How To Use Sysinternals Contig.exe

[ColTom2]

Hi;

I would like to defrag the following file
"C:\Windows\System32\CatRoot2\tmp.edb" with Sysinternals Contig v1.55.

I extracted the file Contig.exe from the Sysinternals Suite to my Desktop,
but when I click on it the Command Prompt screen briefly appears and then is
gone.

How can I use this application to defrag the file listed above? Please
give me specific instructions.

Thanks,

ColTom2

[Pegasus [MVP]]

"ColTom2" <noemail...@nomail.com> wrote in message
news:O2P8X1mp...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

You need to perform the first debugging step yourself, by making all
messages visible:
1. Click Start
2. Type the three letters cmd
3. Click OK
4. Type the command you wish to execute, e.g.
desktop\contig.exe
5. Read the message(s) you see.

[meerkat]

"ColTom2" <noemail...@nomail.com> wrote in message
news:O2P8X1mp...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

Are you ready ?. Then we`ll begin.
Start / Run , and type in CMD
Now you are in the Command window.
Open SI Contig, by highlighting, and drag it into the
command window.
Then add the full path to you file...

C:\Windows\System32\CatRoot2\tmp.edb

Leave a space between the two items.
bw..

[John Wunderlich]

"Pegasus [MVP]" <ne...@microsoft.com> wrote in
news:Oocyo#mpJHA...@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:

Step 1.5: Click "Run".

-- John

[ColTom2]

I cannot get your instructions to work from the CMD Prompt.

ColTom2

"Pegasus [MVP]" <ne...@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:Oocyo%23mpJH...@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

[Pegasus [MVP]]

"John Wunderlich" <jwund...@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9BD08412E6B3...@138.126.254.210...

Oops . . . Thank you.

[ColTom2]

Thanks, as your instructions worked! But the file still cannot be defragged
for some reason.

ColTom2

"meerkat" <wai...@meerkatmanor.com> wrote in message
news:Q4yvl.108847$q45....@newsfe07.ams2...

[Bob I]

Perhaps start in Safe Mode and just delete it.

[ColTom2]

It seems that you cannot do anything with this file
"C:\Windows\System32\CatRoot2\tmp.edb". You cannot delete, copy, transfer,
defrag, or anything else. It's like a "stealth" file and the only Windows
file that I have ever seen like this.

Very unique file to say the least.....

ColTom2

"Bob I" <bir...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:eHMcYqnp...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

[ColTom2]

I should have explained further what I meant by "Stealth" mode....the file
does not appear in Safemode.

ColTom2

"ColTom2" <noemail...@nomail.com> wrote in message

news:%23yCj5$opJHA...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

[ju.c]

You'll like this:

"Power Defragmenter is a GUI (Graphic User Interface) application
for program Contig by Sysinternals. Contig is a very powerful
defragmentation application designed for Windows NT/2000/XP
operating systems. Please take a few minutes and check Sysinternals
webpage for other cool programs. Contig created by Mark Russinovich
and Bryce Cogswell."

Power Defragmenter 410 KB (Freeware)
http://cid-94a12102e5094675.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/eXcessive%20Software/PowerDefragmenter.zip

ju.c

"ColTom2" <noemail...@nomail.com> wrote in message news:O2P8X1mp...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

[SPAMCOP User]

"ColTom2" <noemail...@nomail.com> wrote in message
news:O2P8X1mp...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

If you downloaded it from the authors website you would see the instructions
of use. Here's the website:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897428.aspx

--
SPAMCOP User

[Ian D]

"ColTom2" <noemail...@nomail.com> wrote in message

news:O1RPzHpp...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>I should have explained further what I meant by "Stealth" mode....the file
> does not appear in Safemode.
>
> ColTom2
>
>

The reason you can't see it in SafeMode is because the file is
not there. It's deleted when XP shuts down. It's a temporary
workspace for processing information exchange transactions.
If you check Catroot2 immediately after a normal boot up, tmp.edb
probably won't be there. It will be created when required.

[ColTom2]

Hi Ian:

I have always found it in the listed file string after reboot. The file is
always the same size 1,032kb. Also apparently when it is rebuilt the file is
fragmented for whatever reason, as Windows Defrag cannot currently Defrag
this file on my laptop.

I have a Sony desktop running XP Pro SP3 with this file and have no
problems with Windows Defrag running through to completion, but my Toshiba
laptop XP Home SP3 will not run through the Defrag to completion.

I have fixed this problem once or twice before, but I never really found
exactly what allowed me to run Windows Defrag to completion sometimes while
other times not. If I ever update Java to a new edition I always normally
have this Defrag problem with either of the computers.

Maybe you have an answer?

ColTom2

P.S. I appreciate your info about this file that you sent.

"Ian D" <tau...@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:%23fu39ap...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

[HeyBub]

ColTom2 wrote:
> I cannot get your instructions to work from the CMD Prompt.
>
> ColTom2
>

It is useless to tell what the computer does NOT do. Always provide what the
computer DOES do.

[ColTom2]

Now this is a "Hummer"! I am impressed....

Thanks!

ColTom2

"ju.c" <bibidybu...@mailinator.com> wrote in message
news:u2BPEPpp...@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

[Twayne]

I suspect a normal defrag operation cannot touch it because it's in use.
I don't know how to tell when it's in use and when it's not, but I'd
suggest that maybe it lets defrage run OK on Pro but not on Home would
be due to some inconsistancy between the two, because a file simply
being "in use" shouldn't prevent defrag from completing, AFAIK.

It's also interesting to me that it's created fragmented. Since it's
only a 1 Meg file, it seems like there shouldn't be anything to cause it
to be fragmented upon creation unless the disk is full or thinks it's
full. It's just a database so there about has to be something else
going on there. Got access to any other Pro/Home machines to see if the
pattern is repeatable?

No help I know, but perhaps some musings that might trigger something.

Cheers,

Twayne

[Ian D]

"ColTom2" <noemail...@nomail.com> wrote in message

news:upM7uvp...@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Hi Ian:
>
> I have always found it in the listed file string after reboot. The file
> is
> always the same size 1,032kb. Also apparently when it is rebuilt the file
> is
> fragmented for whatever reason, as Windows Defrag cannot currently Defrag
> this file on my laptop.
>
> I have a Sony desktop running XP Pro SP3 with this file and have no
> problems with Windows Defrag running through to completion, but my Toshiba
> laptop XP Home SP3 will not run through the Defrag to completion.
>
> I have fixed this problem once or twice before, but I never really found
> exactly what allowed me to run Windows Defrag to completion sometimes
> while
> other times not. If I ever update Java to a new edition I always normally
> have this Defrag problem with either of the computers.
>
> Maybe you have an answer?
>
> ColTom2
>
> P.S. I appreciate your info about this file that you sent.
>
>

The problem with tmp.edb is that it always seems to be in use,
so you can't touch it to move, delete, or defrag it. Other than
that, it just has normal file attributes. Also, I've found its
behaviour to be not always consistent. On my main XP Pro,
the file disappeared after reboot, and has not returned as of
now. The same has happened with my laptop with XP Pro.

I have another desktop with XP Pro, and when XP was started,
tmp.edb was there, displaying the time of the startup. I rebooted,
and now it's gone, weird.

Your situation is where a multi-boot comes in handy. If you
have problematic files, boot into the other OS and you have
full access to the first OS's partition for deleting, defragmenting,
etc.

[Bob I]

Then it doesn't "need defragging".

[R. McCarty]

That database file is created as part of the bootup sequence. Usually it
averages around ~1.0 Megabyte. Windows will have open file handle(s)
to the file so it's not something you can delete or possibly modify with a
defrag utility. I can't say for sure, but based on it's location I'd guess
it is
a component of Windows Automatic updates.

"Bob I" <bir...@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:%23xmv%23BwpJ...@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

[ColTom2]

I think you are right about it being a component of WU.... if I recall
reading it correctly somewhere.

ColTom2

"R. McCarty" <PcEngWor...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:uH2nDMwp...@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

[Ian D]

"ColTom2" <noemail...@nomail.com> wrote in message

news:uuSUZM0p...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>I think you are right about it being a component of WU.... if I recall
> reading it correctly somewhere.
>
> ColTom2
>

To get rid of tmp.edb, disable the Automatic Updates service, and
make sure the Distributed Transaction Coordinator service is set
to manual, then reboot. After reboot tmp.edb will either be gone,
or accessible. The other edb.* files are also now accessible and can
be deleted. The tmp.edb is used for Windows update transactions.

[ColTom2]

Hi Ian:

You have provided more info about this file than anyone. I am proud of
you!

I assume that if you change the settings back to Automatic Updates and
Distributed Transactions Coordinator that Windows will build the file back
to the same status that it is currently.

I still am amazed that you found this info, as I have looked high and low
off an on for a good period of time.

Thanks so much and a BIG salute to you!

ColTom2

"Ian D" <tau...@nowhere.com> wrote in message

news:%23OzqkD1...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

[3c273]

"ColTom2" <noemail...@nomail.com> wrote in message

news:%23JDCLB2...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> Hi Ian:
>
> You have provided more info about this file than anyone. I am proud of
> you!
>
> I assume that if you change the settings back to Automatic Updates and
> Distributed Transactions Coordinator that Windows will build the file back
> to the same status that it is currently.
>
> I still am amazed that you found this info, as I have looked high and
low
> off an on for a good period of time.
>
> Thanks so much and a BIG salute to you!
>
> ColTom2

And now you've wasted 2 days of your life trying to defrag a 1MB file that
gets deleted on shutdown.
(Sorry, couldn't resist.)
Louis

[ColTom2]

I'll close by saying that Ian answered the question and it certainly was
not you.

Bet you learned a little something in the process....(I could say sour
grapes, couldn't resist.)

ColTom2

"3c273" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:ucZ%23e79pJ...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...