Let me start by saying that I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I am trying
to revive such an old computer, but it's the only one I have, and can't get a
new one yet. We have a laptop that is about 10 yrs old, running Win XP Pro,
SP 2. After cleaning out nearly EVERYTHING I could safely delete and running
Diskeeper defrag, we only had about 14% free disk space. I set the paging
file to zero and ran the boot-time defrag. That was over 3 days ago. It's
still running. Is it a lost cause, or should I let it continue? I know that
it was in bad shape, but if the defrag is working, I don't want to touch it.

Of course, I don't have access to the computer right now to give specifics
(I am using another PC), but I can try to answer questions from memory if it
will help.

Windows built-in defragmenter needs at least 15% free disk space.
Third-party defraggers need less.

I'll tell you something you already know: Ten-year old hardware is not
adequate to run Windows XP.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare Humanum Est

pdxberry wrote:
> Let me start by saying that I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I am trying
> to revive such an old computer, but it's the only one I have, and can't get a
> new one yet. We have a laptop that is about 10 yrs old, running Win XP Pro,
> SP 2. After cleaning out nearly EVERYTHING I could safely delete and running
> Diskeeper defrag, we only had about 14% free disk space. I set the paging
> file to zero and ran the boot-time defrag. That was over 3 days ago. It's
> still running. Is it a lost cause, or should I let it continue? I know that
> it was in bad shape, but if the defrag is working, I don't want to touch it.
>
> Of course, I don't have access to the computer right now to give specifics
> (I am using another PC), but I can try to answer questions from memory if it
> will help.

You're right - I do know that. Unfortunately, it's all I've got right now,
so I'm trying to do my best with what I have. Should I unplug the thing and
give up, or is there a chance that it is worth letting it run and getting a
few more weeks/months out of it?

"Leonard Grey" wrote:

> Windows built-in defragmenter needs at least 15% free disk space.
> Third-party defraggers need less.
>
> I'll tell you something you already know: Ten-year old hardware is not
> adequate to run Windows XP.
> ---
> Leonard Grey
> Errare Humanum Est
>
> pdxberry wrote:
> > Let me start by saying that I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I am trying
> > to revive such an old computer, but it's the only one I have, and can't get a
> > new one yet. We have a laptop that is about 10 yrs old, running Win XP Pro,
> > SP 2. After cleaning out nearly EVERYTHING I could safely delete and running
> > Diskeeper defrag, we only had about 14% free disk space. I set the paging
> > file to zero and ran the boot-time defrag. That was over 3 days ago. It's
> > still running. Is it a lost cause, or should I let it continue? I know that
> > it was in bad shape, but if the defrag is working, I don't want to touch it.
> >
> > Of course, I don't have access to the computer right now to give specifics
> > (I am using another PC), but I can try to answer questions from memory if it
> > will help.
>

Better not to interrupt it - no telling how it will leave your hard disk.

There's really no point to using that computer with Windows XP. I mean,
sure go ahead and use it if you have the patience of Job, but you're
better off borrowing a copy of Win 98. Don't connect this computer to
the internet...it will be overrun by malware in no time.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare Humanum Est

pdxberry wrote:
> You're right - I do know that. Unfortunately, it's all I've got right now,
> so I'm trying to do my best with what I have. Should I unplug the thing and
> give up, or is there a chance that it is worth letting it run and getting a
> few more weeks/months out of it?
>
> "Leonard Grey" wrote:
>
>> Windows built-in defragmenter needs at least 15% free disk space.
>> Third-party defraggers need less.
>>
>> I'll tell you something you already know: Ten-year old hardware is not
>> adequate to run Windows XP.
>> ---
>> Leonard Grey
>> Errare Humanum Est
>>
>> pdxberry wrote:
>>> Let me start by saying that I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I am trying
>>> to revive such an old computer, but it's the only one I have, and can't get a
>>> new one yet. We have a laptop that is about 10 yrs old, running Win XP Pro,
>>> SP 2. After cleaning out nearly EVERYTHING I could safely delete and running
>>> Diskeeper defrag, we only had about 14% free disk space. I set the paging
>>> file to zero and ran the boot-time defrag. That was over 3 days ago. It's
>>> still running. Is it a lost cause, or should I let it continue? I know that
>>> it was in bad shape, but if the defrag is working, I don't want to touch it.
>>>
>>> Of course, I don't have access to the computer right now to give specifics
>>> (I am using another PC), but I can try to answer questions from memory if it
>>> will help.

3 days is a bit extreme.

The diskeeper boot-time screen should mention a key-combination to press to
abort the defrag. However, it may inisist on completing the last action
first. This is a safety feature.

If you simply reboot, there is a small chance of corrupting some
file/directory.

As for things to clean out, have you removed files with names like
"NtUnistallxxxxxx$" found in C:\WINDOWS? These are optional, unless you
wish to preserve the ability to uninstall XP updates. You can also move
them to a different drive, even external USB, which preserves the option to
move them back. But, leave the file $hf_mig$. And, do not use a registry
cleaner after this, or even restoring the $... files may not permit XP
patches uninstalls.

You can also remove things under C:\WINDOWS\INSTALLER, if you do not want to
have the ability to easily remove installed programs. However, an icon or
two might become "generic", if you remove everything in this area. You can
still remove programs by manually deleting their directories, links, and if
necessary their registry entries.

Finally, any chance you or a friend has a larger hard drive, compatible with
the PC? Think about an IDE/ATA type drive from a PC only 5-7 years old?
Doing a disk-to-disk clone is not hard with any number of third-party
programs.

"pdxberry" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:87F1AA27-09AC-4C91-AE75-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Let me start by saying that I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I am
> trying
> to revive such an old computer, but it's the only one I have, and can't
> get a
> new one yet. We have a laptop that is about 10 yrs old, running Win XP
> Pro,
> SP 2. After cleaning out nearly EVERYTHING I could safely delete and
> running
> Diskeeper defrag, we only had about 14% free disk space. I set the paging
> file to zero and ran the boot-time defrag. That was over 3 days ago.
> It's
> still running. Is it a lost cause, or should I let it continue? I know
> that
> it was in bad shape, but if the defrag is working, I don't want to touch
> it.
>
> Of course, I don't have access to the computer right now to give specifics
> (I am using another PC), but I can try to answer questions from memory if
> it
> will help.

Thank you very much. The screen does say that I can stop the function by
pressing Esc, but wouldn't you know it - the button isn't working! (Not
surprising as 2 other keys have quit working too!)

Once I get my computer functioning again, I will check for those files to
delete. I remember seeing the NtUninstall... files, but wasn't sure if I
could safely delete them.

If it doesn't finish soon, I might have to just re-boot and cross my fingers!

"Bob Harris" wrote:

> 3 days is a bit extreme.
>
> The diskeeper boot-time screen should mention a key-combination to press to
> abort the defrag. However, it may inisist on completing the last action
> first. This is a safety feature.
>
> If you simply reboot, there is a small chance of corrupting some
> file/directory.
>
> As for things to clean out, have you removed files with names like
> "NtUnistallxxxxxx$" found in C:\WINDOWS? These are optional, unless you
> wish to preserve the ability to uninstall XP updates. You can also move
> them to a different drive, even external USB, which preserves the option to
> move them back. But, leave the file $hf_mig$. And, do not use a registry
> cleaner after this, or even restoring the $... files may not permit XP
> patches uninstalls.
>
> You can also remove things under C:\WINDOWS\INSTALLER, if you do not want to
> have the ability to easily remove installed programs. However, an icon or
> two might become "generic", if you remove everything in this area. You can
> still remove programs by manually deleting their directories, links, and if
> necessary their registry entries.
>
> Finally, any chance you or a friend has a larger hard drive, compatible with
> the PC? Think about an IDE/ATA type drive from a PC only 5-7 years old?
> Doing a disk-to-disk clone is not hard with any number of third-party
> programs.
>
> "pdxberry" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:87F1AA27-09AC-4C91-AE75-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Let me start by saying that I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I am
> > trying
> > to revive such an old computer, but it's the only one I have, and can't
> > get a
> > new one yet. We have a laptop that is about 10 yrs old, running Win XP
> > Pro,
> > SP 2. After cleaning out nearly EVERYTHING I could safely delete and
> > running
> > Diskeeper defrag, we only had about 14% free disk space. I set the paging
> > file to zero and ran the boot-time defrag. That was over 3 days ago.
> > It's
> > still running. Is it a lost cause, or should I let it continue? I know
> > that
> > it was in bad shape, but if the defrag is working, I don't want to touch
> > it.
> >
> > Of course, I don't have access to the computer right now to give specifics
> > (I am using another PC), but I can try to answer questions from memory if
> > it
> > will help.
>
>
>

"pdxberry" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:87F1AA27-09AC-4C91-AE75-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Let me start by saying that I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I am
> trying
> to revive such an old computer, but it's the only one I have, and
> can't get a
> new one yet. We have a laptop that is about 10 yrs old, running Win
> XP Pro,
> SP 2.

What is the make and model of the laptop? What OS was on it originally?
(XP wasn't around ten years ago!)