Defrag Question

[hitest]

Hi,

I know a bit about Linux, but, I know jack about Windows. I've been working hard to maintain my daughter's Window's XP Pro box. Lately I've received a strange message when I try to defrag the unit. It says "Windows was unable to defrag some files on the HD" Should I be concerned about this? Is there anything I can do to defrag the files? Maybe I should just install Slack on the unit, lol.

Thank you for any and all answers.

[shanenin]

That seems like normal behavior. Every now and again I get a message like that. If you are getting complete defragmentation other then one or two files, I would not worry about it.

edit added later//

why can't windows use a good file system that does not fragment :-)

Edited September 15, 2006 by shanenin

[hitest]

That seems like normal behavior. Every now and again I get a message like that. If you are getting complete defragmentation other then one or two files, I would not worry about it.

edit added later//

why can't windows use a good file system that does not fragment :-)

Cool. Thanks, shanenin:-) That's good to know! My 12 year old hates Linux........go figure:-)

Agreed. Winders should adopt a better file system, imho:-)

[blim]

Yup, from my studies, Shanenin is right and nothing to worry about. Some files are "stuck right where they landed on purpose" and will not move to defrag, Dunno why!!

A 12 year old girl with Linux? Noooooo, no, no, no..... It would be a "computing faux-pax" for her! Windows and AIM for her!

Liz

[martymas]

hi to stop that message go to [safe mode f8 at start up]

and scan from in there

that way theres no running process's

or go of line and scan

tho safe mode is best

you are unlikely to lose d.ll files

another tip delete temp file and cookies

and offline temp files in safe mode

as i said earlier in the post this stops you losing d.ll

files

with out those d.ll files your windows sys wouldnt function

unless you know how reinstall them

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

forgot to add seing your daughter is young

once in safe mode

follow the windows untill you reach the desk top

then double click my compt icon

then right click the drive probably c:drive

which the window xp is on

then properties

disk cleanup

when in there

make sure you check all the clean up boxes

then check each category

then press

view files and delete all the files

that come up

this needs to be done before you defrag

this cleaning process can be done in the command prompt

and it is the same as safe mode

good luck

marty

Edited September 15, 2006 by martymas

[TheTerrorist_75]

There are certain files that are located on the drive that purposely can't be moved such as pagefile and many anti-virus program files. The anti-virus files aren't moved because of their protection scheme as in they don't allow other programs such as defrag interfere with them.

How Disk Defragmenter Works

[hitest]

Thanks for the information marty and TT_75!

I very much appreciate your help:-)

[hitest]

Yup, from my studies, Shanenin is right and nothing to worry about. Some files are "stuck right where they landed on purpose" and will not move to defrag, Dunno why!!

A 12 year old girl with Linux? Noooooo, no, no, no..... It would be a "computing faux-pax" for her! Windows and AIM for her!

Liz

Heh-heh, yep, she smirks at me, Liz, when I go on and on about how much I love Linux. She loves everything about Microsoft. I won't be able to get her to join my cult:-)

[martymas]

yes i agree with tt_75

the files with the cog in the bottom corner

is called the source file- set up file -

can be deleted

as windows rebuilds the source file.

and the setup file

which you dont need until you install the appli

good luck

im also a fan of linux

but before i got this wireless connection

i had dial up

and it was hell on dial up

you had to know the konsole [dos]

commands to configure it in

and as each version came out

they changed the command lines

i tried redhat

mandrake 9.1 and 10

but i had to get some one to configure it

so i gave it up

i now have ubuntu and lycoris.

but havent tried them yet

i believe the ubuntu i have is out of date

so im behind the 8 ball

good luck

ime finding wireless a bit daunting

after using dialup for so long

so i have to make sure i learn how to use it properly

you can easly load a virus

that is what ime afraid of

marty

marty

Edited September 15, 2006 by martymas

[hitest]

yes i agree with tt_75

the files with the cog in the bottom corner

is called the source file- set up file -

can be deleted

as windows rebuilds the source file.

and the setup file

which you dont need until you install the appli

good luck

im also a fan of linux

but before i got this wireless connection

i had dial up

and it was hell on dial up

you had to know the konsole [dos]

commands to configure it in

and as each version came out

they changed the command lines

i tried redhat

mandrake 9.1 and 10

but i had to get some one to configure it

so i gave it up

i now have ubuntu and lycoris.

but havent tried them yet

i believe the ubuntu i have is out of date

so im behind the 8 ball

good luck

ime finding wireless a bit daunting

after using dialup for so long

so i have to make sure i learn how to use it properly

you can easly load a virus

that is what ime afraid of

marty

marty

Thanks marty, I appreciate your help. Btw, you can order the newest version of Ubuntu for free:-) I've got a link you can use in the Linux forum:-)

Thank you folks, it is good to know that my daughter's XP Pro unit isn't hooped.

[iccaros]

My 12 year old hates Linux........go figure:-)

you give her a choice? ... thats not very windows like..

[hitest]

My 12 year old hates Linux........go figure:-)

you give her a choice? ... thats not very windows like..

Yep, she can use Winders or any flavour of Linux she wants.....but.....she loves the stuff from Redmond, lol If her Windows file system ever becomes totally corrupted then my house will be 100% Linux as I don't own a XP CD.

She does like using my Debian box once in awhile as it is beside her unit.

[shanenin]

If her Windows file system ever becomes totally corrupted then my house will be 100% Linux as I don't own a XP CD.

If she surfs the web, you will be an all linux house in no time :-) Are you sure her computer does not have a recovery partition if windows messes on its self? You need to get or borrow an XP cd to use for yourself, but of course you will just use the licence that is already assigned to your machine.

Edited September 16, 2006 by shanenin

[hitest]

If her Windows file system ever becomes totally corrupted then my house will be 100% Linux as I don't own a XP CD.

If she surfs the web, you will be an all linux house in no time :-) Are you sure her computer does not have a recovery partition if windows messes on its self? You need to get or borrow an XP cd to use for yourself, but of course you will just use the licence that is already assigned to your machine.

Heh-heh, yep, I think you're right (I'll probably be all Linux soon:-) She's always on MSN, youtube, but I do insist that she uses FF 1.5.0.7 so that is one saving grace.......ad aware picks up very little spyware when she uses FF. Nope, I don't have a recovery partition as a buddy of mine legally installed windows for me; he's a technician and works for the same company I do......it's not a factory install. But, I set a system restore point just now.......that could help if the unit goes boink.

Good tip, thanks, I'll look on the case and see what the licence says, shanenin.

[martymas]

yo hitest

are you sure the compt hasent a hidden partition

which has the restore program on it

look in

start .adminstrative tools [if that isnt on the start menu]

[right click the start button ] properties-start menu-customise]

[scroll to aminstrative tools and check the box]

[to show on all menus

once opened, go to- compt management-disk management-on the right it will show you your

drive and partitions -on the toolbar-look for view-top -disk list

and it will show all drives and partitions

i wiped all my partitions with

wipe disk so my drive is clear of all that stuff

or maybe the techie

had his own techniche

how ever try it

i have an

old[ whisper] illegal xp pro disk tho i didnt know at the time

that i dont use any more

but i would have to send it by carrier pidgeon

any way try looking for a hidden partition

good luck

tho if you could convert her to linux

and you could be the teacher

i wish

marty

[hitest]

yo hitest

are you sure the compt hasent a hidden partition

which has the restore program on it

look in

start .adminstrative tools [if that isnt on the start menu]

[right click the start button ] properties-start menu-customise]

[scroll to aminstrative tools and check the box]

[to show on all menus

once opened, go to- compt management-disk management-on the right it will show you your

drive and partitions -on the toolbar-look for view-top -disk list

and it will show all drives and partitions

i wiped all my partitions with

wipe disk so my drive is clear of all that stuff

or maybe the techie

had his own techniche

how ever try it

i have an

old[ whisper] illegal xp pro disk tho i didnt know at the time

that i dont use any more

but i would have to send it by carrier pidgeon

any way try looking for a hidden partition

good luck

tho if you could convert her to linux

and you could be the teacher

i wish

marty

Nope, no partition that I know of, I was there when he legally cloned the system, marty:-) Our company spends thousands every year on a Microsoft site licence. He hooked up my desktop to his laptop and imported an IBM XP Pro disk image using an ethernet cable, it was quite cool to watch. My copy of XP is legal and will run windows update from Microsoft and stands up to Microsoft's occasional piracy checks.

We'll see how the unit holds up:-)