defrag problem

i defrag in safe mode.

in settings where it says "when defragging my hard drive" i select the option "check the drive for errors". it hangs at o% complete. when its unchecked (automatically defrags; wont check for errors), it starts to read drive information and only goes up to 6% complete. all of a sudden it stops reading and just keeps restarting.

cant defrag even in safe mode, with no programs running in the background. i did a scandisk first and cleaned out the temp files etc. but i just cant defrag.

i will try diskeeper later but i want to fix this problem first. what can i do? :confused:

Many hard drive manufacturers now have a diagnostic utility posted on their website for testing their brand of hard drives. Recommend running it to see if there is a problem developing.

Restart to DOS and run Scandisk. Then try the Defrag again.

And/or run a Windows Scandisk (with autofix OFF).

You should always run scandisk prior to a defrag. The Check for Errors option is a bare-bones check, and nowhere near as comphrehensive as the scandisk run.

i did run scandisk before defrag. but the defrag process can never start for some reason. either it hangs at 0% or goes as hi as 6% then keeps restarting (drive contents changing constantly). whats changing?

:confused:

Well you have some program running in the background that is causing that to happen. So here is this.

Scandisk and defrag
Programs running in the Background stop it.
Turn off screen saver.
Do Ctrl-Alt-Del and close all but explorer and try again.
Upon completion, suggest run defragment.

It can run in Safe Mode also.
Reboot and on startup hold the Control key [F8 if control does not work]
This will bring up the Boot menu
Arrow down [mouse does not work here] to 3. Safe Mode, hit enter
and you will boot to Safe Mode. [Yes it will look funny, very basic here]
[Screen saver should already be turned off] and run scandisk.
Upon completion you can run defragment also. It would be a good Idea as
you are already there.

Upon completion reboot to start you av and other programs

IN DOS
Scandisk can be run in dos also.
Defrag can not
Do the same as safe mode until you get to the startup menu.
Select 5. Command and hit enter.
and you will boot to the C:\ prompt.
Type in scandisk ,
looks like this
C:\scandisk
hit enter
when finish at the C:\ type win hit enter
or for a faster reboot do a Ctrl-Alt-Delete

i usually run scandisk in safe mode or in dos before defragging so there arent any programs or screensaver running in the background.

it keeps restarting or wont start at all in safe mode or windows.

:confused:

Quote:

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Originally posted by WhitPhil
Restart to DOS and run Scandisk. Then try the Defrag again..

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did that already. no use. no errors found

:confused: :confused:

Your system may be infected with a virus.
Update your AV program with the latest files, and do a virus check.

this is what pcpitstop found:

The Bck/Webber.W Virus was found in file C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\Bbdmdj32.dll

The Trj/Lorex.A Virus was found in file C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PowerProf.exe

The Trj/Lorex.A Virus was found in file C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mpr16.dll

The Trj/Lorex.A Virus was found in file C:\powerproof.exe

can i just delete the offending files?

It's best to remove viruses with an antivirus program.
Update your AV program with the latest files, and remove the viruses.

If you do not have an AV program, then here are some freebies:

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

http://www.pandasoftware.com/actives..._principal.htm

http://www.bitdefender.com/index.php

viruses cleaned out but still cannot run defrag :( also did spybot and adaware.

:confused:

There's varying opinions on this, but I sue this method all the time and it gets defrag running without anything else - super fast too. Here's a link to the mehod:

http://www.highway56.com/defrag.html

The idea is to backup the registry, and then edit the system.ini file by changing the line

shell=explorer.exe
to
shell=defrag.exe

Follow the instructions closely, and my hunch is that you will defrag just fine.
Another note - it runs even quicker when NOT scanning for errors via defrag.

that method will only work on version 4 of windows (95/98/ME)

for NT based used the method here..., only replace the litesteo exe with the defarg one..

http://www.brembs.net/litestep/win2k.html

finally was able to defrag with the method u described. was real easy to understand and follow. only problem i had was saving the ini file after editing it. :confused: could not access the drop down menu at the top of the screen.

there were no shortcuts for saving and exiting. it did not explain how to save or exit out of the editing screen. had to restore my registry.

how do i save the changed file and exit after i edit it in DOS? :eek:

In dos, as you have no mouse there, to pull down the File menu, hit the ALT key then the F key.
Arrow down to Save and hit enter
Hit the Alt key again and arrow down to Exit.

The under lined letter, if hit will move the cursor to that line. You can also use the undelined letters in Windows. Takes some practice to get it right , but it works.

Quote:

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...finally was able to defrag with the method u described...

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glad to hear it, dpkkk - works great, eh?
Train has answered your most recent question.
Another variation on the method he gave for saving and exiting the system.ini file:
Alt
F
X
Y