Widows 98 SE Defragmenting

[ellis48p]

When trying to defrag the message 'ERROR DEFRAGMENTING DRIVE C. YOUR COMPUTER DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH FREE MEMORY TO DEFRAGMENT THIS DRIVE. QUIT ONE OR MORE PROGRAMS, AND THEN TRY DEFRAGMENTING THIS DRIVE AGAIN. ID No. DEFRAG 0009 '
The system has 64% resources free and is 512 Mb ram 20% loaded. No matter what programs are shut down the same message still appears.

[tetonbob]

try running it in Safe Mode

[ellis48p]

Tried safe mode, same problem.

[tetonbob]

Have you shut down all programs through the Task Manager or msconfig? You may have progs still running in the background writing to the drive.

Task manager - end task on all but Explorer and Systray.


msconfig
# Go to Start > Run and type msconfig in the Open: box
# On the General tab, uncheck all items listed under Selective startup (make sure that Selective startup is selected)
# Hit apply and OK and restart Windows
# This starts Windows with only the basics running; Insures nothing will interfere with ScanDisk and Defrag
# Run ScanDisk and Defrag, when ready go into msconfig and select Normal startup and restart Windows


Have you checked your system for malware/virus infestation?

If you can, download Adaware - http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/

and Sybot S&D - http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Update each before running, and then log off the 'net, close all windows and run one then the other, let them fix what they find.

You may also have a bad sector on your disk which is causing the defrag to hang. Have you run a thorough scandisk? You may have to run that from a bootdisk.

Here is what MS has to offer on your situation -

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=229154

[ellis48p]

Thanks for the help. Have got round the problem this time by installing Norton System Works, the defrag application in Norton worked fine.

Will certainly try your suggestions out the next time and will get back to you.
Thanks again.

[tetonbob]

I guess an interesting experiment would be to see if your native defrag prog worked now that you've gotten past the bottleneck with your Norton.

Glad you got it resolved.

Be sure to add Adaware and Spybot S&D to your regimen. Also consider SywareBlaster, it keeps the nasties from getting in.

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

[ellis48p]

I guess an interesting experiment would be to see if your native defrag prog worked now that you've gotten past the bottleneck with your Norton.

Glad you got it resolved.

Be sure to add Adaware and Spybot S&D to your regimen. Also consider SywareBlaster, it keeps the nasties from getting in.

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Native defrag still wont work but I will manage with Norton for now cos it works fine. I'm told that it could be my BIOS not good enough to run my bigger hard drive. I already run Adaware and Spybot. Thanks for your help.

[tetonbob]

Thanks for the update. I guess if you needed to, you could see if there was a BIOS update for your version which would enable support of the larger HD.

Not to worry, though. Many folks like third party defrag utilities much better than the one in Windows. If you experience other issues which point to an outdated BIOS, you might then considered a Flash Upgrade, if your BIOS is Flashable, that is.

[ellis48p]

Thanks again for your help and advise. If I do go for a BIOS update I will certainly let you know how I get on with defragging after the update.