Why does my computer hang when I run disk defragmenter?

When defragmenting Drive C it reaches 60% and goes no further. I believe in the past it has gone to 100%. Any suggestions would be welcomed. Thank you for any help you can provide.

This question was answered on August 25, 1999. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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The following information was found on the microsoft website which explains some of the possible causes in the slowing down of the defragmenting

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98

SYMPTOMS

When you use Disk Defragmenter to defragment your hard disk, Disk Defragmenter may appear to stop responding (hang) when it is approximately 10 percent completed Also, your hard disk may remain active while Disk Defragmenter is at 10 percent

CAUSE

This issue can occur because Disk Defragmenter in Windows 98 needs extra time to optimize your programs When Disk Defragmenter optimizes your programs, it moves a smaller amount of clusters than normal, and this slows the defragmentation process

STATUS

This behavior is by design

MORE INFORMATION

In Windows 98, Disk Defragmenter helps to make your programs start faster Disk Defragmenter typically does this optimization process during the first 10 percent of the defragmentation process This depends on the number and size of programs to be optimized

Disk defragmenter runs for long time without progress due to writing to disk

Cause:

Disk Defragmenter keeps track of the data and free space on the hard drive If a program writes to the hard disk while Disk Defragmenter is running, you must restart Disk Defragmenter to include the newly written data

Solution:

Close any open programs In the 'Control Panel' window, double-click the 'Display' icon and click the 'Screen Saver' tab In the 'Screen Saver' group, select '(None)' from the drop-down list box and click 'OK' Disable Find Fast if it is installed on your computer Run Disk Defragmenter

1) Close any open programs by selecting the 'File' menu and selecting 'Close' or 'Exit'

NOTE: Be sure to save any data you would like to keep in the open applications

2) Disable the screen saver:

a) Open the Control Panel

b) Double-click the 'Display' icon (The 'Display Properties' dialog box appears.)

c) Click the 'Screen Saver' tab

d) In the 'Screen Saver' group, select '(None)' from the drop-down list box

e) Click 'OK'

3) If Microsoft Find Fast is installed on your computer, disable it:

NOTE: If Microsoft Find Fast is installed on your computer, the 'Find Fast' icon will appear in the 'Control Panel'

a) In the 'Control Panel' window, double-click the 'Find Fast' icon (The 'Find Fast' window opens.)

b) Select the 'Index' menu and select 'Pause Indexing'

4) Run Disk Defragmenter:

a) Click 'Start' on the Windows taskbar (The 'Start' menu appears.)

b) Select 'Programs' and select 'Accessories'

c) Select 'System Tools' and select 'Disk Defragmenter' (The 'Select Drive' dialog box appears.)

d) In the 'Which drive do you want to defragment' drop-down list box, select the desired drive

e) Click 'OK' (The 'Defragmenting Drive <drive>' dialog box appears, where <drive> is the letter of the selected drive.)

5) When defragmentation is complete, in the 'Find Fast' window, select the 'Index' menu and clear 'Pause Indexing'

6) To close the 'Find Fast' window, select the 'Index' menu and select 'Close'

7) To close the 'Control Panel' window, select the 'File' menu and select 'Close'

I hope that the following onformation is useful in solving your problem.

About the author

Posted by Ken Colburn of Data Doctors on August 25, 1999

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