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Defrag ??????

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Chip and Roxanne

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Dec 10, 2008, 9:37:07 AM12/10/08
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When I try to defrag my system the screen comes up but it just stops working
and does nothing. This problem just started as it has worked fine up until
two weeks ago. I am running Windows ME on a pentium3 Gateway computer have
virus protection and about 50 gb of free space. Does anyone have any
suggestions.
Thank You
--
Later Gator Herb (Chip) & Roxanne


Mart

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Dec 10, 2008, 12:00:14 PM12/10/08
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Several questions first : -

> the screen comes up but it just stops working and does nothing.

You mean the little animated icon in the defrag box starts moving and then
stops without any further animation?
What happens if you "Show details"?
How long did you wait - it can take several minutes before the progress bar
starts to move? Does it just remain at 0%?

However, perhaps more importantly, have you made any changes to your system
since defrag last worked?

Have you tried running System Restore and select the last time you know that
defrag worked OK (two weeks ago)?

Finally, have you tried running scandisk to see if that tells you anything?

Mart

"Chip and Roxanne" <bed...@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
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Mike M

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Dec 10, 2008, 2:37:23 PM12/10/08
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In addition to Mart's questions, you mention there being 50GB of free
space but also of possible relevance is the total size of the
partition(s).

Incidentally do you buy any chance have APC PowerChute Plus installed as
this application is know to cause Defrag to hang.
--
Mike Maltby
mike....@gmail.com

Chip and Roxanne

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Dec 10, 2008, 4:36:50 PM12/10/08
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Yes it just stops working and the percent stays at 0.No I have not made any
changes in the system and I tried system restore and it did no good still
had the same problem. I have waited up to 30 minutes and nothing happens and
I just tried Scan Disk and it showed me nothing. Also I do not have the
program that Mike mentioned installed. I am really at a lost on this one any
other suggestions. Thanks Again

Mart

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Dec 10, 2008, 7:47:10 PM12/10/08
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No ideas of a solution yet, just looking for clues - and another suggestion
:- to try defrag in Safe Mode.

Just another question, when in "Show details" mode, does it advise you that
it is "checking drive for errors..." (bottom left, just above the progress
bar) - can you tell if there is any 'abnormal' disk activity (i.e more or
less when using the pause/resume button)

Mart

BTW - Interesting call Mike, re APC PowerChute Plus. Never heard of that one
before (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/259030) I've always said that after
all these years, you can learn something new on these pages every day! <g>
(Back in the morning to see how Chip gets on)

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Mart

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Dec 10, 2008, 7:55:37 PM12/10/08
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PS - Might also be worth looking at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/218160

Mart

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Mike M

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Dec 10, 2008, 8:01:22 PM12/10/08
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Mart <mart(NoSpam)@nospam.nospam> wrote:

> No ideas of a solution yet, just looking for clues - and another
> suggestion :- to try defrag in Safe Mode.
>
> Just another question, when in "Show details" mode, does it advise
> you that it is "checking drive for errors..." (bottom left, just
> above the progress bar) - can you tell if there is any 'abnormal'
> disk activity (i.e more or less when using the pause/resume button)
>
> Mart
>
> BTW - Interesting call Mike, re APC PowerChute Plus. Never heard of
> that one before (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/259030) I've always
> said that after all these years, you can learn something new on these
> pages every day! <g> (Back in the morning to see how Chip gets on)

LOL

Chip, I'd still like to know the total size of the partition giving
problems.
--
Mike Maltby
mike....@gmail.com


Chip and Roxanne

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Dec 10, 2008, 10:51:49 PM12/10/08
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Just wanted to thank you guys for your time and help. Went to the site Mart
suggested and got this thing working again. Thanks again Herb

Mart

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Dec 11, 2008, 4:45:54 AM12/11/08
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Ah! - "This behaviour may also occur if a program that is running in the
background is accessing your hard drive."

I guess that you went straight to - and undertook the KB article
suggestions - without trying to run defrag in Safe Mode. I guess also that
at some point in time in the dim and distant past, you will have checked
(ticked) the box to disable the nag (warning) message to the effect that
'defrag has started 10 times, do you want it to warn you again?' Hence, no
further warnings!

Successfully running defrag in Safe Mode (which would have very likely
worked OK) is always a good indicator of confirming this 'background
activity' issue. Academic really, but It's a pity you didn't manage to
identify the culprit. I know Mike keeps a list of (some of) the known
offenders.

However, more importantly, good to hear that you've fixed the problem and
defrag is now working again in Normal Mode. Well done!

Mart

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