitPhil
>1. Create a REG file that has the execution of defrag / scandisk in the RUNONCE reg key. You then just double click the file, and reboot. After the execution, the RunOnce key is automatically deleted.
- I like that idea. I'd like to know how to do this, provided it runs scandisk and defrag as quickly as the method I presented which runs without much else loading.

>2. Download and run ScanDefrag, which seems like an even easier way.
- ditto

Nick Grana
>I can run scandisk while online or off with no problems.For defrag I close screensaver and run EndItAll. Never had a hiccup or choke doing this. Quick and easy. But if this tip helps anyone, great!! Have a good one.
- Some people DO still have problems getting through running scandisk & defrag. I'm not one of them, but the method I've presented speeds both up considerably which I really like!

Thanks again. :)

I'll post it when I get home for the defrag unless someone beats me to it in the mean time.

Also this might save you a bit of time

Quote:

---

TIP: You don't need to restart or reboot Windows after modifying the shell= line.
Just press and hold Ctrl+Alt+Del -> highlight Explorer (or the name of your custom shell executable) -> click End Task -> click No at the Shut down screen -> click End Task again. The new shell specified in System.ini will reload presto. :)

---

from Axcel's site and the info under Clean Defrag on this page http://members.aol.com/axcel216/98-3.htm

I put shell=taskman
then run msconfig and uncheck it
then when I need to defrag a check taskman uncheck explorer

then I have a way to run msconfig to switch back

but if you wanted to do it with shell=defrag
then I guess I'd setup an boot menu option in the config.sys to run scanreg /restore
which would restore the system.ini as well

because no one ever want to use edit in dos unless it is totally unavoidable

I can't remember the last time I had to use edit

- Super tip, Nix - that works great!:
>TIP: You don't need to restart or reboot Windows after modifying the shell= line.
Just press and hold Ctrl+Alt+Del -> highlight Explorer (or the name of your custom shell executable) -> click End Task -> click No at the Shut down screen -> click End Task again. The new shell specified in System.ini will reload presto.

- Good points, TheGorx:
>if you wanted to do it with shell=defrag
then I guess I'd setup an boot menu option in the config.sys to run scanreg /restore
which would restore the system.ini as well
because no one ever want to use edit in dos unless it is totally unavoidable

EDIT:
- Here's what I just TRIED but I just found there's problems with it at this point - I'll try to get to it later today:

I have a simple registry backup/restore system a la the post by Trish-A in THIS thread. It bypasses the nead to modify system.ini via dos edit.

1 - click the simple registry backup shortcut icon on the desktop.
2 - Start > run > type SYSEDIT > OK
3 - In SYSTEM.INI select EXPLORER.EXE from the shell line and type in to replace with DEFRAG.EXE so the line reads:
SHELL=DEFRAG.EXE
4 - add semi-colon to the screencaver line so it begins as:
;SCRNSAVE.EXE=C:\WINDOWS ...
5 - save SYSTEM.INI and close SYSEDIT
6 - Ctrl-Alt-Del
7 - select <hilite> EXPLORER
8 - click "End Task"
Now windows restarts directly to defrag via the modified system.ini as Nix's tip indicates - run and close defrag as usual.
9 - Ctrl-Alt-Del to reboot, but hold Ctrl key once it starts
10 - pick #5 "Command prompt only"
11 - at c:\ prompt type RESTORE and then press Enter and then exit dos/restart windows
(a la the backup system mentioned above)

Scandisk and defrag from the RunOnce key.
Not sure where I got these but they work good.

Copy each, paste it into Notepad and save them separately. The first as Scandisk.reg and the second as Defrag.reg.
Note: In Notepad in the file name box you can add "quotation marks" around the file name and it will save it with that extension such as "Scandisk.reg" and it will not save it with the .txt extension.

For Scandisk:
_______Copy below this line______________
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx]
"Flags"=dword:00000003
"Title"="ScanDisk at Startup"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx\A ScanDisk]
"Cmd"="||SCANDSKW.EXE /A"

----------Copy above this line-----------------------

For defrag:
______Copy below this line_______________
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx]
"Flags"=dword:00000003
"Title"="Defrag at Startup"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx\Defrag]
"Cmd"="||DEFRAG.EXE /ALL"

---------Copy above this line------------------------

You will then have two files.
If you merge scandisk.reg and then defrag.reg then scandisk will run before defrag.

Restart the PC after merging the files with the registry.

My reg file for defrag is slightly different:


--------------------
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce]
"Defrag"="c:\\windows\\defrag /all /f /p /noprompt"

--------------------

I can't remember what all the switches do I've been using it so long.

Also wrote a VB script version that you can just double click on and you don't get all the confirm screens you do with .reg files

Just take the .txt off the end of it.

P.S. It's virus checked but since it is a script virus checkers may pick it up as it writes to the registry.

NAV did the first time, I just authorised it because I know what it's doing and I wrote it.

Defrag Switches for Windows 95 but maybe still applicable to other OS.

I'm using some of them with no issue on WinMe.

Thanks guys - I'll give those a go too

With the REG option, you create the file once, then anytime you want to defrag, you double click to add the RUNONCE key, and reboot.

Defrag runs and that's it. The RUNONCE keys are automagically deleted.

^dAvEy^

David

It seems you have elected not to receive private messages or receive emails via the board so I cannot respond privately.

I had removed S&D from my web site but have put it back for you. S&D has moved on since it's original incarnation. We no longer have to edit system.ini. I have written a script which logs off for us and then invokes an Inf file which toggles 'shell=explorer.exe' and 'shell=progman.exe' and the screen saver, if it exists in system.ini, automatically.

In operation we simply run the script, log off, log on, do what we like with progman, log off, log on and find ourselves back at the desktop. No restart is required and we avoid any work in DOS. I've even found in some circumstances that system resources are greater on returning to the desktop than they were before we logged off.

All is explained in the S&D.htm file which also includes an explanation of the RunOnceEx method which I use as well when I decide I want to do some maintenance at the next first boot of the day.

Having written the above I suppose I should include the code here but I don't have the time, or the inclination for that matter, to respond here to any queries or comments.

David Roberts