Problem Defragging in XP

Hey Guys,

I cant defrag my Hard drive - I've a partition - C & D drives - Can't defrag C - Says CHKDSK is scheduled, at restart, but it never happens...

Defrag can't happen until CHKDSK is complete...

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The last time I re-formatted my hard disk I entered the pc via my start up disk, enabling CD Rom Support. This leaves you on the A:/ prompt. I typed in Format c: - got the obligatory warning that all data would be lost, said yes, and it reformatted happily. I then inserted the Win CD and typed; on the CD Drive Setup and off I went......

Make a start up disk, if you haven't got one, in My Computer

 

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I would use the Recovery Console to run CHKDSK on the partition in question.

Take a look here for the scoop on the Recovery Console, http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q307654 .

I like VoptXP much better than the default defrag. Get it here, http://www.vopt.com/VoptXP.htm .
It is Shareware, so you can try before you buy.

This site has screen shots for how to run RC, http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm .

 

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He wants to defrag his drive not format it

 

Quick queation guys - possibly unrelated to my problem...

Can I boot from my XP home CDROM and REPAIR my windows installation? - Will it effect my apps installed or more importantly delete any information I have unrelating to windows ?

If windows is "repaired" I may be able to defrag my C (windows Drive) without the hastle of running CHKDSK... Just an idea!

I've heard from a mate this can be done - Just wanted to be sure...!!

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Not sure but why not just reboot and start CHKDSK then the trouble should be over. Otherwise see if CHKDSK is in the scheduled task and remove it from there.

 

I would, but a thousand times when I try - windows tells me that CHKDSK is scheduled at next bootup - Nothing happens -

I've ran a run command within window and typed CHKDSK - and it starts working in a dos window - But the progress bar reaches 100% and KEEPS GOING up to like 5,000% and beyond - !?!?!

How do i check if a scheduled task is there - or better still delete it..?! -

If i remove the scheduled CHKDSK, It should defrag no probelms!!

 

Try start/setting/control panel and check if there is something there called scheduled task (not really sure where it is mabe someone else does)

 

Oh buggar, right answer, wrong thread, dunno how that happened - just ignore my senility

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I have to admit looking at the size of you drives is quite a concern.
I don't like placing partions that are too large into the system because of the reason that they have a habit of erroring with things like chkdsk.

You have to note that although XP allows for larger volumes than windows 98 (which had a limit of about 2.1gb for larger memory blocks), some of the programs are still a bit retro.

I would personally use something like partition magic on the drive, and cut it into even more partitions. (This allows you to skip a partition or two during a defrag an concentrate on the system ones like the C: drive)

In certain respects it sounds to me that your drive is outputting the wrong size data to chkdsk. This means that there is a corrupt that needs to be fixed by chkdsk, that can only fix it if it runs, which in turn won't run until it's fixed.

(catch 22)

You might want to look into a third party program to deal with the problem. (like Firstaid etc)