Unable to defragment with Windows 98

[robert23]

I went into Safe Mode to defragment but the computer is still saying there is not enough free memory to defragment. It says to shut down some programs and to try again. I went into Task Manager and the only thing running is Explorer. What should I try next?

[Murray S.]

Howdy:

Try cleaning out your temp and temp internet folders.. Win98 needs about 30% free disk space in order to do a defrag and it would seem you are running low..

How large is your hard-drive and how much free space is left??

Murray

[Idnew]

Or try running scan disk under accessories/ system tools/click on thorough and fix errors automatically and after it finishes, which could take awhile then try running defrag again

[robert23]

It turns out the problem was when I installed Windows 98 I didn't create partitions in FDISK. My hard drive is 40 GB and that's too big for Windows 98. I ended up creating a Primary DOS Partition of 15 GB and 3 Logical Drives within an Extended DOS Partition of 25 GB. I set the Primary DOS Partition as Active and reinstalled Windows 98 there. After doing that I was able to defragment.

[CalebSword]

You can't run defrag in windows 98SE normal mode as it is constantly writing to disk.

Run defrag in windows safe mode. You can not run defrag in dos mode.

There are two ways to get into safe mode that I know of.

reboot your computer. continuously tap the F8 key (about three times per sec) until a boot up menu appears. Select item three (Safe Mode) and press enter.

don't worry about the desktop graphics - safe mode bypasses your video driver as well as the others.

click on start
click on run
type "defrag c:"
click OK

Sit back and have a sandwich and a coffee !!!

the other way to get to safe mode is from the normal desk top.

click on start
click on run
type "msconfig"
at the bottom of the dialog box click on "advanced"
in the dialog box find "enable start up menu"
Click the white box to enable start up menu
click on ok
click on apply
click on ok

restart computer.

when computer restarts wait for the 6 item Start Up menu to appear select "Safe Mode"
press enter. When the Safe Mode desktop appears do as in the first example.

Note: after defrag you will have to reboot and in normal windows uncheck the enable start up menu and reboot.

If you do not disable the "Start up menu" it will continue as a regular part of you boot up process. The boot up menu defaults to Normal Mode (Number 1)
After 20 seconds it will automatically continue.

lots-a-luck
CalebSword

[CalebSword]

:wave: You can't run defrag in windows 98SE normal mode as it is constantly writing to disk.

Run defrag in windows safe mode. You can not run defrag in dos mode.

There are two ways to get into safe mode that I know of.

reboot your computer. continuously tap the F8 key (about three times per sec) until a boot up menu appears. Select item three (Safe Mode) and press enter.

don't worry about the desktop graphics - safe mode bypasses your video driver as well as the others.

click on start
click on run
type "defrag c:"
click OK

Sit back and have a sandwich and a coffee !!!

the other way to get to safe mode is from the normal desk top.

click on start
click on run
type "msconfig"
at the bottom of the dialog box click on "advanced"
in the dialog box find "enable start up menu"
Click the white box to enable start up menu
click on ok
click on apply
click on ok

restart computer.

when computer restarts wait for the 6 item Start Up menu to appear select "Safe Mode"
press enter. When the Safe Mode desktop appears do as in the first example.

Note: after defrag you will have to reboot and in normal windows uncheck the enable start up menu and reboot.

If you do not disable the "Start up menu" it will continue as a regular part of you boot up process. The boot up menu defaults to Normal Mode (Number 1)
After 20 seconds it will automatically continue.

lots-a-luck
CalebSword:thumbsup: