Win98: Defrag - Can I safely change file attributes from being hidden before defrag?

[David_Jones]

Hi,

I am trying to defrag a Win98FE machine as fully as possible.

I am using the standard, Win98 defrag utility.

Specifically, my objective is to re-size one of the (large) partitions down, and up-size another (small) partition to fill the space.

In order to achieve this, I need to defrag the large partition to create unused space / clusters at the end of the partition, which can then be reduced using Partition Resizer.

However, I have a few, individual clusters right at the end of the partition that are marked in defrag as 'cannot be moved'.

As I understand it, this means that the files have either the hidden (H) or System (S) (or both) attributes set.

I intend to steer clear of the system files for now, but would I be safe in making all the hidden files 'visible' by changing their attributes using ATTRIB?

I cannot see how it can do any harm, but I thought someone else might know better (perhaps from bitter experience!).

To avoid any confusion, I would not change the System attribute, so if those individual clusters are system files, I will not gain anything from the exercise, but I am guessing (hoping) that they will not be so.

Thanks for your input,

David.