help!! unable to defrag

Post by **Sunshine** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:00 am

I tried to defrag my computer and it won't! I keep getting this error message.

Disk Defragmenter could not start. does anyone know what might be causing this and what can I do to fix it?

Post by **spot** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:51 am

Sunshine;1129368 wrote: I tried to defrag my computer and it won't! I keep getting this error message.

Disk Defragmenter could not start. does anyone know what might be causing this and what can I do to fix it?

Are you using one of the Microsoft Operating Systems which have Services? I expect if you are then either a service is stopped with an exception or the hard drive needs the Operating System's equivalent of chkdsk running to verify it's clean. It can happen if there's less than around 10% of free disk space too.

I prefer using Defraggler - Defragment your files! as a utility alongside their http://www.ccleaner.com/

Carolly · Post by **Carolly** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:10 am

Only good thing about Vista.....its done on a regular basis anyway and so you dont have to bother.

BTS · Post by **BTS** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:25 am

Sunshine;1129368 wrote: I tried to defrag my computer and it won't! I keep getting this error message.

Disk Defragmenter could not start. does anyone know what might be causing this and what can I do to fix it?
What system are you using? XP.........VISTA?

Post by **spot** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:33 am

Carolly;1129384 wrote: Only good thing about Vista.....its done on a regular basis anyway and so you dont have to bother.
XP and Vista can both either run the internal defrag as a scheduled task or not, depending on what the user selects.

BTS;1129389 wrote: What system are you using? XP.........VISTA?
Could you describe the difference? Serious question, I'd be interested to know why you asked.

Carolly · Post by **Carolly** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:52 am

spot;1129393 wrote: XP and Vista can both either run the internal defrag as a scheduled task or not, depending on what the user selects.

Have to say Spot I have selected nothing and it just came like that but will have to check the other Vista one I have also as a matter of interest.I had to do it myself on the XP but there again I never knew you could do it as a schedduled task.But there again im totally useless on here so thats no big surprise:rolleyes:

Post by **spot** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:01 am

Carolly;1129397 wrote: Have to say Spot I have selected nothing and it just came like that but will have to check the other Vista one I have also as a matter of interest.I had to do it myself on the XP but there again I never knew you could do it as a schedduled task.But there again im totally useless on here so thats no big surprise:rolleyes:

I don't think you'll find anything in what I wrote that contradicts you.

Carolly · Post by **Carolly** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:05 am

spot;1129401 wrote: I don't think you'll find anything in what I wrote that contradicts you.I know:D

Post by **Sunshine** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:30 am

BTS;1129389 wrote: What system are you using? XP.........VISTA?

I am using XP. I defrag once a week but now it won't allow me to. computer is running very slowly so I guessed that it might need to have that done. Now the dang thing won't let me. Never had that trouble before.

I still haven't figured it out. :-5

Post by **spot** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:38 am

You might get a machine start to slow up if it has less than 10% free space - unlikely - or it's not had a defrag for over a year. Far more of an overhead is Indexing, that's the chief reason a slick machine gets sluggish, that and adding service packs / updates to a machine with borderline memory space.

Post by **Sunshine** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:52 am

spot;1129570 wrote: You might get a machine start to slow up if it has less than 10% free space - unlikely - or it's not had a defrag for over a year. Far more of an overhead is Indexing, that's the chief reason a slick machine gets sluggish, that and adding service packs / updates to a machine with borderline memory space.

I still have 73% free space. Indexing? what's that? I haven't added any service packs either. At least I haven't. It also shuts down in the middle of a virus scan. What's with that? Dang thing.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:10 am

Sounds like you have something else going on besides needing a Defrag. Test some other function like "Disk Clean up". Might be a virus that hijacks your desktop and all functions.

Also check to see no new programs installed themselves on your machine without your knowledge happens all the time.

Malwarebytes.org download this check for updates and see if it helps great little tool to rid your PC of Trojan and Malware which can make your machine do crazy things.

Post by **spot** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:15 am

Sunshine;1129584 wrote: I still have 73% free space. Indexing? what's that? I haven't added any service packs either. At least I haven't. It also shuts down in the middle of a virus scan. What's with that? Dang thing.

Indexing is what it does to drives to respond quickly to searches like "which of my files mentions Doncaster" with a list of them. By default it's on.

The build-up of service packs and updates is what happens to machines when they're a couple of years old or more. The memory they started out with is quite often no longer adequate for the resized operating system.

I always re-install my operating system from scratch at least once a year to clean it back to as perfect an installed state as I can manage to build. I re-select all the packages I want to have running, a year's a long time in computing. I'd have thought it was common practice. Shutting down in the middle of a virus scan would be a red flag for me to do that sooner rather than later. Doing it makes me re-think my backups too.

I use Microsoft products like XP sometimes but I don't have one at the moment. I have a virtual machine running Windows 7 for any Microsoft-only applications, I do have a couple of those. It runs as a normal window on my desktop.

Post by **Sunshine** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:10 pm

CARLA;1129593 wrote: Sounds like you have something else going on besides needing a Defrag. Test some other function like "Disk Clean up". Might be a virus that hijacks your desktop and all functions.

Also check to see no new programs installed themselves on your machine without your knowledge happens all the time.

Malwarebytes.org download this check for updates and see if it helps great little tool to rid your PC of Trojan and Malware which can make your machine do crazy things.

Great information. I downloaded your malware site and it found 14 trojans!!!!! quarintined those little buggers and a bunch of other threats as well. Thanks for the great site. Computer is working as it should now. :yh_dance

Post by **Sunshine** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:11 pm

thanks to everyone who tried to help. :-4

Carolly · Post by **Carolly** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:12 pm

CARLA;1129593 wrote: Sounds like you have something else going on besides needing a Defrag. Test some other function like "Disk Clean up". Might be a virus that hijacks your desktop and all functions.

Also check to see no new programs installed themselves on your machine without your knowledge happens all the time.

"">">Malwarebytes.org download this check for updates and see if it helps great little tool to rid your PC of Trojan and Malware which can make your machine do crazy things.You gave that to me a while back Carla and its helped me so much......thankyou;):-4

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:14 pm

Glad I could help just keep Malwarebytes updated and run it once a week. It's free so you can't beat the price. Trojan are sneaking little devils that take over if given a chance. This is one of my first programs to try when clients say "My computer is slow and all messed up"

Oh you can delete the threats when you feel like it better they are gone.

[QUOTE]Great information. I downloaded your malware site and it found 14 trojans!!!!! quarintined those little buggers and a bunch of other threats as well. Thanks for the great site. Computer is working as it should now. [/QUOTE]

Carolly · Post by **Carolly** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:18 pm

Im actually giving a full scan now

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:28 pm

Excellent Carolly it is the sweetest piece of free software to come along since I have been working on PC's. It has taken all the work I use to do manually and put it into a software everyone can use on their own. Just can't say enough good thing about it.

Amber Sun · Post by **Amber Sun** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:39 pm

Sunshine;1129368 wrote: I tried to defrag my computer and it won't! I keep getting this error message.

Disk Defragmenter could not start. does anyone know what might be causing this and what can I do to fix it?

Hi Sunshine , I've read through the thread and you have received some good replies. I also have an xp and I would suggest that if you continue to have any problems that you try the 'restore to an earlier time' function before you try anything else. If this doesn't work then what I would do is save what I want to cd and then strip (reformat) the entire comp. This isn't difficult to do if you have the start-up disks that came with the comp.

If you don't have the disks then start cleaning out your comp of all programs that you don't use regularly. Keep only what you use every day. Make sure that you remove the programs from the control panel first (install/remove programs). Then go to the search box and type in the exact name of the program you have just installed. The comp will search for any bits and pieces that are scattered around. You must then remove these as they take up memory space. If a file does not want to be removed go into the drive c section (your xp may have 1 or more drives) and find the folder with the name of the program on it, right click your mouse and delete that file, then proceed with cleaning it out completely. Do this with all the excess programs in your comp. Sometimes it will show that there is a fragment of something left that refuses to be moved, it may be in the garbage can so make sure you keep emptying it. After you have done all this empty the garbage can, use your scan disk, then try defragmenting again. If this doesn't work then you may have an issue with a virus deep into the root of the comp.

I'm glad the girls suggested a good virus cleaner for you, run it frequently.

What generally happens also is that we tend to overload our computers. Graphics can pose a big problem as they require a lot of space as are programs that we no longer use. I clean out and defrag my comp at least once a week and do an in-depth virus and malware check at the same time. Yes, it takes up some time but it's worth it in the end.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:43 pm

Jab it depends on your antivirus software and what it includes and the settings. I use Malwarebytes to get all the things my antivirus software doesn't. No one piece of software can do it all for you so it can't hurt to download this and run it, it can only help.

Malwarebytes.org download check for updates then do a quick scan and see what it find. You can do a full scan when your off your machine for an hour.

[QUOTE]Wouldn't an antivirus software program like Norton catch Trojans? I have no problem running a defrag and have 80+% of free space but it seems to take forever for my desktop shortcut to open Firefox. Could that be related somehow? [/QUOTE]

Amber Sun · Post by **Amber Sun** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:51 pm

JAB;1129725 wrote: Wouldn't an antivirus software program like Norton catch Trojans?

I have no problem running a defrag and have 80+% of free space but it seems to take forever for my desktop shortcut to open Firefox. Could that be related somehow? :-2

Hi Jab, I have one of the best anti-virus programs available, it's big and requires a lot of room but I know that I don't have any viruses or spyware. But I also have a problem with Firefox starting up. I've checked into this and it appears to be some kind of glitch with the Ff program itself.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:00 pm

I have also recommend to clients in this tough times to go to free Antivirus software as well. One of the best out there is:

AVAST it's free and excellent when your tired of paying for bloated antivirus software that makes your machine sluggish and over booked give it a try. I don't recommend many things for users but AVAST, and Malwarebytes are 2 products that have proven themselve over, and over again to be effective and aren't resource hogs on your machine. I have been in the IT field since the 70's I've seen software come and go and only recommend ones I use.

Amber Sun · Post by **Amber Sun** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:03 pm

CARLA;1129714 wrote: Excellent Carolly it is the sweetest piece of free software to come along since I have been working on PC's. It has taken all the work I use to do manually and put it into a software everyone can use on their own. Just can't say enough good thing about it.

:-6 Hi Carla, perhaps you can give me some advice also. I 'm not happy with the xp registry clean-up that is part of the xp program. Actually I'm sorry I have an xp and would never suggest anyone buy one. Anyway I need one that is freeware without any attached malware involved as many programs appear to have one attached to it and hidden as part of the program, (in this way a virus/spyware cleaner can't pick it up). Can you suggest a good freeware registry cleaner for an xp?

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:16 pm

Amber Sun I have used Registry Mechanic 8.0 its very effective the free version is good. If you want to rid your registry of spyware, malware, trojans please give Malwarebytes a try you will be please it is designed to do specific function and registry cleaning is part of that.

Registry Mechanic - Registry Cleaner, Free Registry Repair Software

Post by **spot** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:17 pm

Amber Sun;1129750 wrote: Can you suggest a good freeware registry cleaner for an xp?Oddly enough I mentioned the one I use in post#2 of this thread just twelve hours ago, ccleaner. Whether it's Carla's preferred utility is another matter.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:20 pm

Spot that is an excellent one also. Your knowledge on these matter is more extensive than mine. I bow to your expertise always. :yh_worshp I know a master when I meet one.

Oddly enough I mentioned the one I use in post#2 of this thread just twelve hours ago, ccleaner. Whether it's Carla's preferred utility is another matter.

Post by **spot** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:23 pm

I shall blush. You have the advantage of daily contact with the practical issues, I'd defer to your judgement any day, the little I pick up tends to go out of date very quickly.

Amber Sun · Post by **Amber Sun** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:50 pm

I did go to spots site but the problem there is that I don't consider something freeware if you have to give a donation before it can be downloaded. I don't use any kind of payments on line as myself and a friend got into some real bad problems like this once before.

Carla's site may be very good but I don't want the anti-virus/malware that comes with the registry cleaner. I have an excellent program that comes free of cost from my ISProvider. It is called Zone Alarm. Yes it's a big program and there is an interaction between the program and the user for a bit until it gets to know what sites I go to and which ones I don't. If someone is trying to get into my comp repeatedly (as had once took place) it alerts me instantly after their 2nd try and I click into a map that tells me where the hacker is located, their IP address and all. There was a little time of getting to know each other but we get along just fine now. It stops all viruses/malware immediately and doesn't even bother to inform me now. Any problems I get into with it is due to my own neglect of not checking for updates to new viruses/malware since I don't have it on automatic. Needless to say I don't want to do anything that upsets it.

All I want is a good registry cleaner that works well with an xp and is completely freeware and won't interfere with my zone alarm program.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:02 pm

Amber Sun I have used "Zone Alarm" it is good you just have to keep it updated and make sure your setting are correct or it will keep you going around in circles till you do.

All software interacts with each other some do it better than others.

Here is a site you may want to visit that give you a review of "Registry Cleaners" free to try and check out. Most Registry cleaners aren't free totally.

Registry-Reviews.net - Trusted Registry Cleaner Software Reviews

Post by **spot** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:11 pm

If you're getting a free of cost Zone Alarm with no third-party resident antivirus (AV) package (like, for example, Avast) and it makes use of updates to new viruses/malware then you have an ISP with a philanthropic approach to customer relations I'd consider unique in the annals of computing. I congratulate you.

I can see a small side column on ccleaner.com saying "Although this software is free, any donations large or small are greatly appreciated" but it's stretching things to call that a compulsory payment.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:16 pm

I agree never paid for it.

Hope you turned off your "Window Firewall" before using "Zone Alarm".

[QUOTE]I can see a small side column on ccleaner.com saying "Although this software is free, any donations large or small are greatly appreciated" but it's stretching things to call that a compulsory payment.[/QUOTE]

Post by **Sunshine** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:37 pm

well, I thought it worked. I still can't defrag, scan disk or restore to a previous date. :-5 I am wondering if somehow I lost a few drives or something. (sigh) I am so tired of trying to figure this out. :-3

Post by **spot** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:50 pm

Sunshine;1129867 wrote: well, I thought it worked. I still can't defrag, scan disk or restore to a previous date. :-5 I am wondering if somehow I lost a few drives or something. (sigh) I am so tired of trying to figure this out. :-3

Okay. We checked you had plenty of disk space so it's not that.

The system service you need to have running for defrag to start is called the Task Scheduler. If you don't know how to check services it's in Start / Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Services (there might be a Computer Management in there too). Is the Task Scheduler started?

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:03 pm

Try this. If this doesn't work then we may need to walk you through some other steps. Do you know how to go to SAFE mode on your PC?

[QUOTE]Anyone getting the "Disk Defragmenter Could not start" message and on Windows XP Home This is what worked for me. Go to Control Panel, Select System and select the Advance Tab. Now Select Settings Under Performance and again select the advance tab. Under Virtual Memory select Change. Make sure that the Paging File Size for selected Drive for the Drive partition you want to Defrag has either a custom at least 2 times the amount of installed RAM if the space is available or is set to System Managed Size. Once I did this Defrag started working again. I don't know how the Page file got turned off on my system but this has been driving me mad for months!! Hope it helps someone else out there !!![/QUOTE]

Post by **spot** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:10 pm

That's a good find Carla, I'd not have thought to ask.

What I do, fixing a machine, is wander through all the settings areas looking for oddball peculiarities like that. The trouble with not knowing what's odd is that it's easy to walk past it, and the trouble with talking someone through it is there's so many places to check.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:22 pm

I always Google problems someone out there has been down the road long before me so why not take the easy route. :wah: Hopefully this works if not next will be to actually try and restart the "DEFRAG" program in System32.

[QUOTE]That's a good find Carla, I'd not have thought to ask.

What I do, fixing a machine, is wander through all the settings areas looking for oddball peculiarities like that. The trouble with not knowing what's odd is that it's easy to walk past it, and the trouble with talking someone through it is there's so many places to check.[/QUOTE]

Post by **Sunshine** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 5:55 pm

ok, I'll try anything. What more could I mess up anyway..did I say that? :yh_rotfl:-5

Amber Sun · Post by **Amber Sun** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 8:36 pm

spot;1129794 wrote: If you're getting a free of cost Zone Alarm with no third-party resident antivirus (AV) package (like, for example, Avast) and it makes use of updates to new viruses/malware then you have an ISP with a philanthropic approach to customer relations I'd consider unique in the annals of computing. I congratulate you.

I can see a small side column on ccleaner.com saying "Although this software is free, any donations large or small are greatly appreciated" but it's stretching things to call that a compulsory payment.

Hi Spot, my ISP also handles my telephone land line that I have had for about 30 years. So when I wanted to hook to the Internet they said that Zone Alarm came with it if I wanted it.

No Spot I went to the site and there is no way to download that I could find without the paypal donation. It just keeps going around in circles but no way to download without payment.

I do want to thank you though for mentioning the indexing and what it is for. I have often seen it but didn't know what it was. I have now unticked it as I don't need it running. Thanks.

Amber Sun · Post by **Amber Sun** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 8:39 pm

CARLA;1129786 wrote: Amber Sun I have used "Zone Alarm" it is good you just have to keep it updated and make sure your setting are correct or it will keep you going around in circles till you do.

All software interacts with each other some do it better than others.

Here is a site you may want to visit that give you a review of "Registry Cleaners" free to try and check out. Most Registry cleaners aren't free totally.

Registry-Reviews.net - Trusted Registry Cleaner Software Reviews

Thanks Carla, I'll check it out.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 8:51 pm

Amber Sun you can download it free use this link look down the page where it say "ALTERNATIVE DOWNLOAD" click on it and your download will start if it doesn't look up the page where it tells you what to do if it doesn't. It will download and install for you without paying.

CCleaner - Download

[QUOTE] Please donate to help support the software and site costs.

Everyone who donates $20 / £15 / €20 or more will be emailed all new releases before they're available to download on the site.

(Click on the image to donate using PayPal, or click here for other donation methods)

Huge thanks to those of you who have already contributed!

Version v2.16.830 (3,097KB)

- Download from FileHippo.com (more downloads)

- Alternative Download

- What's in version 2.0

- Full version history

- Other builds[/QUOTE]

wildhorses · Post by **wildhorses** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:03 pm

Sunshine:

I sometimes use the help and support area at Microsoft.com

I went there for you and found a link for “defrag does not start

Here is the link:

Search The Knowledge Base

Also here is the link to the Microsoft help and support page. It has helped me many times. Just find the area for your operating system. I am always able to find someone else who has had the same problem. This is a free service provided by Microsoft.com. Even if your computer is out of warranty you can go here for answers and solutions. Good luck. I once had a problem with my defrag and it turned out my defrag was corrupted and I was able to download a “fix from this site.

Microsoft Help and Support:

Microsoft Help and Support

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:34 pm

Amber Sun here is the link to Microsoft "HOTFIX" page for defrag.exe this may or may not help you but worth a try. Also are you the administrator on your PC if your not you must be to run certain tasks. You may have been and it changed when you did something happens all the time check that out as well.

The Defrag.exe command-line tool stops responding (hangs) when you run the tool after you install Windows XP

Amber Sun · Post by **Amber Sun** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:54 pm

CARLA;1130134 wrote: Amber Sun here is the link to Microsoft "HOTFIX" page for defrag.exe this may or may not help you but worth a try. Also are you the administrator on your PC if your not you must be to run certain tasks. You may have been and it changed when you did something happens all the time check that out as well.

The Defrag.exe command-line tool stops responding (hangs) when you run the tool after you install Windows XP

I don't have a problem defragmenting Carla. And yes I am the admin on my comp. Basically all I want to do is pick up a few loose fragments lying around from old programs. I could format my comp but that takes some work and I just want an easier and simpler way of gathering up loose pieces. :-6

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:04 pm

My mistake I lost track of all the post I forgot who started the thread it was SUNSHINE. I apologize and hope this will help SUNSHINE resolve her problem.

Amber Sun · Post by **Amber Sun** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:08 pm

CARLA;1130141 wrote: My mistake I lost track of all the post I forgot who started the thread it was SUNSHINE. I apologize and hope this will help SUNSHINE resolve her problem.

:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl I did the same thing last night on another thread so no problem:)

Post by **spot** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 5:51 am

Amber Sun;1130116 wrote: Hi Spot, my ISP also handles my telephone land line that I have had for about 30 years. So when I wanted to hook to the Internet they said that Zone Alarm came with it if I wanted it.I'm completely useless at conveying my meaning, for which I apologize. The link I gave was to the various Zone Alarm products, only two of which (the expensive ones) carry a built in virus checker. I was trying to suggest that you check the one provided is one of those expensive ones since I was rather astounded an ISP would make such a flamboyant financial gesture, even to a long-standing customer.