Michael Shergold said:
Defrag in the old days used to run for a while and move fragmented
files up in the DriveSpace temporarily, then move unfragmented data
down so that most of free space ended up at the top. It would then
collect all the fragmented files and putting them (unfragmented)
either within the contiguous file area (if it could find) space or in
the next free space are.. Using the current XP diagram this meant
that generally the left had side was solid blue except for locked and
unmoveable files like paging areas. and the right hand side would
hopefully be contiguous white (free drivespace)
Now the thing mucks around for a while and moves some data into the
blue area but still leaves many fragmented clusters and lots of
spaces. If you run 'analyse' again immediately afterward it tells
you that the drive needs deframenting. Is it giving up before it has
really finished? Or what is happening here?
Michael
It is possible that defrag might need to be run twice or three times to
completely defrag the disk IFF fragmentation had gotten high, but it's
the exception rather than the norm. If you're running editing video
movies or running highly intensive math applications, then fragmentation
can occur very quickly (as in one session) but if you're only running
"standard" applications, then fragementation shouldn't be much of an
issue once it's been completely defragged at least once and then monthly
or whatever schedule you choose. Monthly is a good starting point. The
more often you defrage the less time it requires each time.
If a second, and especially a third, defrag doesn't bring the
fragmentation under control then there is somethine seriously wrong
somewhere; malware or a problem with the drive.
Computer speed?
How much RAM?
Drive size? Mfg? File System Type?
How much space is left on the drive? It has to be >15 % or so,
including accounting for the page file, restore points, etc. Low disk
space can reall trash the defrag process.
How long since you last defragged?
What was the amount of fragmentation?
What is the fragmentation after running defrag?
How about after running it again?
Assuming your data is backed up, try running chkdsk on the drive in
question using chkdsk /r the "r" means to repair bad stuff if it can.
You might simply have frogged up file tables.
Does chkdsk find any bad sectors? If so, is that the same number it
found last time, or a larger number? Increasing number of bad sectors
indicates a failing drive.
Your disk Mfr should have a free tester to determine the health of your
hard drive. If you have any bad sectors, you should run that tester.
I say make sure you back up because if the disk is having problems,
chkdsk can uncover the problem but at the same time, in the extreme, it
can make the disk unaccessible. So, back up your data, emails,
favorites, etc., before you do much of anything else, just in case the
drive is going bad.
As you can guess, lots of things can affect it.
When I'm doing video editing, I defrag every day when I first start
the machine or before I shut it down, whichever is most convenient. But
if I'm only using Office, VB, e-mail and surfing, then once a month is
plenty often enough for defrags, at least until/unless you know it
should be more often or could wait longer. At one month it usually says
I don't have to but I do anyway, because in another week it'll hit the
threshold and tell me I need to defrag. Only use the Analyze function
to ask whether it needs to be defragged or not; you can not tell from
the graphic display.
Post back with that data and let's see if we can tell what's going on.
HTH
Twayne
