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Kov-Ice · 07-07-2003, 03:43 PM

So, is my four-year-old 98se box trying to tell me to do a little better job of housekeeping?

I'm only at 50% and have been for a while. Or is this normal length after changing some hardware and deleting some progs?

RodneyMargis · 07-07-2003, 04:14 PM

when you start defrag go to opions and deselect check drive for errors. if it is already unchecked then this could be a sign that your drive is dieng but i bet if you uncheck teh scan drive for errors i bet it will greatly speed up theis process

galaxian · 07-07-2003, 05:12 PM

Do you have lots of large files on the drive?

If so, it can take a while to defrag them.

Kov-Ice · 07-07-2003, 11:28 PM

Probably a little of both, eh?

I had just run a thorough ScanDisk, so I def. should have deselected the check drive for errors option. I also have lotsa mp3s and large jpgs. Or maybe I should do it more often than once every few years...

Redo40 · 07-08-2003, 01:29 AM

I have seen it take 8 hours or more on some older machines that have been years since a defrag.

plumerjr · 07-08-2003, 01:49 AM

Check to make sure that any programs running in the backround are disabled. I find it easier to boot up in safe mode and scandisk & defrag from there.

Cricket · 07-08-2003, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kov-Ice
I also have lotsa mp3s and large jpgs. Or maybe I should do it more often than once every few years...

Yes, you should defrag a little more often than that.

Plus, the Win98SE defrag is awfully slow to begin with. See if you can find and download the WinME defrag...it's much faster.

If you have a lot of MP3's and other large files, you'll still see long defrag times. A friend of mine has a 10GB partition full of MP3's (30GB HDD with 3 equal sized partitions) and it takes her PIII800 system about 45 minutes to defrag and she defrags once a week.

Cricket

mike breck · 07-08-2003, 10:51 AM

If you've been running the same installation of Windows for four years, then it might be time to think about a nice clean install.

Windows 9x runs much faster on a fresh install.

You might also consider using Norton Utilities "Speed Disk" or Disk Keeper Lite to keep your HD in shape. These programs are much quicker than Windows defrag.

However, as Cricket says, if you do it once a week, that should cut down the time that any of these programs take to defrag.

P.S. Sure you know this, but use Windows defragger in Safe Mode; otherwise it may keep restarting all the time.

galaxian · 07-08-2003, 04:40 PM

If you have a pile of large MP3s and JPGs, defrag is going to be slow.
When it is defragging, and it bumps into a large file, it potenitally has to move that file out of the way and then back again.

A couple of choices:
1. Repartition the drive and move these large files onto their own partition. Here they will seldom need to be moved around.
2. Invest in a program like Norton Speedisk, which allows you to selectively place files. In my case, I have all these large-type static files at the "bottom" of the drive. Here they are always defragged and never get in the way of other files.

kstatefan40 · 07-08-2003, 05:09 PM

What about on XP? It takes me about the same amount of time.

Cricket · 07-09-2003, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kstatefan40
What about on XP? It takes me about the same amount of time.

What exactly are you asking?

Also, you should start your own thread and ask a specific question there.

Cricket

kstatefan40 · 07-09-2003, 03:50 PM

What should i do on Windows XP if it takes all night to defrag, and then some, and there isnt a scan disk for errors option. I didnt feel i needed to start a new thread of a closely related topic. Sorry for the confusion!

Cricket · 07-09-2003, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kstatefan40
I didnt feel i needed to start a new thread of a closely related topic. Sorry for the confusion!

You really should ask this question in the Windows XP/2000/NT forum (this is the Windows ME/9x and DOS forum).

Cricket

Kov-Ice · 07-09-2003, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by galaxian
1. Repartition the drive and move these large files onto their own partition. Here they will seldom need to be moved around.

In order to repartition 98se with all the data on that particular HDD, I'd need a third-party program like PM, is that correct?

The several separate partitions is bascially what I've done on my new computer, so hopefully this problem won't catch me again. Oh, to know then what I know now...

Cricket · 07-09-2003, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kov-Ice
In order to repartition 98se with all the data on that particular HDD, I'd need a third-party program like PM, is that correct?

Yep.

Cricket

plumerjr · 07-10-2003, 01:43 AM

kstatefan40 , scandisk is now "error checking" in XP, check this thread for more info.

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...threadid=67958

TimPoet · 07-10-2003, 02:00 AM

You should definitely try the lightspeed Diskeeper Lite! I got Win98 and I love it.
http://www.executive.com/downloads/menu.asp

07-07-2003, 03:43 PM	#1
Kov-Ice Member (12 bit) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 3,294	Four Hour (and counting) Defrag?!? So, is my four-year-old 98se box trying to tell me to do a little better job of housekeeping? I'm only at 50% and have been for a while. Or is this normal length after changing some hardware and deleting some progs? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Kov Are You Foldin'? Join PCMech's Folding@Home Team and Help Save Lives! Click Here!

07-07-2003, 04:14 PM	#2
RodneyMargis Member (9 bit) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 262	when you start defrag go to opions and deselect check drive for errors. if it is already unchecked then this could be a sign that your drive is dieng but i bet if you uncheck teh scan drive for errors i bet it will greatly speed up theis process Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-07-2003, 05:12 PM	#3
galaxian Member (9 bit) Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 499	Do you have lots of large files on the drive? If so, it can take a while to defrag them. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-07-2003, 11:28 PM	#4
Kov-Ice Member (12 bit) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 3,294	Probably a little of both, eh? I had just run a thorough ScanDisk, so I def. should have deselected the check drive for errors option. I also have lotsa mp3s and large jpgs. Or maybe I should do it more often than once every few years... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-08-2003, 01:29 AM	#5
Redo40 Member (12 bit) Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 2,170	I have seen it take 8 hours or more on some older machines that have been years since a defrag. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Roger "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius

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07-08-2003, 01:49 AM	#6
plumerjr Member (8 bit) Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Providence,RI Posts: 156	Check to make sure that any programs running in the backround are disabled. I find it easier to boot up in safe mode and scandisk & defrag from there. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-08-2003, 10:51 AM	#8
mike breck Member (13 bit) Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,700	If you've been running the same installation of Windows for four years, then it might be time to think about a nice clean install. Windows 9x runs much faster on a fresh install. You might also consider using Norton Utilities "Speed Disk" or Disk Keeper Lite to keep your HD in shape. These programs are much quicker than Windows defrag. However, as Cricket says, if you do it once a week, that should cut down the time that any of these programs take to defrag. P.S. Sure you know this, but use Windows defragger in Safe Mode; otherwise it may keep restarting all the time. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Last edited by mike breck; 07-08-2003 at 10:53 AM.

07-08-2003, 04:40 PM	#9
galaxian Member (9 bit) Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 499	If you have a pile of large MP3s and JPGs, defrag is going to be slow. When it is defragging, and it bumps into a large file, it potenitally has to move that file out of the way and then back again. A couple of choices: 1. Repartition the drive and move these large files onto their own partition. Here they will seldom need to be moved around. 2. Invest in a program like Norton Speedisk, which allows you to selectively place files. In my case, I have all these large-type static files at the "bottom" of the drive. Here they are always defragged and never get in the way of other files. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-08-2003, 05:09 PM	#10
kstatefan40 Security Dude Staff Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Derby, Kansas Posts: 999	What about on XP? It takes me about the same amount of time. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-09-2003, 03:50 PM	#12
kstatefan40 Security Dude Staff Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Derby, Kansas Posts: 999	What should i do on Windows XP if it takes all night to defrag, and then some, and there isnt a scan disk for errors option. I didnt feel i needed to start a new thread of a closely related topic. Sorry for the confusion! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-10-2003, 01:43 AM	#16
plumerjr Member (8 bit) Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Providence,RI Posts: 156	kstatefan40 , scandisk is now "error checking" in XP, check this thread for more info. http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...threadid=67958 Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-10-2003, 02:00 AM	#17
TimPoet digitally confused Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,301	You should definitely try the lightspeed Diskeeper Lite! I got Win98 and I love it. http://www.executive.com/downloads/menu.asp Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ . Pentium D 805 \| ASUS P5L-MX \| CORSAIR ValueSelect 2 GHz \|Primary HDD WD 40GB Back up HDD Seagate 7200.10 250GB SATA \| eVGA 7600gt \| Creative X-Fi Extreme Music audio card \| Hauppauge TV Tuner Card \| Lite On DVD burner/ LightScribe \| COOLER MASTER Case \| Fortron ATX400-PA 400W Power Supply \| ViewSonic Q19wb LCD

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