ME Safe Mode and Defrag Can't do it

[oisin]

Hi
My machine is suffering from not being able to defrag. It gets stuck somewhere on the 1%. I have tried starting the PC in safe mode to solve the problem but my USB keyboard doesn't work when the safe menu comes up, this means I can't acutally make the choice to load in safe mode, so it just automatically loads normally after 30secs. I had borrowed an old standard keyboard when I had a major problem before, and got around this more minor one but I don't have access to it anymore. However Machine really needs a defrag. So help with either would be appreciated. I cannot turn off all the progs running in the background either as inevitably the machine freezes on a program after I get about 6 or 7 turned off. I have tried about 10 times before I gave up. I am running windows ME (I know, I just can't afford an upgrade) have an AMD 1.3 20GB hardisk with 2.9G free, Nvidia video card, what else can I say? Oh yeah the keyboard is packardbell multimedia. (god did I screw up buying this piece of junk or what?)

[glc]

Look in your bios for "Legacy USB" and make sure it's enabled.

I dunno about ME, but in 98, if you deleted everything in c:\windows\applog\, a defrag would go a LOT faster.

I think you may be able to force safe mode somewhere in msconfig - advanced. If not, you can uncheck load startup items and it will be pretty close to safe mode.

Have you run a thorough scandisk - and scanned for viruses and spyware?

2.9 gigs free on a 20 gig drive is not enough breathing space, time to take out the trash or get a bigger drive.

[oisin]

Oh well looks like a bigger drive is on the shopping list. Got rid of spyware, antivirus up to date. Have fire wall. will try your suggestions and get back to you. Many thanks