Defrag question...me again. :)

[Guest]

There are two sections I can choose to defrag on this computer. One is C:
150 gig NTFS system, with 95% free space left on it. It defrags very quickly,
and I have no problem with it.

The problem is with the second one. It is D: Fat 32, and is 3.31 gigs and
has 4% free space left on it.

I just got this computer a couple of weeks ago...so I have no idea why it is
set up this way.

Analysis says I should defrag this section, yet when I tried, it told me I
did not have enough space to do so. It gave me the option to try
anyway...which I did. It only did a partial defrag. Was that the wrong thing
to do? I have no clue where to go from here.
I was advised by windows to delete some uneeded files, and try again, but
What can I safely get rid of?
When I looked at my choices, I noticed that all of my programs are listed on
that drive, as well as the drive I have no problem defraging. I am very
confused.

Please help me...I`m a little worried. Thank you for your time.
Cloudddae

 

[Guest]

7:21 PM 5/31/2006

Cloud:

Don't worry; be happy. You are doing the right things. Just go slow and
everything will be fine.

Have you backed up both "sections" to an external media (such as CD's)? Do
that if you have not already.

First, we need to determine where your Operating System (OS) is installed.
It could be on D or it could be on C:

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information.
About 10 lines down will be a line that says "Windows Directory". Note
where this directory is located (C or D) and post back here. I will be
watching.

Depending on where your OS is installed, we will take the next step toward
freeing up some space on your D partition. Let's NOT make any major changes
or try to de-frag until we get some more info.

Mark

 

[Nepatsfan]

(e-mail address removed),

There are two sections I can choose to defrag on this
computer. One is C: 150 gig NTFS system, with 95% free space
left on it. It defrags very quickly, and I have no problem
with it.

The problem is with the second one. It is D: Fat 32, and is
3.31 gigs and has 4% free space left on it.

I just got this computer a couple of weeks ago...so I have
no idea why it is set up this way.

Analysis says I should defrag this section, yet when I
tried, it told me I did not have enough space to do so. It
gave me the option to try anyway...which I did. It only did
a partial defrag. Was that the wrong thing to do? I have no
clue where to go from here.
I was advised by windows to delete some uneeded files, and
try again, but What can I safely get rid of?
When I looked at my choices, I noticed that all of my
programs are listed on that drive, as well as the drive I
have no problem defraging. I am very confused.

Please help me...I`m a little worried. Thank you for your
time. Cloudddae

If you did not receive a Windows XP installation CD with your
system then I'd say your D drive contains the files needed to
restore your computer to the state it was when it left the
factory. Check the manual for your computer to see what the
procedure is to reinstall Windows. If the instructions mention
restarting the computer and hitting one of the F keys to begin
the restoration then you should leave that drive alone.

Unless the computer manufacturer provided a means to create an
installation CD from the files on the D drive, you should not
delete any files on that partition. You also don't have to
worry about defragging that drive. If you're not sure, contact
the manufacturer for more info.

If you're looking for more info from me, post back with the
make and model number of your computer. Also, let me know
whether you received an XP installation CD with your system.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Larry Gardner]

Sounds like you system was setup by me.

First:

You cannot FULLY defrag a partition (or drive) unless there is at least 15%
free space on the drive under Windows XP. That is why it's quitting. To
defrag all, you will need to get the free space up by removing some data
from Drive D:

Second:

1. Open Regedit
2. Click on Edit | Find
3. Enter D:\
4. Ensure Keys, Value and Data are checked
5. Click Find Next...

If anything comes back ... your Drive D: is being used by Windows XP.

To determine SOME of what is installed, locate the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Click on the Uninstall key name, and rerun the Find again from this key.

If anything shows up, it should indicate WHAT is installed on Drive D:

If nothing comes back ... except maybe recently used files (if you have been
playing around on Drive D, then Windows XP is not using Drive D: for
anything. The registry points to nothing. However it could be used for
backups, so you should check how the drive is configured.

OK, the above just determines if Windows XP has anything to do with Drive D:

Now to find out what's there ... is it an old Windows system that use to be
Drive C:, but someone upgraded to Windows XP and switched drives ... is it a
backup ... and of what?

I would check how the Drive D: is setup. Check the folder layout. Do the
following:

1. Set you Windows Explorer Folder Options as follows:
Show Hidden Files and Folders
Show System Folders
Display the contents of system folders
Uncheck Hide extensions for known file types
Uncheck Hide Protected operating system files
Uncheck Use simple file sharing
Make sure you remember the settings prior to changing ... if you want
everything back.

2. Open Drive D:
3. See what Folders are there:

Is there a Windows folder?

If there is a Windows folder, you need to determine Windows ???? Be
conscience of the dates of things.

1. Open Windows folder
2. Find explorer.exe
3. Right-click and select properties ... check version number in bottom part
of Version windows (don't just look at the File Version at top, check the
File Version near bottom in window)
4. Should tell you what version this Windows folder belongs to.




Is there a D:\Documents and Settings but no Windows ... then it is not a
system drive. But someone may be storing Users documents there (but this
would have shown up in the registry search).

Check the Program Files and see what's in there:

1. Open Program Files and check the dates on the folders in the right pane
.... really old?

The key thing to do here is to search the registry for D:\. If nothing
shows up ... this drive is just sitting around doing nothing. It would be
safe to archive the drive (use Backup and save of Drive C and reformat the
drive. If things start to go wrong ... put everything back.

 

[Larry Gardner]

Error in last post:

Key should have been:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

 

[Guest]

Great point Nepatsfan. But if it is a recovery partition, wouldn't it be a
hidden partition? And if it is hidden, I dont' think de-frag would be able
to find or display it, much less access it for manipulation. I suppose it's
possible that the partion was "unhidden" by the user or the previous owner.

Something is a bit peculiar here. I think we need more info.

 

[Guest]

Larry and Cloud:

WOW. That's alot of good stuff but perhaps a bit much for someone who just
learned how to de-frag.

I especially like your suggestion to backup first; at 4% headroom on the
partition, even a relatively benign operation like de-frag or cloning the
partition could have unintended consequences-- at least that was true for
non-NFTS.

Until we can find out the layout design of the partitions and determine what
is where, its gotta be step by step.

 

[Larry Gardner]

Once you do determine whats on ... if you need to keep ... at least convert
to NTFS if it's not part of a dual boot system
Windows XP will do this for you.

 

[Gene K]

Just a few comments. You are likely dealing with two partitions on one Hard
Drive instead of two hard drives. It is odd to me that C is a large NTFS
configured partition [NTFS is standard on XP] and D is an extremely small
partition configured as FAT32. I figure C is the main Windows drive [the OS
is installed entirely there] and D is there for some unique purpose such as
recovery or something the previous owner dreamed up. DO NOT DELETE anything
from it until we can figure out what it is. Can you access/view the files in
D? If so, what are they and what is the file extension?

 

[Guest]

NFTS definitely a plus. And that is one of the odd things about the way this
hard drive is set up-- a 3g FAT32 on partition D of a 150g drive? Maybe this
unit WAS a dual boot at one time? I would be nervous about performing an
NTFS convert-in-place at 4% free space.

Well nothing we can do until OP posts again.

 

[Guest]

11:52 PM 5/31/2006

Gene:

Yes-- probably two partitions of one hard drive. Yes-- a bit odd the
partition design. UNLESS it is/was a multi-boot.

OT: I had to chuckle when you used the adjectives "extremely small" to
describe a 3.3GB partition. My first computer had two 5 1/4" slots, 640K RAM
(yes, as in Kangaroo) and NO hard disk. Everything had to be done by
swapping the 5 1/4" DOS v3.1 floppies in and out constantly.

 

[Gene K]

I agree 3.3GB would have enormous years ago, things change. All I really
want to do is to inform the originator of this thread to be very careful
when considering deletion of anything that he/she does not understand the
purpose thereof. His/her XP installation appears to be installed entirely
upon C since the XP boot files must be on C by default [i.e. Boot.ini,
NTDETECT, etc.]. The rest of Windows can be on another partition without
incurring significant problems [I ran a system that way for months]. I DO
NOT believe that his partition D has anything at all to do with D EXCEPT
that it may simply be branding stuff installed by the computer manufacturer
[the big Dell & Sony screens, etc] or recovery, etc. or dual-boot or just
crap installed by the previous owner. Attempt to find out what it is, decide
if you want to keep it, etc. Worrying about defragging D is kinda senseless
(that small 3.31GB) since apparenly the main disk is at least 160GB or more.
Gene K

 

[Nepatsfan]

That the D drive is formatted FAT32 is a little unusual. All
the recovery partitions I've seen that are put there by a major
manufacturer have indeed been "hidden" partitions.

It may be that the D drive is a clone of the original XP
installation put there by the person who installed XP on C.
They put it on a FAT32 partition because the utility they
planned to use during a restoration would only run under DOS
from a bootable floppy.

As you've noted, until the OP posts back with more details, the
best any of us can provide are guesses. Hopefully, the OP won't
take any drastic action without first contacting the person who
originally setup the computer.

Nepatsfan

(e-mail address removed),

 

[Guest]

9:35 AM EST 6/1/2006 basics

Gene:

Absolutely right. This user needs to be careful about the next step. 4%
free space is pretty darned tight. It sounds like he/she has a garage full
of limosines and is driving the Hundai. LOL

C: is the DEFAULT drive for XP to install itself. However, I am under the
impression that, unlike win 98 for example, it is certainly possible to
install XP to some other drive or partition-- boot files included-- as long
as the installation (or just the boot files) starts somewhere before the boot
boundary. Can someone elaborate on this?

Well, nothing we can do until the OP posts back. Hopefully, he/she is not
staring at a blue or black screen as we type.

Mark

 

[Gene K]

" I DO
NOT believe that his partition D has anything at all to do with D" Sorry,
folks this should have obviously read "I DO NOT believe that his partition D
has any thing at all to do with partition C". Waiting for the originator to
post back.
Gene K

 

[Guest]

You guys have been so kind, to go out of your way to help me.
I ended up calling cheap guys, they said it was partitioned that way because
PC Angel was on drive D. He told me to leave it alone...That would have been
much easier if it was hidden, as one of you suggested.
I did try to defrag it...he said all should still be well. I sure hope so!
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you, I had trouble finding this
section again.

You folks are great, Thanks again for your help. I will be reading the posts
and learning, this group is fab.

Clouds

 

[Guest]

Cloud:

Glad to hear your computer sems to be ok. We were about to radio for the XP
search and rescue helicopter.!!

Please follow up with steps to protect your data on a regular basis
(backups) and steps to create an emergency boot CD. As you see, problems
CAN happen and the time to solve those problems is before they hapen. It is
worth a trip to cheap guys or some other place where you feel comfortable
even if it costs you a reasonable fee.

Good luck with your new machine.

Mark

 

[Larry Gardner]

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BTW: you should not have to worry about defragging this. Unless this
partition is in constant use, it won't become defragmented.

 

[Guest]

Hi Mark, I was promped to make a recovery CD by windows, So I did. Is that
what you mean?
I backed up my music files. They take forever to add to my computer, so I`d
hate to loose them.
That`s pretty much all I have that I needed to back up...at least I think so.
Thanks again, Mark.

clouds

 

[Guest]

Thank you, Larry, good to know.
clouds

FYI:

http://www.pcangelle.com/WW70AWP/WW70AWP.EXE/CTX_444-1-FSCHgTEOEs/pcale_welcome/SYNC_1269999625

A Microsoft authorized solution, PC ANGEL LE offers flexible Licensing
options and FREE life-time Technical Support. Find out the Top 10 reasons
why PC ANGEL LE is the preferred choice of System Builders of all of sizes
worldwide.

Call 1800.305.1748 to request a Quote.

NOTICE: FREE Life-Time Technical Support.

BTW: you should not have to worry about defragging this. Unless this
partition is in constant use, it won't become defragmented.