Defrag Leaves A Lot of Fragments

  • Thread starter Thread starter jim evans
  • Start date Start date
J

jim evans

I can't get fragmentation below 20%. I've tried several defrag
programs (including the one that comes with XP),and I never get below
about 20% fragmentation. That seems like a lot. Does anyone know why
the residual fragmentation level is so high?

jim
 
That's normal. Windows defragger does not defragment every file nor does
it really need to. If you're really a stickler about defragmenting - to
each their own - try a third-party defragmenter.
 
First off defrag will not touch files in use...
so if you are having a problem...try defragging in safe mode.
Click to expand...

I haven't tried safe mode but I have booted with msconfig set to
Diagnostic Startup and before loading any programs.
Also: how much free space do you have on the drive?
Click to expand...

55 gigabytes
Finally, even under ideal conditions it's not necessarily going to 100%
defrag the drive anyway
Click to expand...

Is 20% fragmentation normal?

jim
 
That's normal.
Click to expand...

20% of the space fragmented is normal?
Windows defragger does not defragment every file nor does
it really need to.
Click to expand...

I know that, but it from memory it seemed like 5-10% was what I used
to get.
If you're really a stickler about defragmenting - to
each their own - try a third-party defragmenter.
Click to expand...

As I said I've used various defragmenters and all but the MS are
"third-party".

jim
 
jim evans said:
I haven't tried safe mode but I have booted with msconfig set to
Diagnostic Startup and before loading any programs.


55 gigabytes


Is 20% fragmentation normal?
Click to expand...

20% seems high to me too
 
some files can't be defrag'd.

however, you can add a freeware that
provides additional defragging to your
system.

it is called pagedefrag and available
from microsoft.com

set it to run at boot time.

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db said:
some files can't be defrag'd.

however, you can add a freeware that
provides additional defragging to your
system.

it is called pagedefrag and available
from microsoft.com

set it to run at boot time.
Click to expand...

I can thouroughly recommend diskeeper, which also has a boot-time defrag
option. Run the trial for a few days, just let it do its thing, and you'll
never look back. http://www.diskeeper.com/
 
jim evans said:
I can't get fragmentation below 20%. I've tried several defrag
programs (including the one that comes with XP),and I never get below
about 20% fragmentation. That seems like a lot. Does anyone know why
the residual fragmentation level is so high?

jim
Click to expand...

Hi Jim,

What is your complete Windows version, edition, and service pack level?
(For instance, I'm using Windows XP, Professional, Service Pack 3. :)

You mentioned in another message you have "55 gigabytes" free space, but
there is no mention of the size of the drive. Please include more complete
information about the drive, especially, is it formatted FAT32 or NTFS?

Start the graphical version of Windows XP Disk Defragmenter right now.
Start> (all)Programs> Accessories> System Tools> Disk Defragmenter

Click Analyze button. View Report. Save the report to your desktop with
date/time included in the file name. (VolumeC_YYYYMMDDhhmm.txt) Close the
report. Open the saved report in NotePad. You may want to edit personal
information like substituting the term "UserName" in place of your actual
user name in any file path info. SelectAll, copy and paste in a reply here.
Do not defrag at this time. Close Disk Defragmenter.

Besides Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse, what other devices are connected to
your computer? How do you connect to the internet? Does your computer
connect to a network when it first starts? Important: What version of
Internet Explorer is currently installed? Do you use other browser(s)?

After you physically disconnect from the internet, restart your computer
and use the F8 key after POST (Power On Self Start) to get to the Advanced
Options menu. Choose Safe Mode. Then from the Operating System choice menu,
watch a clock and time how long it takes until the icons first appear on
your desktop. Never mind System Tray Notification area stuff. Open Task
Manager. (Alt+Ctrl+Delete or right-click clock and click Task Manager.)
How many processes are showing? Start Windows XP Disk Defragmenter.
When you click the Analyze button, time how long it takes to complete. Save
the report to desktop with date/time as above. When you click Defragment
button, time how long it takes to complete. Save that report likewise.
(Note: Do not clear out any temporary files anywhere.)

Next, restart your computer again, use F8 for the Advanced Options menu,
and this time choose from that menu to start normally, and at the Operating
System choice menu, time how long until icons on desktop appear. Start Task
Manager. How many processes are showing? Start Windows XP Disk Defragmenter
and click Analyze and time how long it takes. Save that report.

Do not defragment again for 3 full days or more. Limit your computer use to
"normal" things. (Do not install programs, etc.) After 3 days, repeat both
start up timing tests above, but Analyze only, do not defragment.

Post copies of all reports and timing information in a reply here. Thanks.

HTH. (Hope This Helps. :)
--Richard
 
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