Stupid computer question

ziegl027 · 03-09-2010, 09:30 AM

My question is regarding general computer maintenance, not e-books, so I thought I'd ask here. I'm reletively ignorant, so try to keep a straight face and use small words if you decided to reply

I finally tried to "defragment" my little laptop, which I've never done before and I've had the thing 2-3 years. First I had to clean off a bunch of junk files because it was apparently too full to do the operation. Then I did the "analyze", was advised that I should "defragment this volume", and hit "defragment". It churned around and came up with it's little graphic with the cute little colored lines and said it was done, but couldn't defragment some files. I hit "analyze" again, and it said that I "should defragment this volume". So I did. I've gone through this cycle several times, and it rearranges the little lines and the white spaces do get a titch bigger each time, and there are more blue bars (contiguous files) each time. But it ALWAYS says I need to defragment the damn thing when I analyze it.

Do I just need to keep at it to catch up somehow from not doing it for years? Is there anything I need to do with the report that it generates (which is pretty much gibberish to me).

Catire · 03-09-2010, 10:12 AM

Try this Link

I´ve never seen windows defragmenting only half the drive, are you using your computer while it defragments? that might cause it to stop in the middle of the process.

poohbear_nc · 03-09-2010, 10:23 AM

Boot your laptop into safe mode (how to do this depends on your version of windows - google is your friend) - which turns off all but essential processes - and then defrag. If you have networking, or any other process automatically running in the background, it will interrupt and restart your defrag until it gives up without finishing.

GeoffC · 03-09-2010, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Boot your laptop into safe mode (how to do this depends on your version of windows - google is your friend) - which turns off all but essential processes - and then defrag. If you have networking, or any other process automatically running in the background, it will interrupt and restart your defrag until it gives up without finishing.

remember the op said please use small words ....

poohbear_nc · 03-09-2010, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

remember the op said please use small words ....

Boot your laptop into safe mode (how to do this depends on your version of windows - google is your friend) - which turns off all but essential processes - and then defrag. If you have networking, or any other process automatically running in the background, it will interrupt and restart your defrag until it gives up without finishing.

Sorry - I couldn't resist.

Seriously - will rewrite if necessary - give a shout!

Nakor · 03-09-2010, 12:43 PM

Just as a note:

1. Windows never totally defragments everything. Some files cannot be, and some files aren't considered worth the effort (that is, after a while the defrag will stop when it becomes more effort to defrag further than it's worth).
2. At least 15% of your drive space must be empty - as you found out. But even if you have that much, it won't be a perfect defrag. The more free space you have, the better it works.
3. Defragment isn't super important any more due to changes in hard drive tech. As long as you run it once a month (or even every other) it's not a big deal if it does an imperfect job.
4. The more often you defrag, the easier each defrag stays. If you haven't defragged in months (or years) then it will be many times harder to defrag it.

If you really want to get a better defrag job done, it might be worth checking some third party software -- there is better stuff out there than the built-in windows one, though I fear I don't remember exactly which ones are worth downloading; I'll have to leave that advice to others. Don't pay for a defragmenter though, it's not worth it.

GeoffC · 03-09-2010, 12:57 PM

there are some defrag software programs available for free - even the paid ones allow for a few days 'trial' ...

that said, perhaps best thing to do would be to defrag once daily (say), with the in-built windows, and see if it 'gets any easier'.

(btw, what windows are you using?)

ziegl027 · 03-09-2010, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

that said, perhaps best thing to do would be to defrag once daily (say), with the in-built windows, and see if it 'gets any easier'.

(btw, what windows are you using?)

Tablet XP.

poohbear_nc · 03-09-2010, 02:49 PM

Here's the link to Microsoft instructions for XP safe mode:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222

Give it another try - if the XP defrag utility isn't working for you - try Catire's link.

LCF · 03-09-2010, 03:15 PM

Hi ziegl028!
You might try one of the following programs:
Simple to use.
Sounds good too. Probably better performance. Possible complicated usage.
Innovative techology. Good reviews. Not sure if the trial license gives full functionality.

P.S.: Couldn't get all of the words small, but at least there are no complicated sentences!

03-09-2010, 09:30 AM	#1
ziegl027 Addict Posts: 264 Karma: 764 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minnesota Device: Sony Touch, Kindle DXG	Stupid computer question My question is regarding general computer maintenance, not e-books, so I thought I'd ask here. I'm reletively ignorant, so try to keep a straight face and use small words if you decided to reply I finally tried to "defragment" my little laptop, which I've never done before and I've had the thing 2-3 years. First I had to clean off a bunch of junk files because it was apparently too full to do the operation. Then I did the "analyze", was advised that I should "defragment this volume", and hit "defragment". It churned around and came up with it's little graphic with the cute little colored lines and said it was done, but couldn't defragment some files. I hit "analyze" again, and it said that I "should defragment this volume". So I did. I've gone through this cycle several times, and it rearranges the little lines and the white spaces do get a titch bigger each time, and there are more blue bars (contiguous files) each time. But it ALWAYS says I need to defragment the damn thing when I analyze it. Do I just need to keep at it to catch up somehow from not doing it for years? Is there anything I need to do with the report that it generates (which is pretty much gibberish to me).

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03-09-2010, 10:12 AM	#2
Catire Lord of the Universe Posts: 670 Karma: 737849 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maturin , Venezuela Device: Sony Reader PRS-505 / PSP	Try this Link I´ve never seen windows defragmenting only half the drive, are you using your computer while it defragments? that might cause it to stop in the middle of the process.

03-09-2010, 10:23 AM	#3
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 62,697 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Boot your laptop into safe mode (how to do this depends on your version of windows - google is your friend) - which turns off all but essential processes - and then defrag. If you have networking, or any other process automatically running in the background, it will interrupt and restart your defrag until it gives up without finishing.

03-09-2010, 12:43 PM	#6
Nakor Addict Posts: 214 Karma: 511602 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: BC, Canada Device: Aluratek Libre	Just as a note: 1. Windows never totally defragments everything. Some files cannot be, and some files aren't considered worth the effort (that is, after a while the defrag will stop when it becomes more effort to defrag further than it's worth). 2. At least 15% of your drive space must be empty - as you found out. But even if you have that much, it won't be a perfect defrag. The more free space you have, the better it works. 3. Defragment isn't super important any more due to changes in hard drive tech. As long as you run it once a month (or even every other) it's not a big deal if it does an imperfect job. 4. The more often you defrag, the easier each defrag stays. If you haven't defragged in months (or years) then it will be many times harder to defrag it. If you really want to get a better defrag job done, it might be worth checking some third party software -- there is better stuff out there than the built-in windows one, though I fear I don't remember exactly which ones are worth downloading; I'll have to leave that advice to others. Don't pay for a defragmenter though, it's not worth it.

03-09-2010, 12:57 PM	#7
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	there are some defrag software programs available for free - even the paid ones allow for a few days 'trial' ... that said, perhaps best thing to do would be to defrag once daily (say), with the in-built windows, and see if it 'gets any easier'. (btw, what windows are you using?)

03-09-2010, 02:49 PM	#9
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 62,697 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Here's the link to Microsoft instructions for XP safe mode: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222 Give it another try - if the XP defrag utility isn't working for you - try Catire's link.

03-09-2010, 03:15 PM	#10
LCF Wizard Posts: 1,472 Karma: 9795311 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germany Device: Hanlin V3 (LBook), GS3	Hi ziegl028! You might try one of the following programs: Simple to use. Sounds good too. Probably better performance. Possible complicated usage. Innovative techology. Good reviews. Not sure if the trial license gives full functionality. P.S.: Couldn't get all of the words small, but at least there are no complicated sentences!

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