Unable to defragment/check for errors

[Denton]

I'm hoping someone can help me figure out this problem. I was trying to help out a friend but was unable to figure out what the problem is.

He has a P3 550MHZ compunter running Windows 98 ( I believe it's the second edition) and he has been unable to defragment his PC for a few months. It hasn't been defragmented for 301 days according to windows. When he tries it just hangs at 1% and goes back to 0 and stays there for a long time. After 5-6 hrs there is no progress.

Today I went there and tried to check for errors (standard not thorough). After about 40 minutes a message popped up saying that a program wrote to the disk 10 times so the drive could not be checked for errors.

There is no screensaver and I checked what processes were running and nothing should have been interfering.

I scanned the PC for viruses and spyware before trying to scan for errors and the system was clean. The PC is running slow, probably because it hasn't been defragmented but the problem is it will not defragment or check for errors.

What can be done to resolve this problem?

[Mischief007]

First off, try in Safe Mode.
Second, download the hard drive utility and let it check for errors. See what happens.

[Bluvertigo]

You can try using an alternative program:

O&O Defrag 2000 Freeware Edition 3.5.562
http://www.majorgeeks.com/O&O_Defrag_2000_Freeware_Edition_d4545.html

[peavyjay]

Simple, - run - msconfig - startup- shut off all programs running, except the necessary ones, then defrag,

[Denton]

Thanks for all the replies. Couple questions:

1) Bluvertigo, is there also an alternative error checking program? I believe part of the reason why it won't defragment is because there are errors on the drive.

2) peavjay, I did think of that and I did uncheck a program that I assumed was spyware (but the system seems to be clean). I'd have to restart the PC for the changes to take effect right, or is there a quicker way?

[Ken_ver_1_5]

run in safe mode works all the time.
try to find the windows me defrag supposed to be better faster.

[Bluvertigo]

With your Windows 98 Setup CD-ROM, place it in the CD, open a DOS box, and run these commands:

EXTRACT X:\WIN98\WIN98_22.CAB DEFRAG.EXE %winbootdir%
EXTRACT X:\WIN98\WIN98_23.CAB SCANDSKW.EXE %winbootdir%

X = CD ROM Drive

[WhitPhil]

WinMe Defrag (http://members.cox.net/scotterpops/enhancements/enhancements9c.html)

As well as running in Safe mode, ensure that you have done some basic housecleaning of Temp files, Browser Cache, etc.

[Frogy]

WinMe Defrag (http://members.cox.net/scotterpops/enhancements/enhancements9c.html)

As well as running in Safe mode, ensure that you have done some basic housecleaning of Temp files, Browser Cache, etc.

A good tool for that is CCleaner

www.CCleaner.com

You may also want to scan for issues too prior to runing the defrag. (same program)

[Denton]

Thanks again. I will try an alternative defragmenter, clean up the cache/cookies and make sure nothing is running in the background. I might have missed something.

[sybil]

I also liked the WinME defrag. I used to replace the Win98 one with the WinMe one right after any install. It works much faster.
This is also good (free version):
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=1207
(It works great manually, one disk at a time - just has some of the automated features of the full paid version disabled).

[ve3sab]

From your description, there is definitly something running (in the background possibly) that is writing to the disk. Can't say what it could be without seeing what you have. Check that antivirus is not running and if on cable/dsl for internet, make sure the modems are off. Suggestions given are your best bet. Another off the path suggestion, Since you're using win98, get a copy of windows millenium defrag and replace the win98 version with it. Works faster than the 98 version.