Defragmenter error

[Susan]

When I run Disk Defragmenter analysis on one of our server
partitions I get the following message:
"Volume APPS (D has 41% free space, but only 0% is
available for use by Disk Defragmenter.
To run effectively, Disk Defragmenter requires at least
10% usable space. Before running Disk Degframenter, you
should delete some files or move files to another disk or
storage device to increase usable free space."

We are running Windows 2000 Server SP4 with a raid 5
setup. We have three partitions - one for the system, one
for applications and one for data. The partition that is
giving us trouble is the applications partitions.

If there is 41% free space why am I getting this message.
Also, why does the analysis show the free space as system
files??

 

[Greg Hayes/Raxco Software]

Susan,

Free space on NTFS is found in 2 different areas - INSIDE of the MFT
Reserved Zone and OUTSIDE of the MFT Reserved Zone. If you look at the
properies for a drive and look at the free space available, this number is
the combination of the free space in both areas. You as a user and other
applications are allowed to use the free space in both areas - however, the
file system will try to keep from using the free space INSIDE unless you get
into a low free space condition. Microsoft's defrag APIs under Windows 2000
do not let defragmenters use the free space INSIDE of the MFT Reserved Zone.

- Greg/Raxco Software
Microsoft MVP - Windows File System

Disclaimer: I work for Raxco Software, the maker of PerfectDisk - a
commercial defrag utility, as a systems engineer in the support department.

Want to email me? Delete ntloader.

 

[Susan]

How can I correct this problem, so that I can degfragment
this partition?

 

[Greg Hayes/Raxco Software]

Susan,

What you can try...

Identify any large files on the drive that can temporarily be "moved" off to
another drive and deleted from that drive. The attempt here is to create
free space outside of the Reserved Zone. The problem is that you don't know
ahead of time if the file is inside or outside of the Reserved Zone.

- Greg/Raxco Software
Microsoft MVP - Windows File System

Disclaimer: I work for Raxco Software, the maker of PerfectDisk - a
commercial defrag utility, as a systems engineer in the support department.

Want to email me? Delete ntloader.