defrag

[Kaitlyn]

Does my puter need to be on to run defrag? Have set a schedule but when I check last setting it shows months ago rather than days ago. If puter has to be running can I set the schedule to run in the background while I'm doing other things? Same question regarding scan disk, etc.

[justbarron]

Yes, the computer must be on to run defrag and scandisk. You are better off not to be doing anything on the computer while running either utility. Scandisk will restart every time there is a "write" to the hard disk (if I remember correctly. While running defrag, all your data is being repositioned on the hard drive so I would not reccomend running either utility in the background.

justbarron

[Carl Price]

Originally posted by Kaitlyn
Does my puter need to be on to run defrag? Have set a schedule but when I check last setting it shows months ago rather than days ago. If puter has to be running can I set the schedule to run in the background while I'm doing other things? Same question regarding scan disk, etc.

Yes your computer needs to be on if you have scheduled tasks for it to perform. With defrag you <B>CAN</B> do other things while it is running, but you may not want to. Everytime your harddrive is accessed it will start over again. When I want to defrag and want to do other things I usually load up 3-4 games that doesn't require disk access and then run them from the taskbar while defrag is running. Mostly I just set up the computer and go to bed. It hurts nothing for it to be running in the morning. I don't know about scandisk but I would assume (ass-u-me)the same thing would apply. Scandisk is rather speedy tho if you are not using the thorough option. I definitely would not try to do anything else while it is running.

[Confused]

Others have reported in this form, GLC I believe, that it is best to run in safe mode. You don't want any disk activity when defrag is running.
Chas

[justaoldman]

Originally posted by Kaitlyn
Does my puter need to be on to run defrag? Have set a schedule but when I check last setting it shows months ago rather than days ago. If puter has to be running can I set the schedule to run in the background while I'm doing other things? Same question regarding scan disk, etc.




try this http://www.powerdefrag.com/

[Kaitlyn]

Thanks to everyone who sent me notes on defrag. It was a great help.

[Kaitlyn]

Someone mentioned putting my puter into safe mode, and I've seen this in other replies to other problems. Don't know what it is nor how to do it. Appreciate your help.

[pointd]

Safe Mode is the minimum Windows needs to load to work. When in Safe Mode the majority of your hardware will not work as the drivers are not loaded but you do have a working system.
It is mainly used for troubleshooting but is useful when defragging as it stops the defrag process being interrupted by tasks running in the background.
To get there turn your computer on and when it beeps after the POST press F8 and choose Safe Mode from the menu that appears.

[Kaitlyn]

Dear pointd: Thanks for your assistance. Will try that. I do get interruptions when defragging and it makes the process much longer.

[archie]

If you want to speed up the defrag in normal mode, go to start>run type 'defrag' [or start>programs>accessories>system tools>disk defragmenter] [rather than using the right click on the drive>Properties>tools], go to settings and take the checkmark off the first two items at the top ...
* Rearrange program files so my programs start faster.
* Check the drive for errors.
or at the least, the bottom one.

And yes, avoid using the computer while defrag is going on ... and depending on the item, disable it in the tray near the clock on bottom right of the desktop.

[kd5]

The link that justaoldman provided is a worthy one. Power Defrag cut my defrag time from 35 minutes to 3 minutes! The first time may take a little longer, but if you defrag often you'll definitely notice the difference. As it states at the site, there are two flavors, PD Lite & PD Pro which gives you a Power Scandisk feature and a Registry tool as well. I use the lite version which works just fine:)

As the others stated, you really don't want to do anything else while defragging the HD, but with Power Defrag you won't have to wait as long..... -kd5-

[bosco]

Archie,
The check the drive for errors option. Isn't that what scandisk does anyway?

[Kaitlyn]

Archie and kd - thanks for the additional response. Will definately try the power defrag. Will also check out what Archie mentioned. Thanks :-)

[archie]

The check the drive for errors option. Isn't that what scandisk does anyway?
The technique to turn off these checkmarks comes from reading <a href="http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?threadid=18505&highlight=defrag"> this thread with comments by Hpro</a>. Since then, I have tried on a few PCs and it sure makes a difference. Perhaps that "Rearrange program files so my programs start faster" is not as significant as it may appear at first glance. As for the "Check the drive for errors", I believe that it is redundant if scandisk was just used.
As for using third party utilities for doing these kinds of jobs, I don't like to have any foreign software handle such tasks ... but that's not based on actual bad experiences, just a personal preference. BTW, on the topic of defrag, I run that and scandisk about once per month.

[archie]

Oh, and more thing ... in the thread above, although I have adopted the practice of turning off the checkmarks for defrag, I did not delete the files from C:\WINDOWS\APPLOG nor adopted all of the other suggestions.

[Kaitlyn]

Archie, thanks for your continued suggestions. I'm such a newbie that I have to print out and try step by step. So afraid of screwing something up! Do I check "just this time" or "every time I defrag"? Do I need to check them back on when done or does it do it automatically? Sorry to sound so dumb :-)

[archie]

Hi Kaitlyn, if you choose "just this time", the two will stay checked the next time [at their default] and if you press "every time I defrag", they will stay unchecked and become the new setting next time around.

[Kaitlyn]

Thank you Archie. I'm going to be taking some classes on internet and e-mail early next year and, with your help, I might have something to contribute to the class! Your responses have been very helpful.