[Mac2011]

Hi Guys,

I need help with the Windows XP Disc Defragmenter. It’s showing many red fragments remaining after running for very short intervals.

This is my first post. I did search, but didn't find any posts that seemed to be handling a defragmentation like mine which is running so quickly, but not defragmenting much.

After running both the Windows Disk Cleaner I ran the Disk Defragmenter on volume (C:) for 8 consecutive runs. Each time analysis is run, the message “You should defrag this volume” is displayed. Each time the Defragment is run the message, “Some files on this volume could not be defragmented. You should defragment this volume” is displayed. The running times were 60 seconds, 30 seconds, 20 seconds, 18 seconds, 20 seconds, 18 seconds, 17 seconds and 17 seconds.

I'm running VIPRE Antivirus in the background. It doesn't seem to make any difference if I shut it off.

Figures 1 through 4 display the progression of the 8 defragmentations.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mac2011

Figure 1 – Display before any defragmentation

Sorry! I couldn't figure out how to upload the screenshot of the Disk Defragmenter display.

It has about 150 red vertical fragments that I could distinguish.




Figure 2 – Report after the 1st defragmentation

************************************************************************************************************************
Volume Root Disk (C:)
Volume size = 54.53 GB
Cluster size = 4 KB
Used space = 37.91 GB
Free space = 16.62 GB
Percent free space = 30 %

Volume fragmentation
Total fragmentation = 13 %
File fragmentation = 22 %
Free space fragmentation = 4 %

File fragmentation
Total files = 102,252
Average file size = 1 MB
Total fragmented files = 16
Total excess fragments = 254,758
Average fragments per file = 3.49

Pagefile fragmentation
Pagefile size = 768 MB
Total fragments = 15,743

Folder fragmentation
Total folders = 13,850
Fragmented folders = 5
Excess folder fragments = 10

Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
Total MFT size = 145 MB
MFT record count = 119,363
Percent MFT in use = 80 %
Total MFT fragments = 470

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fragments File Size Files that cannot be defragmented
2 76 bytes \Application\PantryAccess2002411Date11162007STLuke'sSVDPDatabaseProgram02A\BuildInfo\BuildChanges\Build409TestingDate1012007
12 39 MB \Program Files\Sunbelt Software\VIPRE\Definitions\cblk.vtd
588 41 MB \System Volume Information\_restore{B37680B2-BA0A-4E5D-BF30-83E44C588624}\RP2569\snapshot\_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE
1,744 111 MB \WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\SetupCache\Client\netfx_core.mzz
1,594 113 MB \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Setup\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AA0000000001}\Data1.cab
2,824 176 MB \System Volume Information\_restore{B37680B2-BA0A-4E5D-BF30-83E44C588624}\RP2568\A0242238.out
2,862 179 MB \System Volume Information\_restore{B37680B2-BA0A-4E5D-BF30-83E44C588624}\RP2568\A0242291.out
13 179 MB \System Volume Information\_restore{B37680B2-BA0A-4E5D-BF30-83E44C588624}\RP2569\A0242350.out
918 180 MB \Documents and Settings\Tom\Application Data\Real\RealPlayer\WatchFolders\fldrscan.out
45,896 2.81 GB \System Volume Information\_restore{B37680B2-BA0A-4E5D-BF30-83E44C588624}\RP2568\A0242242.out
46,151 2.82 GB \System Volume Information\_restore{B37680B2-BA0A-4E5D-BF30-83E44C588624}\RP2568\A0242286.out
22,747 2.83 GB \System Volume Information\_restore{B37680B2-BA0A-4E5D-BF30-83E44C588624}\RP2569\A0242351.out
61,502 2.83 GB \Documents and Settings\Tom\Application Data\Real\RealPlayer\WatchFolders\fldrscan2.out
52,079 3.18 GB \Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\errors.log
************************************************************************************************************************




Figure 3 – Display after the 8th defragmentation showing little reduction in fragments

Sorry! I couldn't figure out how to upload the screenshot of the Disk Defragmenter display.

It has about 150 red vertical fragments that I could distinguish.



Figure 4 – Report after the 8th defragmentation showing little reduction in fragments
**************************************************************************************************************

Volume Root Disk (C:)
Volume size = 54.53 GB
Cluster size = 4 KB
Used space = 37.91 GB
Free space = 16.62 GB
Percent free space = 30 %

Volume fragmentation
Total fragmentation = 13 %
File fragmentation = 22 %
Free space fragmentation = 4 %

File fragmentation
Total files = 102,270
Average file size = 1 MB
Total fragmented files = 16
Total excess fragments = 254,774
Average fragments per file = 3.49

Pagefile fragmentation
Pagefile size = 768 MB
Total fragments = 15,743

Folder fragmentation
Total folders = 13,850
Fragmented folders = 5
Excess folder fragments = 10

Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
Total MFT size = 145 MB
MFT record count = 119,381
Percent MFT in use = 80 %
Total MFT fragments = 470

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fragments File Size Files that cannot be defragmented
2 76 bytes \Application\PantryAccess2002411Date11162007STLuke'sSVDPDatabaseProgram02A\BuildInfo\BuildChanges\Build409TestingDate1012007
12 39 MB \Program Files\Sunbelt Software\VIPRE\Definitions\cblk.vtd
588 41 MB \System Volume Information\_restore{B37680B2-BA0A-4E5D-BF30-83E44C588624}\RP2569\snapshot\_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE
1,744 111 MB \WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\SetupCache\Client\netfx_core.mzz
1,594 113 MB \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Setup\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AA0000000001}\Data1.cab
2,824 176 MB \System Volume Information\_restore{B37680B2-BA0A-4E5D-BF30-83E44C588624}\RP2568\A0242238.out
2,862 179 MB \System Volume Information\_restore{B37680B2-BA0A-4E5D-BF30-83E44C588624}\RP2568\A0242291.out
13 179 MB \System Volume Information\_restore{B37680B2-BA0A-4E5D-BF30-83E44C588624}\RP2569\A0242350.out
918 180 MB \Documents and Settings\Tom\Application Data\Real\RealPlayer\WatchFolders\fldrscan.out
45,896 2.81 GB \System Volume Information\_restore{B37680B2-BA0A-4E5D-BF30-83E44C588624}\RP2568\A0242242.out
46,151 2.82 GB \System Volume Information\_restore{B37680B2-BA0A-4E5D-BF30-83E44C588624}\RP2568\A0242286.out
22,747 2.83 GB \System Volume Information\_restore{B37680B2-BA0A-4E5D-BF30-83E44C588624}\RP2569\A0242351.out
61,518 2.83 GB \Documents and Settings\Tom\Application Data\Real\RealPlayer\WatchFolders\fldrscan2.out
52,079 3.18 GB \Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\errors.log

***********************************************************************************************************************
End of question

[Advertisements]

Hello,

I am not much of a fan for the built in Windows defragmenters. If you really want to run a good defrag download the JkDefrag 3.36 and run it from a USB stick in Safe Mode.

I am not much of a fan of the MyDefrag (this is what he called later versions) as it loses a lot of the simplicity that makes JkDefrag so likeable.

That will clean your drive up a lot nicer. Literally just double click and walk away.

Cheers

[Troy]

Hello,

I am not much of a fan for the built in Windows defragmenters. If you really want to run a good defrag download the JkDefrag 3.36 and run it from a USB stick in Safe Mode.

I am not much of a fan of the MyDefrag (this is what he called later versions) as it loses a lot of the simplicity that makes JkDefrag so likeable.

That will clean your drive up a lot nicer. Literally just double click and walk away.

Cheers

[noknojon]

Hi Mac2011 -
Nothing against the program listed by Troy, but I have used Defraggler (from Piriform) for years. The link is below > > >
http://www.piriform....aggler/download
Free and from the people that make CCleaner also. Just another choice for you.

Thank You -

[Troy]

Defraggler is good as well but again, has nothing on JkDefrag as far as simplicity is concerned. You have to install it, then run it, like most programs. JkDefrag is click and run. Can't go wrong with that.

[Mac2011]

Hi Guys,

I'm not sure what time it is in Australia, but I have some more information about my system and some questions. Thank you Troy and noknojon for your defragger replies.

My computer is a little slow, so I ran Vipre and it's not finding any viruses. I have about 25% free space of 60GB on my :C hard drive partition where the defrag is not working (running too quickly and not defragging much). I have about the same free space of 60GB on my :E partition for Data and My Documents folder where defrag is working OK. I have 512MB Ram with XP SP3 installed. I'm running Pentium 4 at about 2.8GHz.

I'm thinking I'd like to try JKDefrag first and am wondering if I try it can I later try Defraggler or once I try one am I messing up my drive to be defragging with another program because of different techniques etc.?

I've downloaded JKDefrag3.36 and noticed it's in a zip file. How do I unzip it to get it installed on a USB Drive so that I can run it in Safe Mode? Winzip wants to install it on the C: Drive with no other option. At that point maybe I could just copy the .exe file to the USB drive? Or are there other files involved?

I'm wondering if I should be running the Windows Disk Cleaner in any special configuration before running either defragger? During my earlier search for a solution to my problem I did see recommendations for others with a defragmenting problem that ran very long but didn't defragment (my problem runs quickly but doesn't defrag) including ATF Cleaner and TFC by Oldtimer. Not sure if I need any of these. Also I saw Diskeeper Lite recommended, but probably for a different kind of a problem related to defragging.

Since my Windows Disk Defragger ran for me for years on the :C partition, should I be trying to figure out why it's not running now before going to either of the defraggers you guys are recommending?

Sorry for being so long winded, but I want to make sure we make appropriate considerations before getting into an unrecoverable situation.

Thanks again for your help,
Mac2011

[happyrock]

most of your fragmented files are in the restore section...fragmentation there does not slow your computer in any way but if you want them gone just turn off restore then turn it back on again and manually create a new restore point... I have used all the defraggers listed above but finally settled on the paid defragger Perfectdisk 11
it does a few things the others don't like consolidate the free space by moving everything to the fastest part of the drive...
anyway its my current favorite...

[Mac2011]

Happyrock,

Thanks for the reply, I'll check out Perfectdisk 11. I noticed that JKDefrag's writeup suggests doing an exhaustive defrag first followed by running a quicker defrags daily using a scheduler. Is that necessary with Perfectdisk11? In general how often should the defragger be run. I run Windows Disk Cleaner and Defragmenter when my system seems to be getting slower. Will I harm the drive to be running different defraggers (trying JkDefrag today and another tomorrow)?

Thanks,
Mac2011

[happyrock]

you can try all the different defraggers...one for each day of the week if you like...
you only need to run a defragger about once a week on hard drives...
never run them on SSD drives or usb flash drives...it will shorten the life on those

[Troy]

JkDefrag does compact everything to the front of the drive, that's Phase 3: Optimising stage.

Never even heard of PerfectDisk happyrock, I'll look it up sometime.

[123Runner]

As stated you can run any number of defraggers. You do have fragments in the restore section. I don't recal if a defrag will actually defrag that section but you can turn it off and then back on and manually set a restore point. You can also defrag after that.

As for ATF and TFC, those are programs to clear the temp files. Both are good. I prefer ATF.

[Mac2011]

Hi Guys,

I did the following: (1) turned Restore Point off and on to get rid of some restore points(thanks happyrock), (2) ran Windows Disk Cleaner from my Tom account (I have two Admin accounts in Windows XP Home. They are Tom and Maint) and then ran jkDefragv3.36 in Safe Mode from a USB stick (thanks Troy). Volume :C took a total of 11 hours to complete all phases. I also defragged my E Drive containing my Documents and Data. I ran it overnight and from the report it took 3.5 hours to complete. I've attached a jkDefrag.log for the C Drive calling it jkDefragCDrive because I had to remove the E Drive results along with some of the C Drive results to get the file under 1MB for inclusion on GTG.

I don't understand why I have so many temp files shown in jkDefragCDrive.log in my Maint account and none or very few in my Tom account. I mostly run from my Tom account. I only run from my Maint account when I can't install something from the Tom account or am burning a DVD with Roxio.

Question: What do you guys think about the temp files in the maint account of the report?

Question: Does the Windows Disk Cleaner need to be run from each account to clean temp files? Maybe that's why I have so many temp files in Maint account.

My machine seems a little faster (it's a Pentium 4, 2.8GHz), but I'm not sure what to do next. jkDefrag took a long time to do it's work. I'm aware that in addition to the defrag, jkDefrag optimized both my C (54 GB, 16GB free)) and my E Drive (53GB, 17GB free). I'm hoping that now that my volumes are in the format used by jkDefrag it won't take as much time now to run. We'll see but if it's going to continue to take so much time to run I may want to use one of the other suggestions you've made. I was hoping for now to use a free one and eventually maybe learn about the purchased one happyrock has suggested.

Question: How does Auslogics hold up against the others as far as time to run and optimization?

I think I need to (1) figure out how to run jkDefrag to just analyze (I'm not sure how to do command line to just run analyze) so that I can determine when to defrag again. I'm hoping that since my drive is in the format that jkDefrag likes it won't take much time to defrag and optimize next time.

123Runner thanks for your reply on ATC and ATF.
Question: How does ATC do when compared with Windows Disk Cleaner? Is it safe?

Thanks,
Mac2011

Attached Files

•  JkDefragCDrive.log   999.47KB   332 downloads

[arborman]

Pagefile fragmentation
Pagefile size = 768 MB
Total fragments = 15,743

Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
Total MFT size = 145 MB
MFT record count = 119,363
Percent MFT in use = 80 %
Total MFT fragments = 470

This is the most serious issue here. The MFT is the most important file on the volume, and is required for accessing all files. When it's so heavily fragmented, it will definitely affect performance. The page file also seems to be very very badly fragmented.

To clear up the fragmentation quickly, my suggestion is to first do a disk cleanup, and then download a free trial version of a commercial 'pro' grade defragger such as Diskeeper 2011; it works exactly like the full version for a month. Install it, turn on auto defrag, and let it run in the background to clear up as much fragmentation as it can. You can also run a manual defrag if you like. Once it has finished (the pagefile will still be fragmented), you can run a boot-time defrag to take care of the page file as well as other remaining fragments. Then leave it on auto background defrag for the rest of the time.

This should do the trick quickly and effectively. The freeware defrag utilities will not (AFAIK) be able to defrag the MFT and page file.

[devper94]

Nah, you don't have to buy anything.
PageDefrag and Contig should bring things to normal.

Total MFT fragments = 470
Total pagefile fragments = 15,743
The pagefile seems more fragmented to me...

Edit: I searched a little on this, and apparently MFT cannot be defragmented online in XP. However it looks like MyDefrag can do that.

Edited by devper94, 23 May 2011 - 08:18 AM.

[happyrock]

I just use PageDefrag once every month or so...it does its work at boot time and only takes about 30 seconds to complete..
11 hours to defrag a drive is to much time...thats about par with the built in defragger windows has...
NOTE...if you do want to run the windows built in defragger ...do it in safe mode or it will take foreeeeeeeevvvveeeerrr and a day
try the others

[Mac2011]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for you replies about the page file and the MFT file fragments. Even with the problems you've identified my computer is running a little faster. The time to open my Firefox Browser for the first time after booting up went from about 30 seconds to about 5 or 6 seconds.

Do you think if I cleanup the pagefile with PageDefrag I’ll have better results running jkDefrag?

I’m choosing to stay with jkDefrag to keep the number of changes I’m making down for now.

Based on your replies, it looks like I should
(1) run the disk cleaner again (but which free cleaner is better than Windows Disk Cleaner?),
(2) turn the System Restore off and on to get rid of all of the restore points making sure I add one back,
(3) download and run PageDefrag (should I run it in Safe Mode?) and
(4) run jkDefrag again from the USB in Safe Mode. Hopefully, it won’t take 11 hours this time.

Referring back to my post of 21 May, I’m still confused about the huge set of unmovable Roxio Temp files in the jkDefragCDrive.log report I attached. There were lots of Roxio Pft375.tmp files located in my Maint account C:\Documents and settings\Maint\Local Settings\Temp. As an example one continued deeper as Pft375.tmp\program files\Roxio\Easy Media Creator 8\Backup\Skin\Generic\Images.

Can any of those Roxio Temp files be removed or are they needed by Roxio?

Thanks for you help,
Mac2011

P.S. I saved the jkDefrag colored displays in a word document but wasn’t able to inset them in the GTG reply box. Do any of you know how I could insert one?