defrag question ***update-pg2***

[Aprille]

I’m running Windows Me with AMD Athlon processor/128 RAM and 40 gig hard drive. The computer is nearly 3 years old and starting to have some performance issues.

I tried to run defrag yesterday. I have never done one on this computer. (Could be part of the problem! ) I let it run for 3 hours and it was still at 0% complete. It sounded like it was doing something (chugging noises on the hard drive) and the progress bar would occasionally show a flash of blue but it never changed from 0% complete. I clicked on “show details” and there was only a white screen showing no progress whatsoever. Before starting the defrag I disabled the screen saver, anti-virus & firewall software so there would be no interference.

I started it again at 7:30pm and let it run overnight. When I checked at 4:30am it was still at 0% complete.

I’m planning on taking it in this week for diagnosis but was wondering if anyone could shed some light on what might be going on.

 

[epcotfan]

Try clicking ctr/alt/delete quickly. Then when the background process menu pops up close everything except "systray" and "explorer". Try running defrag again.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Yep, you need to have everything NOT running when you defrag, like screen savers, etc. It can take a LOOOOOONG time to do, especially after 3 years! But if you have anything running in the backround, it will not work.

 

[GeorgeG]

Try running it in "safe" mode:

When you turn on your computer, keep tapping the F8 key until it's booted. Your icons may appear larger than normal, but that's okay.

Once booting is complete, go with Start, Run, and then defrag.exe

Hope that helps.

You should do this at least every six months.

 

[Aprille]

Thanks to all for the replies and suggestions. I will try again when I get home from work. Wish me luck!

 

[msteddom]

Aprille,
I used to run Windows ME on my PC too, and I also had performance issues. I finally upgraded to Windows XP and I can't believe the difference! I just can believe I waited so long to do it.



Melissa

 

[DukeStreetKing]

GeorgeG nailed it.

Always start the computer in 'Safe Mode' before doing a defrag or scan disk. Way too many programs get loaded otherwise.

Good luck.

 

[emmagata]

Speaking of nails....

I would put ME in a coffin and put some nails in it. What a POS.

Upgrade to XP (professional if you can afford it).

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Originally posted by Aprille
Thanks to all for the replies and suggestions. I will try again when I get home from work. Wish me luck!

As said before you HAVE to scan disk for errors before you can defrag your computer. If you have errors and try to defrag it won't do a thing because it can't "put your info back together". Once those errors are fixed your defrag should be done in less than an hour.

 

[Dan Murphy]

128 ram is pretty lean for XP, though it is a wonderful OS.

 

[shep]

Originally posted by epcotfan
Try clicking ctr/alt/delete quickly. Then when the background process menu pops up close everything except "systray" and "explorer". Try running defrag again.

If this doesn't work, reboot, then once done rebooting try again..
Thats how I just got it to work..

 

[Aprille]

Originally posted by Tiggerlover91
As said before you HAVE to scan disk for errors before you can defrag your computer.

Just regular scan disk or the big mama surface scan? Scan disk gets run pretty regularly because of the performance issues. "Windows was not properly shut down, blah, blah, blah"

 

[Virgo10]

I was hoping all these great suggestions would work. Like the OP, I haven't been able to defrag this computer for a LONG time. The Ctrl/Alt/Delete thing (getting rid of the programs) didn't work and before I try Safe Mode, could someone tell me how to get out of Safe Mode once I'm there? The only time I've had the computer go there was when there was a problem. I've always gotten out but beats me on how I did it.

BTW, part of the reason it won't defrag is because I'm getting a disk error message telling me to scan. I tried but got another message saying something about it kept restarting because something was running.

I should probably just blow this machine up and start over again.

Thanks for any help.

Roberta

 

[GeorgeG]

Roberta,

Once you're done in safe mode, re-boot again in regular mode.

 

[Virgo10]

If I reboot, it will automatically go into the regular mode or do I have to do something to get it there?

Roberta

 

[castlegazer]

Oh, man, thanks for pointing out a problem I didn't know I was having. I am getting that scan disk error message upon startup all the time now and I am using ME too. I figured it was because other people in my household were using the computer and improperly shutting it down even though everyone knows how to do it properly. Looks like time to defrag for me too.

 

[Aprille]

I was able to run scan disk (thorough) in safe mode. I don't know how long it took but it had been running over 3 hours when I went to bed. It was done when I got up and had found NO errors. So then I started defrag (still in safe mode) and it finished in about 40 minutes.

Still a little early to tell if it will help with the performance issues I was having but it was definitely less sluggish when I booted up this morning. If I continue to have problems I will consider installing more memory and upgrading to XP.

Thanks so much for all the helpful advice!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by Virgo10
If I reboot, it will automatically go into the regular mode or do I have to do something to get it there?

Roberta

As it is rebooting, hit the F8 key repeatedly. http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm#01