[bgill]

Help, please.

[GeronL]

Your suppose to reformat first.

DON’T!!! I WAS KIDDING!!! Don’t do it!!

[JoeProBono]

I use http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/

[mkjessup]

Don't screw around with the built in Windows XP defragger, try this utility, free from CNet and bug free too. I use it all the time:

http://download.cnet.com/Smart-Defrag/3000-2094_4-10759533.html?tag=mncol

[Safrguns]

I would be backing up stuff NOW,
and set aside some time for a reload.
You will probably have to delete the partition and re-create it before you can format. (assuming you don’t have disk errors)

[rabidralph]

So did you restart your system so chkdsk could run? Try that first.

[El Gran Salseron]

Chkdsk always has to run before Windows loads which is during inital boot-up of the system either from first power on or from a restart. It’ll never run while Windows is running. If it is scheduled to run at next start up then tell it to restart and it should run automatically before you get the WinXP start up screen.

[smokingfrog]

You may have some errors on your disk.

Check your disk(s) for errors first. Then defrag.

[Oceander]

Just out of curiousity, why do you still have a partition that’s formatted as a FAT32 partition? Even NTFS is an old file system that’s beginning to show its age, and FAT32 is the file system equivalent of a model T.

[DaveTesla]

Computer newbies: Can’t use Disk Defragmenter because of Checkdisc (Chkdsk/f)

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6121_102-0.html?messageID=2028475&tag=forums06;posts#2028475

[Dan Nunn]

Post #7 is right. Windows won’t defrag that drive because it is the drive that Windows is running off of. Schedule it to run after the next restart.

[edcoil]

go into your startup tab and disable everything. That way, nothing will run then restart your computer - the chkdsk will auto run.

[Mr. Jazzy]

You DEFINITELY need to run check disk BEFORE you defrag a drive.

Run the Check Disk with automatic repair and scan disk surface. This will correct errors and also log areas of the disk that may not be able to hold data. If you run defrag and the disk writes data to a bad or damaged sector, you may not get that information back when you need it.

I always run check disk before a defrag and I usually only defrag two to four times a year.

[Be Free]

Not sure you got a clear reply to your question:

1. Go back to the Command prompt C:> and enter “chkdsk /f”.

2. When it prompts “ ... Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts?” enter “Y”.

3. Close/exit the Command window (type: “exit”).

4. Re-boot. (chkdsk will run before Windows loads. It’ll take awhile - don’t interrupt it.)

5. When you’re (finally) back in Windows, try to defrag again and let us know if it works now.

Also, and as above, find, download & install Smart Defrag (CNET is a good place to get it, as noted). It works great, and keeps your disk tidy and organized well over time.

[Vendome]

You need 15%+ of free space on your hard drive to defrag.

If your hard drive 100GB you should ideally have 200GB of free space or 150GB minimum.

[SouthDixie]

1. Access the "My Computer" menu. You can do this by clicking the Start menu and clicking the "My Computer" menu option. You can also double-click the "My Computer" icon if you've enabled it on your desktop.

2. Right-click on the drive on which you wish to run the Chkdsk F command.

3. Click "Properties" in the right-click context menu.

4. Click on the "Tools" tab in the Properties window.

5. Click on the "Check Now" button in the "Error-checking" frame of the Tools tab.

6. Click in the "Automatically fix file system errors" check box under the "Check disk options" frame in the following window. This is the step which enables the "/f" command in Chkdsk.

7. Click "Start" to begin the Chkdsk scan. If there are a lot of processes running in the background, or if Chkdsk determines that it should be run when you next restart your computer, it will suggest it. It is always advisable to run the Chkdsk from the restart in this case.

8. Set your system to safe mode with the "/SAFEBOOT" command from the MSCONFIG program. Click "Start" and "Run." Type "MSCONFIG" and enable the "/SAFEBOOT" option from the BOOT.INI tab if your anti-virus or anti-spyware software is conflicting with the Chkdsk process.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Globally shut down your recycling monitor(s) (XP and probably Norton).
They lock the disk.
Other than that, Windows doesn’t care.
I’m running it on C (NTFS) right now.
I don’t use recycle anyway.
I have FAT drives too. Simpler to recover crashed data.

[waynesa98]

Sounds like your partition has been flagged dirty. Before you defrag you’ll need to chkdsk /f. you can’t chkdsk c: in windows must be done at boot up. If your system won’t do the chkdsk. use msconfig (start run msconfig) go to boot.ini check /safeboot, then reboot. If that does’t work boot from your xp setup disk. choose repair then commad prompt run chkdsk with the /p switch. do it at least 3 times.

[bert]

on another subject, I think my laptop has a virus or malware or something.

Friday I turned it off and yesterday when I rebooted, after turning on windows, the screen goes black. It occasionally makes some noise and the hard drive runs but no video.....black screen?

It runs in Safe Mode OK

Need help quick or I’ll miss the live American Idol thread Tuesday :)

[rambo316]

bump for later

[PIF]

The joys of Windows...