Win 98 defragmenter will not go past some 3%

[venda]

Before I moved across the continent, I had DSL always on and I was therefore not surprised that the defrag would not proceed to completion.

(The joy of DSL was had for only a short time before the sudden big move, so I never got into how to turn it off. The machine itself was new, too, so I did not worry too much. With my previous, modestly endowed, PC I did do things like defragging quite religiously... But not after I was able to have a geek person install my old files and programs on that new machine, which did not need so much TLC right away.)

Now I am in a very different environment where DSL is not available. Weeks have gone by. The PC exhibits some quirks that make me want to do a defrag (after the usual disk cleanup).

But (Windows 98) defrag won't go past the small percentage, keeps skipping back to zero. Presumably, some program must be making it to do that, and it is not the always-on connection, which is not there now (dial-up connection is off).

Is anyone able to give me some simple explicit instructions on how to deal with this? How do I determine what causes the problem, and do I then delete the culprit program from the Startup group - or what?
:mad:

[tricktx]

the only thing i can suggest is to temporarily close down all applications on the system. Doing it permiantly mey meens certain programs dont work.

To do this press CTRL ALT DEL once and "end task" everything except Explorer and systray, once this is done as there might be 20 or so apps running then run defrag and it should run to 100% also make sure you run scandisk before defrag just to be sure

[rangeral]

Typically a screensaver will do this, would be your first try so disable it in display properties, if not type msconfig in run box off start button go to startup tab and uncheck programs installed on your system and restart then try it again see how it works this time around.

[venda]

Thank you, Richard tricktx, I'll get into it. But before I do, I need to understand your reference to Explorer. Windows Explorer, I presume? I think you mean it - but do confirm.
Thanx (and good night to you!)
I mean to try this first (when I get to that PC at home), as it seems easier than the screensaver in display properties. Or would you say, Mr. Moderator rangeral, that I should try and grab the msconfig bull by the horns first?
I appreciate both of your gentlemen's quick replies.
:t _____________________________________:t

[rangeral]

Yes that would be explorer.exe or win explorer and systray, definitely leave those two alone, you can try the screensaver firstly if not then the msconfig afterwards you may notice an improvement overall in how your system performs by disabling these apps running on startup.

btw no need to be formal around here.:D

[tricktx]

hey ive ben called a gentleman for the first ever time im only a youngen ya know

[RayH]

Get the free version of Power Defrager: http://www.powerdefrag.com/

I have something in my hard drive, that keeps resetting my WinME Defragger in Windows 98 SE. Anyway, I'm not bothered by what it is, just that it does it. Power Defrager goes right over it.

[wizard101uk]

If memory services and depending how you have defrag set up.
The first 10% is a disk check, or scandisk.

[Baddog]

Hello There,
On some tough computers, I will defrag the computer in "Safe Mode" First. If that does not work some times I will go into the Windows files and find the "Applog" folder and create a and "Applog 2" Folder right beside it and Window 98 will go back to defraging, ........read that in one of the MS Help files. :)

Baddog

[aferrari]

the best way to defrag is the following one:
1.Run Windows in "safe mode",
2.erase "swap file" "win386.swp" -if its possible-
(it is for avoiding that the same one fragments, if cannot be erased, does not matter)
3. Run scandisk
4. Run defrag
5. Reboot windows
6. drink a beer (:t )

this steps works fine!!

[JuNacy]

When defragging, I also run windows in safe mode. I have never had any issues doing it that way...

[draboo]

had the same problem with my win 98se machine. found out that the hard drive was too full,you need a minimum of space as large as biggest file on your drive. i deleted a whole mess of junk,about a gig,used that power defrag program mentioned earlier and it worked great!!

i ve read that you should have at least 15% of your drive free for the defrag to work properly.

hope this will help you:) :)

brad/draboo

[venda]

Thank you all for the tips.

The powerdefrag program has been working well. It routinely disables the screensaver, but I had no screensaver installed, anyway. I was glad I did not have to do any of that safe mode stuff.

The powerdefrag is the answer.

My OS is Win 98se. Apparently not the best of OSs!

:t :t