defragmentation issues in XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robert M Jones
  • Start date Start date
R

Robert M Jones

I am using the built in Windows defrag utility to tidy up my Windows C:
partition but encountering some very large files (tens of megabytes)
that are very fragmented and obviously "in use" therefore never get
defragged.

I am also unable to see exactly which ones they are as the dialog is not
wide enough to show the full path - and I can't see any way of dragging
it wider. I tried printing the list to a pdf file but it still cut off
the margins.

I'd like to check through this list and see what files might be
deletable in DOS (like any large log files)

Any other suggestions for dealing with this welcome. Or do I just ignore it?
Or any reliable 3rd party free defrag utility?

Prior to XP when I had win98SE I used to use Norton disk tools and it
was usually possible to defrag most of these sorts of files.

Windows XP Home SP3 updated regularly
Windows on C plus any program that absolutely insists on being there,
(most) Programs on D
and Data on E

Many thanks.


--
Rev Robert M Jones, Wimborne Baptist Church, UK
http://www.wimborne-baptist.org.uk
Free trial of Mailwasher Pro - effective email spam filter - (commission
goes to our partners in Bulgaria)
http://fta.firetrust.com/index.cgi?id=420
 
I am using the built in Windows defrag utility to tidy up my Windows C:
partition but encountering some very large files (tens of megabytes)
that are very fragmented and obviously "in use" therefore never get
defragged.

<snip>

=======================================================
http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml

TreeSize Free
V2.2.1
Every hard disk is too small if you just wait long enough. TreeSize Free
tells you where precious space has gone to. TreeSize Free can be started
from the context menu of a folder or drive and shows you the size of this
folder, including its subfolders. You can expand this folder in
Explorer-like style and you will see the size of every subfolder. Scanning
is done in a thread, so you can already see results while TreeSize Free is
working. The space, which is wasted by the file system, can be displayed and
the results can be printed in a report. TreeSize Free is freeware for
Windows 2000/XP/Vista

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

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Hard-Disk-Utils/Power-Defragmenter.shtml

Power Defragmenter will let you defrag individual files, folders and as well
as defrag any hard drive attached to the computer.

Power Defragmenter is a very advanced GUI for the Sysinternals core
application which takes defragmentation process to a whole new level. Power
Defragmenter is a GUI (Graphic User Interface) application for program
Contig by Sysinternals.

Contig is a very powerful defragmentation application designed for Windows
NT/2000/XP operating systems.

Contig created by Mark Russinovich and Bryce Cogswell.
http://blogs.technet.com/markrussinovich/about.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryce_Cogswell
--
Regards,
Touch Base
Report back on the results, good or bad so others may benefit

"There's an old story about the person who wished his computer were as easy
to use as his telephone. That wish has come true, since I no longer know
how to use my telephone."
(Bjarne Stroustrup)
 
Robert M Jones said:
I am using the built in Windows defrag utility to tidy up my Windows C:
partition but encountering some very large files (tens of megabytes) that
are very fragmented and obviously "in use" therefore never get defragged.

I am also unable to see exactly which ones they are as the dialog is not
wide enough to show the full path - and I can't see any way of dragging it
wider. I tried printing the list to a pdf file but it still cut off the
margins.

I'd like to check through this list and see what files might be deletable
in DOS (like any large log files)

Any other suggestions for dealing with this welcome. Or do I just ignore
it?
Or any reliable 3rd party free defrag utility?

Prior to XP when I had win98SE I used to use Norton disk tools and it was
usually possible to defrag most of these sorts of files.

Windows XP Home SP3 updated regularly
Windows on C plus any program that absolutely insists on being there,
(most) Programs on D
and Data on E

Many thanks.


--
Rev Robert M Jones, Wimborne Baptist Church, UK
http://www.wimborne-baptist.org.uk
Free trial of Mailwasher Pro - effective email spam filter - (commission
goes to our partners in Bulgaria)
http://fta.firetrust.com/index.cgi?id=420
Click to expand...


Unless there is enough space on the drive, very large files may not ever
defragment properly. if you want to find out what and where they are, try
Treesize..

http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx
 
Mike said:
Unless there is enough space on the drive, very large files may not ever
defragment properly. if you want to find out what and where they are,
try Treesize..

http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml
Click to expand...
Thanks to all. I have between 1 and 2 GB free on the C partition. I
recently enlarged it because it was getting a bit tight.

--
Rev Robert M Jones, Wimborne Baptist Church, UK
http://www.wimborne-baptist.org.uk
Free trial of Mailwasher Pro - effective email spam filter - (commission
goes to our partners in Bulgaria)
http://fta.firetrust.com/index.cgi?id=420
 
Thanks to all. I have between 1 and 2 GB free on the C partition. I
recently enlarged it because it was getting a bit tight.
Click to expand...

Definitely not enough space for most defragmenters to do what you
want.

DDW
 
Robert

Open Disk Defragmenter and click on Analyse. Select View Report and
click on Save As and Save. Now find VolumeC.txt in your My Documents
Folder. This is a text file. You can just scroll right to read it or use
Edit, Select All to Copy and paste into a Word document. Either way you
overcome the difficulty you have encountered.

You said you have only got 1 gb free space but fail to mention the size
of your C partition. The Microsoft Disk Defragmenter starts to complain
if you have less than 15% free space. For better results you need 20% to
25% free space. If you have another partition with free space there are
many ways to overcome a shortage of free space, especially if you have
not looked at disk space issues before. A third party defragmenter is
not the best way to deal with limited space issues.

Two suggestions which may overcome your immediate problem. If they do
not work I can make further suggestions.

The default allocation to System Restore is 12% on your C partition
which is over generous. I would reduce it to 700 mb. Right click your My
Computer icon on the Desktop and select System Restore. Place the cursor
on your C drive select Settings but this time find the slider and drag
it to the left until it reads 700 mb and exit. When you get to the
Settings screen click on Apply and OK and exit.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to
Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also
select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point. Run Disk Defragmenter.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Gerry said:
Robert

Open Disk Defragmenter and click on Analyse. Select View Report and
click on Save As and Save. Now find VolumeC.txt in your My Documents
Folder. This is a text file. You can just scroll right to read it or use
Edit, Select All to Copy and paste into a Word document. Either way you
overcome the difficulty you have encountered.

You said you have only got 1 gb free space but fail to mention the size
of your C partition. The Microsoft Disk Defragmenter starts to complain
if you have less than 15% free space. For better results you need 20% to
25% free space. If you have another partition with free space there are
many ways to overcome a shortage of free space, especially if you have
not looked at disk space issues before. A third party defragmenter is
not the best way to deal with limited space issues.

Two suggestions which may overcome your immediate problem. If they do
not work I can make further suggestions.

The default allocation to System Restore is 12% on your C partition
which is over generous. I would reduce it to 700 mb. Right click your My
Computer icon on the Desktop and select System Restore. Place the cursor
on your C drive select Settings but this time find the slider and drag
it to the left until it reads 700 mb and exit. When you get to the
Settings screen click on Apply and OK and exit.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to
Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also
select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point. Run Disk Defragmenter.
Click to expand...

Thanks - that sounds helpful.

C: partition stats from Explorer are 12.5GB with 2.55GB Free

I use CCleaner regularly to keep temp files low.
I'll check the System Restore - have a feeling i have already attended
to that setting when I set the whole thing up.
I have Windows set to compress infrequently used files on C

--
Rev Robert M Jones, Wimborne Baptist Church, UK
http://www.wimborne-baptist.org.uk
Free trial of Mailwasher Pro - effective email spam filter - (commission
goes to our partners in Bulgaria)
http://fta.firetrust.com/index.cgi?id=420
 
Robert M Jones said:
Thanks - that sounds helpful.

C: partition stats from Explorer are 12.5GB with 2.55GB Free

I use CCleaner regularly to keep temp files low.
I'll check the System Restore - have a feeling i have already attended to
that setting when I set the whole thing up.
I have Windows set to compress infrequently used files on C

--
Rev Robert M Jones, Wimborne Baptist Church, UK
http://www.wimborne-baptist.org.uk
Free trial of Mailwasher Pro - effective email spam filter - (commission
goes to our partners in Bulgaria)
http://fta.firetrust.com/index.cgi?id=420
Click to expand...
You need a bigger partition for your C drive. If I am not mistaken (and I
might well be mistaken), you need enough free space to equal the largest
file that needs to be defragmented.
You may easily gain lots of extra space if you temporarily disable system
restore (which deletes all restore points) followed by enabling system
restore.
Jim
 
Robert

If you still cannot defragment any files on your C partition please post
a copy of the Disk Defragmenter report. Also to what extent do you have
free disk space elsewhere?

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
I would try SpeedDefrag cause it defrags the whole system in safe mode
(icluding paging file).
--
Computer Novice



"And In The End... The Love You Take, Is Equal To The Love You Make"
 
Gerry said:
Robert

If you still cannot defragment any files on your C partition please post
a copy of the Disk Defragmenter report. Also to what extent do you have
free disk space elsewhere?
Click to expand...

Answering only the second part of your Q- I have loads of space on other
partitions and am able (if I choose) to slide space along to add to the
C partition (I use BootIt) - I have actually done that to get the extra
2.5GG space not that long ago.

--
Rev Robert M Jones, Wimborne Baptist Church, UK
http://www.wimborne-baptist.org.uk
Free trial of Mailwasher Pro - effective email spam filter - (commission
goes to our partners in Bulgaria)
http://fta.firetrust.com/index.cgi?id=420
 
Robert said:
Answering only the second part of your Q- I have loads of space on other
partitions and am able (if I choose) to slide space along to add to the
C partition (I use BootIt) - I have actually done that to get the extra
2.5GG space not that long ago.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all your help so far.

Okay I have checked various things - disk situation on C: is now 12.5GB
total size, with 2.8GB free.
I have run all the cleanup utilities I have available, and removed
several hundred MB

I have also run defrag in Safe Mode - made no difference - it still was
unable to defrag the affected files.

I have checked through the file list to check which might be "in use"
and there are several files which ought not to be locked or "in use"
during a defrag on C:

the largest file I couldn't defrag (apart from the page file) was an
outlook.bak file at around 112MB so I have just moved that to another
partition. The next largest would be about 80MB. I can't see why Windows
Defrag can't cope with defragging an 80MB file when it has nearly 3GB of
free space to play with on a 12.5GB partition.

I would like to try and defrag these files if possible as they are quite
heavily defragmented and I do feel they are slowing Windows down a fair bit.

Here is my defrag report: (from before I did the cleaning up - but I
have tried a defrag since with little change)
Volume WindowsXP (C:)
Volume size = 12.50 GB
Cluster size = 4 KB
Used space = 9.99 GB
Free space = 2.52 GB
Percent free space = 20 %

Volume fragmentation
Total fragmentation = 19 %
File fragmentation = 36 %
Free space fragmentation = 2 %

File fragmentation
Total files = 46,264
Average file size = 318 KB
Total fragmented files = 73
Total excess fragments = 17,778
Average fragments per file = 1.38

Pagefile fragmentation
Pagefile size = 1.40 GB
Total fragments = 1,245

Folder fragmentation
Total folders = 5,455
Fragmented folders = 1
Excess folder fragments = 0

Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
Total MFT size = 54 MB
MFT record count = 52,008
Percent MFT in use = 94 %
Total MFT fragments = 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fragments File Size Files that cannot be defragmented
343 12 MB \WINDOWS\Installer\1b5b5039.msp
186 12 MB \WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\Database\HCdata.edb
187 12 MB \Documents and Settings\Other users\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\SP2Z0HQB\baptisms_2007_web[1].wmv
223 15 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert user\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\*****.default\urlclassifier3.sqlite
176 16 MB \WINDOWS\Installer\122241b.msp
498 16 MB \WINDOWS\Installer\1b5b5022.msp
163 16 MB \Program Files\Sunbelt Software\VIPRE\Definitions\ThreatDT.vdx
191 17 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert user\Local Settings\Application Data\Skype\{***********}\Skype.msi
209 17 MB \Documents and Settings\Other users\Local Settings\Application Data\Skype\{*****************}\Skype.msi
270 17 MB \WINDOWS\repair\RegBack\software
268 17 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert Admin\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{********************}\Microsoft\Outlook Express\Sent Items.dbx
279 17 MB \WINDOWS\Internet Logs\vsmon_on_demand_2008_11_25_00_14_18_full.dmp.zip
245 18 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert user\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\*****.default\News\news.mozilla.org\mozilla.support.firefox.msf
515 20 MB \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Symantec\LiveUpdate\Downloads\********jtun_nav2k6enn11m25.m25.full.zip
306 21 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert user\Local Settings\Temp\SkypeSetup.exe
345 21 MB \Documents and Settings\Other users\Local Settings\Temp\SkypeSetup.exe
266 23 MB \System Volume Information\_restore{****************}\RP851\snapshot\_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE
490 42 MB \Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\rt.jar
345 42 MB \Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\RBBofBible Games.pdf
344 42 MB \Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures\RBBofBible Games.pdf
202 45 MB \Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\zlsSetup_70_483_000_en.exe
812 51 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert user\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\*********.proxy profile\urlclassifier3.sqlite
804 53 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert user\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\********.default\urlclassifier3.sqlite
762 53 MB \Documents and Settings\Other users\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\********.default\urlclassifier3.sqlite
206 59 MB \WINDOWS\Internet Logs\tvDebug.zip
200 62 MB \Program Files\Sunbelt Software\VIPRE\Definitions\ctid.vtd
1,111 69 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert Admin\Local Settings\Temp\{AA84D3FF-256D-470E-B93E-2E24F508273C}\SBVIPRE_DEFS_EN.msi
1,013 69 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert Admin\Local Settings\Temp\{081205AF-2BC2-4E49-ACFB-0EB574F86E47}\SBVIPRE_DEFS_EN.msi
975 85 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.bak
1,533 112 MB \WINDOWS\system32\drivers\fidbox.dat
Click to expand...

Once gain thanks
--
Rev Robert M Jones, Wimborne Baptist Church, UK
http://www.wimborne-baptist.org.uk
Free trial of Mailwasher Pro - effective email spam filter - (commission
goes to our partners in Bulgaria)
http://fta.firetrust.com/index.cgi?id=420
 
Robert

An interesting Disk Defragmenter Report.

The problem could be the fragmented pagefile. This is probably scattered
across the drive causing the free space to be equally fragmented. The
pagefile is of course an immovable file. You also only have 20% free
space. You need something approaching 60% free space to achieve a single
contiguous pagefile. It should, however, be possible to achieve a
considerable improvement.

You need to maximise the free disk space before running disk
defragmenter again.

You can generate more space in the system partition by relocation of
folders. They can be relocated back after the exercise has been
completed.

For Temporary Internet Files select Start, Control Panel, Internet
Options, Temporary Internet Files. Settings, Move Folder.

To move the Outlook Express Store Folder select in Outlook Express
Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder, Change.
http://www.tomsterdam.com/insideoe/files/store.htm

My Documents is one of a number of system created Special Folders
including My Pictures and My Music. These can more easily be relocated
using Tweak Ui. Download TweakUI, one of the MS powertoys, from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

In TweakUi select My Computer, Special Folders. You can scroll down to
see the full list of Special Folders to the left of the Change
Location button.

Next I am not clear how you are cleaning out redundant files. The most
effective way is cCleaner.

An alternative to Disk CleanUp is cCleaner (freeware) which does a more
thorough job than Disk CleanUp. Disk CleanUp has to be run for each user
profile, whereas cCleaner only needs to be run once.
http://www.ccleaner.com/ccdownload.asp
http://www.ccleaner.com/

With any cleaner you need to proceed with caution. To be safe you
should create a restore point before using cCleaner. cCleaner also
offers backup before removal.

When using cCleaner think twice before checking Autocomplete Form
History under Internet Explorer. You do get a warning but this one has
irritating consequences. You may need to restore your system's
recollection of passwords after use so keep a record off computer so
that they can easily be re-entered.

Leave the Scan for Issues option alone.

Now the two big savings to temporarily win free disk space. Turn off
monitoring by System Restore. The second is to set the pagefile to no
pagefile and reboot the computer. You should have doubled your free disk
space to 40% perhaps more. Another idea might be to temporarily
increase your C partition to 16 gb which would take your free disk space
to 50% to 60%. If you do this do it before you eliminate the pagefile.
You should then run Disk Defragmenter and as soon as it has finished set
your pagefile to a minimum and maximum of 1.4 gb and restart the
computer. You do not want Windows to manage the pagefile as using that
setting causes the pagefile file to fragment. The next step is to reset
System Restore to monitor your C partition (it should not be monitoring
other partitions). The folders you moved earlier can be moved back to C.

If you do not change the pagefile setting it will either stay as a
single contiguous file if you have been totally successful or with the
number of fragments you have achieved. As a consequence the free space
on C will less fragmented and it will be much easier to defragment files
in future.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robert said:
Answering only the second part of your Q- I have loads of space on
other partitions and am able (if I choose) to slide space along to
add to
the C partition (I use BootIt) - I have actually done that to get the
extra 2.5GG space not that long ago.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all your help so far.

Okay I have checked various things - disk situation on C: is now
12.5GB total size, with 2.8GB free.
I have run all the cleanup utilities I have available, and removed
several hundred MB

I have also run defrag in Safe Mode - made no difference - it still
was unable to defrag the affected files.

I have checked through the file list to check which might be "in use"
and there are several files which ought not to be locked or "in use"
during a defrag on C:

the largest file I couldn't defrag (apart from the page file) was an
outlook.bak file at around 112MB so I have just moved that to another
partition. The next largest would be about 80MB. I can't see why
Windows Defrag can't cope with defragging an 80MB file when it has
nearly 3GB of free space to play with on a 12.5GB partition.

I would like to try and defrag these files if possible as they are
quite heavily defragmented and I do feel they are slowing Windows
down a fair bit.
Here is my defrag report: (from before I did the cleaning up - but I
have tried a defrag since with little change)
Volume WindowsXP (C:)
Volume size = 12.50 GB
Cluster size = 4 KB
Used space = 9.99 GB
Free space = 2.52 GB
Percent free space = 20 %

Volume fragmentation
Total fragmentation = 19 %
File fragmentation = 36 %
Free space fragmentation = 2 %

File fragmentation
Total files = 46,264
Average file size = 318 KB
Total fragmented files = 73
Total excess fragments = 17,778
Average fragments per file = 1.38

Pagefile fragmentation
Pagefile size = 1.40 GB
Total fragments = 1,245

Folder fragmentation
Total folders = 5,455
Fragmented folders = 1
Excess folder fragments = 0

Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
Total MFT size = 54 MB
MFT record count = 52,008
Percent MFT in use = 94 %
Total MFT fragments = 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fragments File Size Files that cannot be defragmented
343 12 MB \WINDOWS\Installer\1b5b5039.msp
186 12 MB
\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\Database\HCdata.edb 187 12 MB
\Documents and Settings\Other users\Local Settings\Temporary
Internet Files\Content.IE5\SP2Z0HQB\baptisms_2007_web[1].wmv 223
15 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert user\Application
Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\*****.default\urlclassifier3.sqlite
176 16 MB \WINDOWS\Installer\122241b.msp 498
16 MB \WINDOWS\Installer\1b5b5022.msp 163 16
MB \Program Files\Sunbelt
Software\VIPRE\Definitions\ThreatDT.vdx 191 17 MB
\Documents and Settings\Robert user\Local Settings\Application
Data\Skype\{***********}\Skype.msi 209 17 MB
\Documents and Settings\Other users\Local Settings\Application
Data\Skype\{*****************}\Skype.msi 270 17 MB
\WINDOWS\repair\RegBack\software 268 17 MB
\Documents and Settings\Robert Admin\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities\{********************}\Microsoft\Outlook
Express\Sent Items.dbx 279 17 MB
\WINDOWS\Internet
Logs\vsmon_on_demand_2008_11_25_00_14_18_full.dmp.zip 245
18 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert user\Application
Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\*****.default\News\news.mozilla.org\mozilla.support.firefox.msf
515 20 MB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application
Data\Symantec\LiveUpdate\Downloads\********jtun_nav2k6enn11m25.m25.full.zip
306 21 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert
user\Local Settings\Temp\SkypeSetup.exe 345 21 MB
\Documents and Settings\Other users\Local
Settings\Temp\SkypeSetup.exe 266 23 MB \System
Volume
Information\_restore{****************}\RP851\snapshot\_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE
490 42 MB \Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\rt.jar
345 42 MB \Documents and Settings\All
Users\Documents\RBBofBible Games.pdf 344 42 MB
\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures\RBBofBible
Games.pdf 202 45 MB \Documents and
Settings\All Users\Documents\zlsSetup_70_483_000_en.exe 812
51 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert user\Local
Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\*********.proxy
profile\urlclassifier3.sqlite 804 53 MB
\Documents and Settings\Robert user\Local Settings\Application
Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\********.default\urlclassifier3.sqlite
762 53 MB \Documents and Settings\Other
users\Local Settings\Application
Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\********.default\urlclassifier3.sqlite
206 59 MB \WINDOWS\Internet Logs\tvDebug.zip
200 62 MB \Program Files\Sunbelt
Software\VIPRE\Definitions\ctid.vtd 1,111 69 MB
\Documents and Settings\Robert Admin\Local
Settings\Temp\{AA84D3FF-256D-470E-B93E-2E24F508273C}\SBVIPRE_DEFS_EN.msi
1,013 69 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert
Admin\Local
Settings\Temp\{081205AF-2BC2-4E49-ACFB-0EB574F86E47}\SBVIPRE_DEFS_EN.msi
975 85 MB \Documents and Settings\Robert
user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.bak
1,533 112 MB \WINDOWS\system32\drivers\fidbox.dat
Click to expand...

Once gain thanks
Click to expand...
 
Alister

That utility can be helpful. The problem in Robert's situation is that
the disk is so full that other files have taken up the space the
pagefile normally occupies. If the pagefile reoccupies the middle of the
disk it can be fixed in that position. This brings long term benefits in
that the pagefile ceases to contribute to fragmentation of free disk
space.



--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Alister

That utility can be helpful. The problem in Robert's situation is that
the disk is so full that other files have taken up the space the
pagefile normally occupies. If the pagefile reoccupies the middle of the
disk it can be fixed in that position. This brings long term benefits in
that the pagefile ceases to contribute to fragmentation of free disk
space.

--

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click to expand...

Yes, sorry Gerry, I was not suggesting that Pagedefrag was the cure of
all ills :-)

However if the OP follows the instructions you gave first regarding
the removal and recreation of the pagefile he can use pagedefrag in
the future to prevent or reduce the likelihood of a recurrence of the
problem.

Cheers

Alister
 
Alister

The need for that would depend on the pagefile settings. If the pagefile
setting is as I suggested it will not fragmenter further.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Gerry said:
Robert

An interesting Disk Defragmenter Report.

The problem could be the fragmented pagefile. This is probably scattered
across the drive causing the free space to be equally fragmented. The
pagefile is of course an immovable file. You also only have 20% free
space. You need something approaching 60% free space to achieve a single
contiguous pagefile. It should, however, be possible to achieve a
considerable improvement.

You need to maximise the free disk space before running disk
defragmenter again.

You can generate more space in the system partition by relocation of
folders. They can be relocated back after the exercise has been
completed.

For Temporary Internet Files select Start, Control Panel, Internet
Options, Temporary Internet Files. Settings, Move Folder.

To move the Outlook Express Store Folder select in Outlook Express
Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder, Change.
http://www.tomsterdam.com/insideoe/files/store.htm

My Documents is one of a number of system created Special Folders
including My Pictures and My Music. These can more easily be relocated
using Tweak Ui. Download TweakUI, one of the MS powertoys, from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

In TweakUi select My Computer, Special Folders. You can scroll down to
see the full list of Special Folders to the left of the Change
Location button.

Next I am not clear how you are cleaning out redundant files. The most
effective way is cCleaner.

An alternative to Disk CleanUp is cCleaner (freeware) which does a more
thorough job than Disk CleanUp. Disk CleanUp has to be run for each user
profile, whereas cCleaner only needs to be run once.
http://www.ccleaner.com/ccdownload.asp
http://www.ccleaner.com/

With any cleaner you need to proceed with caution. To be safe you
should create a restore point before using cCleaner. cCleaner also
offers backup before removal.

When using cCleaner think twice before checking Autocomplete Form
History under Internet Explorer. You do get a warning but this one has
irritating consequences. You may need to restore your system's
recollection of passwords after use so keep a record off computer so
that they can easily be re-entered.

Leave the Scan for Issues option alone.

Now the two big savings to temporarily win free disk space. Turn off
monitoring by System Restore. The second is to set the pagefile to no
pagefile and reboot the computer. You should have doubled your free disk
space to 40% perhaps more. Another idea might be to temporarily
increase your C partition to 16 gb which would take your free disk space
to 50% to 60%. If you do this do it before you eliminate the pagefile.
You should then run Disk Defragmenter and as soon as it has finished set
your pagefile to a minimum and maximum of 1.4 gb and restart the
computer. You do not want Windows to manage the pagefile as using that
setting causes the pagefile file to fragment. The next step is to reset
System Restore to monitor your C partition (it should not be monitoring
other partitions). The folders you moved earlier can be moved back to C.

If you do not change the pagefile setting it will either stay as a
single contiguous file if you have been totally successful or with the
number of fragments you have achieved. As a consequence the free space
on C will less fragmented and it will be much easier to defragment files
in future.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much. that gives me plenty to work on.
I already use CCleaner regularly
I have several key folders "off" C:\ partition and on a Data partition
already so not a lot of manouevre there
I have System Restore trimmed down, and Temp Internet files also very
low already.
I may be able to get rid of the Symantec Live Update as I don't really
need that anymore with no more Symantec programs left

I may just bite the bullet and do a bit more sliding of free space with
BootIt and then try your page file trick. I was trying to avoid it
because it is so time consuming!

Once again - thanks.

--
Rev Robert M Jones, Wimborne Baptist Church, UK
http://www.wimborne-baptist.org.uk
Free trial of Mailwasher Pro - effective email spam filter - (commission
goes to our partners in Bulgaria)
http://fta.firetrust.com/index.cgi?id=420
 
Robert

If you get a good result the pagefile setting can make life a lot easier
once achieved.

Another option, if you have a second drive, is to create a dedicated
pagefile partition at the start of the drive. You then reduce the
pagefile on C to a fixed 50 mb and put the main pagefile in your new
dedicated partition.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Gerry said:
Robert

If you get a good result the pagefile setting can make life a lot easier
once achieved.

Another option, if you have a second drive, is to create a dedicated
pagefile partition at the start of the drive. You then reduce the
pagefile on C to a fixed 50 mb and put the main pagefile in your new
dedicated partition.
Click to expand...

I tried your suggestions today - switching off system restore, and
setting page file to NO.
I then got free space to 24% but there was absolutely NO effect on my
defrag performance - still a load of fragmented files that could not be
fragmented - the only difference was that all the "green" (immoveable)
sectors disappeared - presumably they were the ones that were part of
the page file.

So it looks like I am going to have to do the partition sliding sometime
when I have loads of time available.

Thanks for your help - much appreciated.

--
Rev Robert M Jones, Wimborne Baptist Church, UK
http://www.wimborne-baptist.org.uk
Free trial of Mailwasher Pro - effective email spam filter - (commission
goes to our partners in Bulgaria)
http://fta.firetrust.com/index.cgi?id=420
 
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