Error: Disk Defragmenter could not start

Question

Would appreciate someone deciphering this error message.   Thus far, I have queried the Microsoft knowledge base but found nothing. I have also checked the registry for the correct path to the defragmenter, as suggested for another posting by scott76633, and it is correct.  Also, as scott76633 suggested, I fooled around with the mmc /a command, but I really didn't know what I was doing. I think I added Disk Defragmenter to the console, but, if I did, this had no effect.   My recent actions have been: 1) ran a registry cleaning utility and eliminated about a thousand 'useless entries.' 2) installed Microsoft .NET framework 1.1 service pack 1. Upgraded ZoneAlarm to their version 5.5.062.004. To my knowledge, my system is working fine in all respects, EXCEPT that I am unable to use the defragmenter.   Thanks!

rhwrightjr · Answer

Yeah, I tried it in safe mode, but got the same error message. Thanks for suggesting it. I'll hold off on a reinstallation until there is something other than the defragmenter wrong with the system. So far, everything else is ginning right along.

MadThinker · Answer

Boot the system to safe mode and see if you can run the defrag utility. If you can then it is a problem with some software running in the background. If you still can not run this program in safe mode you have windows corruption and you need to format and reinstall to cure the problem.

Windows General

Error: Disk Defragmenter could not start

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