[auburn2000]

I can't seem to get my computer to deframent. I left it on all night and it didn't even start.

I then went to the scan disk and it wouldn't run either. It said it could not perform the operation and that something else was running did I want to close out other programs and start again.

I had nothing running that I know of, I turned off the screen saver and made sure the monitor didn't shut down.

It gets as far as allocation tables and repeats again and again to scan and nothing happens except it says it can't perform the operation.

Am I in trouble here? Is there any way to get these to work again as my computer I think is starting to do funny things like time me out when I am on websites and other things that make me have to restart my computer.

I have windows 98SE I have 3.87 GB of Free Space left out of 9.38 GB.

I had extra Ram put in about a year ago or so. Am I using it up maybe?

I have dial up modem connection.

I run Norton Anti Virus 2004

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you so much,

Auburn2000

 

[flavallee]

Auburn2000:

1. Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete to open the Close Program window. Click on a program, then click End Task. Repeat these steps until everything is gone, except Explorer and Systray. If a warning box appears for any of them, just click End Task again.

2. Right-click an empty space in the desktop, then click Properties(or double-click the Display icon in the Control Panel). When the Display Properties window appears, click the Screensaver tab. Select None, then click Apply - OK.

With all your programs closed and your screensaver disabled, you should be able to run Disk Defragmenter without it restarting.:up:

 

[raybro]

You can also run Defrag in Safe Mode

How to start your computer in Safe mode

 

[auburn2000]

Thank you, I will try doing the scan and defrag under the safe mode.
Auburn2000

 

[FReEX]

If all else fails run diskeeper as the windows defrag is useless is often will cease to funcion properly if:
1. your hard drive has little free space
2. your have newer antivirus software as it scans all data that is moving
3. your hard drive is very large above 80 gig
4. you have programs that are running in the background.
5. your screen saver kicks on.

Looking into a newer OS or defrag such as diskeeper is the best bet over all but you need to get it defragged first.

 

[auburn2000]

I got it to scan disk in safe mode and then it defraged without a problem. So I am very happy as it has been for ever getting it done.

Would putting photos that are stored on my hard drive on a Disk and get them off of my computer free up some space? I do have quite a few photos stored.

Thank you all very much for your help. If defraging won't work next time at least I can go to safe mode.

Auburn ( Joy)

 

[flavallee]

Suggesting "Safe Mode" was going to be my next option, but I see that I no longer have to. I'm glad to hear that you got Disk Defragmenter to work.

 

[raybro]

Hi again Joy... Pleased the Safe Mode worked out for you. Regarding storing photos on CD or DVD. That is a definate space saver. Each file will be pretty large. My photo folder is 1.5G in size and I don't have a lot of pics in it. I think it has a little under 800 files. I don't concern myself much with it because I have LOTS of storage space on my 2 drives. I have the photos folder backed up on CD for security reasons only.

I don't have any MP3 files, but my understanding is they are even larger. So if you have any of those, you may want to consider putting them on CD/DVD, too.

If disk space is a problem, you may want to take a look at Frank's (aka: flavalee) article "Throwing Out the Trash" on his web site Here. Just scroll down the page and click on the link.

 

[auburn2000]

Hi,

I printed the article out so I can read it later as I am on the run. I am sure it will help.
I tried to run scan disk in regular mode after getting it done in safe mode and it did the same thing again about something running in the background.

So I will try to get rid of some programs, I have quite a few but I use them all at one time or another. So I will see.

I really appreciate all of your help.

Thank you,
Joy

 

[raybro]

You do not necessarily need to get rid of programs, just stop them from starting up when you boot windows and running in the background. The site where you got the "Throwing out the Trash" article, has another link to an article titled "MSCONFIG - Reduce your Startup Load". You can use that one to learn how to cut down on such programs

 

[flavallee]

Ditto! :up:

 

[auburn2000]

Hi again,

Well, I cleaned out most of my photos and put them on a CD and deleted them.
Iwent in and took old programs off and anything I thought be ok to go.
I left them in the recycle bin as suggested from the article in case I needed to put them back.
Then I tried to run the scan disk and the disk clean up and defrag again.
Well the disk clean up suggested getting rid of temp files etc and that they would be in the recycle bin. So when I did that some how, I am not sure if recycle was checked to when I did that but I lost everything in the recycle.
I still can't scan disk or defrag unless I go into safe mode, and now if my computer sits for the day, it is always on and I come home and try to go online or into a program it says there is not enough space to run the program that I need to close running programs and try again.
Now that is basically what was happening before and I have gotten back about 2.5 Gig of space by getting rid of all my photos and by making sure my start up group is smaller.
Is there something else I need to do. I now have over 5 Gig out of 9.38 quite a lot more. But I am still having this problem.
Anymore suggestions.
I am getting DSL next week and not I am not sure my computer is going to be able to handle that.
Thank you for all the help, I look forward to any suggestions.
Joy