Disk defrag doesn't seem to work on my computer. Even if I leave it running all night,it still shows?

Question

"0% complete" in the morning. I've got Windows Millenium if that makes a difference?

Answer 1

Not sure about Millenium. XP and Vista require you to do a chkdsk or scandisk before defrag works.
Go to run, then type chkdsk/f. It will make all the stuff on your hard drive ok. Then you can do a defrag.

Answer 2

I often find that my defragmentor gets to around 20%, then restarts. The problem is often to do with software running in the background of your computer. Disk defragmentor, ideally, needs everything to stay still while it sorts out the mess and reorders everything.

On the desktop, with no other windows open, press CTRL + ALT + Delete. The task manager will pop up. Basically, you need to stop anything that's no entirely necessary (you might need to change tabs at the top of the window to find everything that's running in the background). This might take a bit of trial and error (if you stop something running and your computer shuts down, you've cut the wrong cord, as it were, but it won't damage your computer, you'll just have to restart and remember not to turn that one off!).

Often things like anti-virus software need to be completely stopped. Even if you have no windows open, this kind of software runs in the background and can disrupt the defragmentor while it's doing its job. So, make sure your antivirus software's switched off entirely (n.b. DON'T connect to the internet while you're doing that, or you'll end up with a lot more problems!). It might also be a good idea to try switching off any screensavers or screensaver programs while you defrag your hard disk.

Other than that, it may simply be the case that the disk simply doesn't need to be defragmented. Make sure you use the 'test' button before you launch a full defrag.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Try running the 'disk check' first and fixing things that turn up there, then run the defrag overnight. It's also possible that your computer is 'automatically shutting down' at night, and that it's starting to defrag when you wake up, so you 'think' it has gone all night, when it really hasn't. BE SURE that your computer is on 'full power' all night (turn the monitor off, though) and you should be at least 3/4 defragged by morning. Since you have 'tried' to do this and it hasn't 'completed' a defrag, though, you may have to give two or three DAYS to your defrag the first time to get 'all the way through' it. It's better if you do a 'hard partition' and use them as 'separate desktops' and run defrags on each ... one on Monday night, and the other on Wednesday night every week, or something similar. Hard drives are HUGE now, and this partitioning is the 'best way' to go for lots of different reasons, including defragging and 'virus/spyware/adware removal.'

Answer 4

Not having enough space on your hard drive or a knackered (on its way out) hard drive are the most likely causes.

It is possible the defrag file itself is corrupt.. Millenium doesn't have the self recovery abilities of 2000 and Xp. You will need to search for the file location (MS or Google it) then use the extract command from the command prompt to copy in a new version from the installation disk. Details on how to that can be found on the net quite easily.

Yes millenium is a bit old now to be honest I wouldn't bother buying a new hard drive for something that old.

Answer 5

In the task manager close down all non-essential programs and then run it. Open programs lock files and stop them from being shifted around.

Better still. Boot to DOS and defrag from there. I'm pretty sure you can do that in Windows ME.

Oh, and if you get time, you might consider moving out of the nineties to somewhere a bit more modern. You can get a machine capable of running Windows XP for about the price of a tin of cat food nowadays.

Thanks for the question (have a star.) You just reminded me to do something.

Answer 6

Make sure the computer is disconnected from the web and your anti virus software is switched off. The reason for the constant restarts is every time defrag moves a file your anti virus kicks in and it has to restart. Give it a try - but make sure it can't connect to the web so nothing nasty is downloaded whilst the anti virus is switched off.

I got caught with the same thing a few years ago, it drove me mad until I realised Norton Anti Virus was the cause.

Answer 7

Yeah, it makes a difference. Millenium was seriously broken in so many different ways. This is one of them; any disk access at all restarts the defrag. You probably have spyware/adware/crapware on there and that's what's doing the disk access.

Answer 8

Disk Defrag will not work unless you have at least 5% free disk space.Try to free up some space by doing a disk clean up. Then try again if you gained at least 5% of free disk space. If not you may want to offload filles to a CD if you have a CD writer.

Answer 9

check out www.majorgeeks.com for a selection of some excellent Free defraggers. Check to see if Auslogics Disk Defrag is compatible with your box and if so I can recommend it, takes just minutes...(obviously depends on how much stuff is there to be defragged) but is so speedy, windows own, is not sufficient IMO

ps...dunno what the above poster was thinking posting that...LOL

Answer 10

Sounds like your hard drive is pretty knackered.

(With respect) Windows M.E is pretty old, if you still have the original hard disk - then it's time to upgrade.