Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (
More info?)
I did run Disk Cleanup before running the analysis. In the past, when
running the defragmentation, the free space would go up a few percentage
points, at least. I'm sure of it. That's why I was puzzled by this result.
I have a lot of unused space on my D partition so I guess I'll have to run
Partition Magic.
Thanks.
"Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ONchL7WsFHA.1132@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Robert wrote:
>> Why would defragmenting a disk have no effect? First I compressed
>> the files on C drive. Then I go into disk defragmenter and analyze
>> the C drive. The volume is 19% free. It says I should defragment
>> the volume. So I defragment the volume. After, I rerun the
>> analysis. It's still 19% free and it still says I should defragment
>> the volume. Any ideas? Computer is 3 years old and has 80GB total
>> on the hard drive.
>
> First - 19% is just above the recommended free space for a valuable
> defragmentation.
> Secondly - the built in defragmenter can usually take two or three runs
> through to get to a point that I feel is acceptable if it has not been
> done in some time.
> Third - you need to do cleanup of the disk - not defragmenting - if you
> expect to free up space. Defragmenting merely moves the stuff you have
> around in a more orderly fashion. If you have 19% free when you start a
> defragment process, you should have 19% free when you finish.
>
> Sounds like you need to really cleanup the system with Disk Cleanup and
> the "Add/Remove Programs" control panel - followed by a CHKDSK and then a
> defragment - maybe two or three defragments in a row. The first two
> things will free up some space - the last will organize the remaing used
> data better.
>
> A good cleanup for you right now would be:
>
> 1) Uninstall unused applications..
>
> How to Uninstall Programs
>
http://snipurl.com/8v6b
>
> A word of warning - Do NOT uninstall anything you think you MIGHT need
> in the future unless you have the installation media and proper keys for
> use backed up somewhere safe!
>
> 2) Patch your system with all Critical updates - avoid HARDWARE drivers
> from here!
>
> Windows Update
> http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
>
> 3) Check for spyware.. I would usually recommend more than one of these
> applications, but for the quickie cleanup we are going for here:
>
> Lavasoft AdAware (Free and up)
> http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/
> (How-to:
http://snipurl.com/atdn )
>
> 4) Cleanup the disk!
>
> You should periodically check your hard drive(s) for errors and defragment
> them. Only defragment after you have cleaned up your machine of
> outside parasites and never defragment as a solution to a quirkiness in
> your system. It may help speed up your system, but it should be clean
> before you do this. Do these things IN ORDER...
>
> How to use Disk Cleanup
>
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312
>
> How to scan your disks for errors
>
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265
>
> How to Defragment your hard drives
>
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848
>
> 5) Reset your system restore points..
> (¡This will erase previous restoration points!)
>
> - Turn off System Restore.
>
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310405
> - Reboot the Computer.
> - Review the first bullet to turn on System Restore
> - Make a Manual Restoration Point.
>
http://snipurl.com/68nx
>
> Good Luck!
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
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