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12057
January 17th, 2003 16:00
Defrag and Scan Disk
I have always had my computer do an automatic defrag once a week. I was never here, it ran with no problems. Now I get an error message that says I have 'errors on the hard disk'. When I try to run the scan disk, it restarts many many times and takes hours to complete. I have tried to shut down everything I possibly can but it still takes forever. Then, when it is finally complete, it says no errors were found!!! So I start my defrag. Then defrag restarts over and over even though I am convinced nothing is running. How can it be that for months I was able to let my computer take care of all its business and not even be here and now I have to coax it through every step for hours??
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volcano11
2 Intern
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28K Posts
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January 17th, 2003 16:00
Try booting into Safe mode and running scandisk and defrag from there.
Steve
oldyeller
216 Posts
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January 17th, 2003 22:00
NitaBG: If starting and running in safe mode doesn't work, you may want to try a fix from a site that Denny pointed me to. It was a forum similiar to this one after doing a Google search. I was having basically the same problem several months ago and this is a copy and paste of what I done, which worked for me.
When disk cleanup utility is run, the program will start, then freeze. Task Manager shows cpu useage at from 93-100% in the processes tab. Also system restore most likely doesn't work either. Others have reported it's the 'compess old files' options. So try that first. Each item in the cleaner is a seperate com program. The list of cleaners is stored here: HKEY_ LOCAL _MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Vol
umeCaches
Type Regedit in Start - Run
Navigate to the key above, select the key. Export this key (Registry menu - Export).
"The "Compress Old Files" is causing the hang if you have a large drive.
Start Regedit and go to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Volume
Caches.
Expand it and delete the line "Compress Old Files " or something similar, or you can export it to another location if you want to put it back later."
The culprit was the 'Compress Old Files' on my machine. Luck
Sensuelo
5 Posts
0
January 17th, 2003 23:00
Hi NitaBG,
I recommend you go to this site and download diskeeper lite. It's quick, fast, and thorough. I don't think you'll be disapointed... Oh, and did I mention, it's free!!!
http://www.execsoft.com/downloads/menu.asp?ad=pm7
Nita, I would also recommend you do a complete spyware check.... using both "adaware" and "spybot," 'search and destroy'.
You can find "adaware" at www.lavasoft.de
You can find "spybot" at http://spybot.eon.net.au
Hope this helps,
Happy Surfin',
Sen...
NitaBG
3 Posts
0
January 18th, 2003 01:00
Hey Sen,
I am so nervous about all these replies. My biggest concern is the fact that I can't do a defrag because I have errors - - errors that can't be found when I do a thorough scan disk.
I finally got through to Dell and spoke with two techs. They both agreed that I have some serious errors and that I need to FORMAT!!! They both said it's only a matter of time before my hard drive crashes the big one.
AND, the second tech suspected Kazaa was to blame for my errors! Oh my head. . . I am not looking forward to backing up my stuff. And what if Kazaa is the problem? Does that mean I shouldn't put all those files back on my computer?
creeper
653 Posts
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January 18th, 2003 01:00
oldyeller,
"If a man is talking in the forest, and no women is there to hear him, is he still wrong?"
My wife said yes!
cmdietz
2 Posts
0
January 18th, 2003 02:00
Hi!
This is a common problem that I have seen many of times.
From my experience, I have determined that the Windows Defrag and ScanDisk do not work to their fullest extent. I finally gave up on using them, and went with Norton SystemWorks.
Norton SystemWorks includes VirusScan, SpeedDisk (defragmenter), WinDoctor (fixes problems with Windows), and DiskDoctor (fixes problems with the hard drive).
I once tried running Windows Defragmenter on a computer, and then immediatly afterword ran Norton SpeedDisk (defragmenter), and it still found 128 fragmented files.
Hope this helps!
Charlie Dietz, Network Administrator
TelecomExperts
Sensuelo
5 Posts
0
January 18th, 2003 02:00
Hi Nita,
Now I want you to be calm, no matter what, it's not the end of the world and we can get through this.
First, kazaa is spyware!... now I want you to go back to my previous post and download and install adaware and spybot, run them both to rid your comp of all spyware and adaware.
When you run spybot, only delete what it automatically checks for you and ignore the rest.
After your comp is clean of spyware and adware, them download and run diskeeper lite. This should clean up your hard drive and fix any problems you were having. If not, and you are still experiencing problems... we'll go to plan 2... remember, it's just a machine and you are in charge... no need to reformat just yet... still got a few more tricks in my bag to tame the beast... (LOL) ... seriously though, no need to panic, you are in control!!!
Everything will be allright,
Happy Surfin',
Sen...
Message Edited by Sensuelo on 01-18-2003 04:15 AM
lisa11
49 Posts
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January 18th, 2003 02:00
NitaBG
3 Posts
0
January 18th, 2003 02:00
I tried running defrag in safe mode and still got the message that I have errors. Then when I tried to reboot, my desktop still looked like it was in safe mode (it wasn't) so I had to use system restore to get it all back.