De-Frag problems

[Paul Narramore]

The last time a friend defragged my system, it too 1 1/2hrs as it kept starting, then reverted to zero. Anyway it was finally done, and I promised to defrag more regularly in future.

This morning I tried the following -
1. Disk Cleanup
2. XoftSpy
3. Ad-Aware - this found 39 unwanted files but I couldn't find a way of quarantining them.

When I got to defragging, it went from zero to 1% then back to zero then to 1%.....

I disabled the Norton Internet Security, I disabled the Anti-Virus Auto Protect, I disconnected the Internet, I disconnected the emails, I even went away and made a cuppa tea but no joy. 0% - 1% - 0% - 1%...
What am I doing wrong???

 

[unshift]

you are not doing anything wrong - the defrag process just keeps getting interrupted.

you did well to stop the anti-virus and disconnect from the web but you may have some background tasks running - do the following


Click Start, Run, type msconfig in the Open box and click OK to open the System Configuration Utility.
On the General tab, click Selective Startup and remove the ticks beside Process System.ini File, Process Win.ini File and Load Startup Group Items.

reboot your system, run defrag and once finished, (you may need to make many cups of tea...)

Click Start –> Run, type msconfig in the Open box and click OK to open the System Configuration Utility, on the general tab change back to normal startup and reboot.


ps: ensure you have a good backup in case anything goes wrong

 

[Droopy Dick]

3. Ad-Aware - this found 39 unwanted files but I couldn't find a way of quarantining them.

If you highlight the top of the list, then move the cursor the bottom, and shift-click the mouse, you'll highlight the whole list.

The click the proceed or next button and you'll find the whole lot have been deaded!

(If you have the patience, you can put a cross in each little box at the front of every item).

 

[cookie]

paul, i'm guessing that you're running win98 as xp doesn't get fazed by de frag. if so, just start your pc in safe mode, then run defrag utility.

i read a very interesting article recently suggesting de fragging does more harm than good.
i don't know, but de fragging has never done anything significant for any of my pcs.

if you're going to do it, diskeeper is much faster & more configurable than windows own de fragger, which is a cut down version of diskeeper anyway.

 

[Paul Narramore]

Thanks for all that helpful advice. After checking the Ad-Aware 'help' chapter, I discovered that they expect you to examine every unwanted file rather than obliterate the lot in one go. Yes, It's Windows 98, and my mates recon we should junk the PC and get a modern one as it's had it's day (they say). Yes or no?

 

[cookie]

don't know about the pc, 'cos i don't know what it is, but junk W98 is always my advice.

 

[Paul Narramore]

Unshift

You're a genius. It took an hour and I'll endeavour to defrag once a week or so. Thanks.

 

[judge]

Why the requirement to de-frag at all? What symptoms are you trying to eliminate or reduce the impact of?

I cannot tell you the last time I de-fragged anything on mine or anyone else's machines.

Sounds to me like you are still having problems with unwanted intrusions on your machine. If you haven't ensured you've locked up properly putting in a new door and leaving it similarly exposed will render that useless soon too.

 

[Paul Narramore]

Andy
Basically slowness and crashing. The extra software seems to have improved the speed a little although it's hard to tell. I've received so much advice from so many quarters, I try anything. And the crashing hasn't gone away. Please explain a 'door'.

 

[cookie]

IMO piddling about trying to fix significant problems on windows 98 is a complete waste of time. i know the pc mags would have you believe deleting a few old programs a defrag will fix anything, but that's mostly tosh IME.

do a reinstall on it, partition the HDD, move your docs to new partition, make a backup image of "C" on new partition.

then, when it f*cks up again (and it being W98, it will), reinstall from image in 15 minutes, pc like new

why more people don't do this is beyond me

i had to do this on one of my pc's at the weekend. it was shagged after playing with some dodgy software. i've been trying acronis trueimage/ for the first time in anger. worked a treat

alternatively, there's probably some free programs about you could use.

i do the same on all pcs i work on, and they're all xp now. still a very good stratergy.

 

[cookie]

it could be overheating or a failing PSU, but i'd still sort the software first.

 

[Paul Narramore]

do a reinstall on it, partition the HDD, move your docs to new partition, make a backup image of "C" on new partition.

then, when it f*cks up again (and it being W98, it will), reinstall from image in 15 minutes, pc like new

why more people don't do this is beyond me

- Probably Cookie because they haven't a clue how to understand all that mumbo jumbo jargon, like me. What's a door? How do you reinstall? What's a partition? What's an HDD? How do you move docs? How do you make a backup image and what is it? "C"? See, it's all Serbo-Croat to people like me.
I've had so many 'experts' looking at this thing and everyone has their own ideas. The only common point of agreement is that it's time to get a new PC and Windows XP, but then there'll be others who disagree. I'm loath to spend £500 on something I might not need, and also knowing it'll be junk in five years. Would you fancy coming down one weekend - excellent roast Sunday dinner - and sorting the thing out? And I'd pay you for your trouble too.

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

I had a W98 P2 64mb ram box heading for bin. Fitted wifi card, 256mb ram and now in use in daughters' bedroom for their internet email college typing etc. No sweat.

We also have a desktop pc with W2K and a notebook with XP - XP better but the others work too. Have not tried file sharing, probably find the limitations then, but I have a printer on a usb print server which all 3 can see.

Defrag issues - I always thought this was caused by the screensaver trying to start. usually the advice was to stop the screensaver, then defrag.

In sum - why chuck it?

 

[judge]

Door = An anolgy (obviously a poor one) used to describe a vulnerable pc, sitting on a direct broadband connection with no router, no NAT and just a flimsy old software firewall (if that) standing between it and a happy browsing experience.

Don't worry about what NAT is, if you don't have a router you don't have it and you should. OK another analogy then, if you do have NAT its like a jam jar with a bit of jam left in it placed strategically near to your outdoor lunch to keep the wasps busy and to leave you to enjoy your lunch in peace

If you had a working W98 I'd leave it well alone and continue to use it just like I did with a client the other week - you don't but it could and should work and £100 on XP (yes Cookie that is how much it costs ) is not money well spent on a 5 year old machine, when £300 will buy a brand spanker WITH the operating system included.

Lovely roast dinners aside Paul ,factor in some spend your free expert advice hasn't got you too far has it?


Meanwhile I'm going to sit here while Cookie manfully takes you throught the above suggested routine...

 

[Paul Narramore]

Andy
No need to rub it in. I was a war baby and woefully cannot cope with modern technology. My eyes glaze over at the thought of it. Mind you I did successfully navigate myself into the Leeuwarden Campanile car park after 385 miles so there is a glimmer of hope in there...somewhere.

 

[cookie]

Meanwhile I'm going to sit here while Cookie manfully takes you throught the above suggested routine...

i think that might be attempting too much

paul,

i think you've come to a point where you will either have to do some serious IT swotting and learn how to sort this yourself, pay someone to do the work, or buy a new machine.

i can send you a printed, step by step guide to reinstalling 98 if that's any help.
i don't really do stuff "on site" any more. bring it here & i'll sort it for you for less than a computer shop would charge though.

ps. andy,

i can't think what you mean. windows xp, only £69.99 here

 

[Steptoe]

No one has asked me for any advice yet !!!

I'd be happy to help

 

[cookie]

No one has asked me for any advice yet !!!

I'd be happy to help

try here