Free disk space not availible for defrag.

[Jack Matthews]

I have a laptop with W2K pro on it. Explorer says I have >5.6 GB of free
disk space, but when I got to defrag this disk, it says I have less that 2%
of drive. It is a 30gb hard drive and I do know I have more that 5 gb free.
What could be the problem.

Thanks for all you do in this group!

 

[Bob I]

I'd start by doing chkdsk /f.

 

[Greg Hayes/Raxco Software]

Jack,

Free space on NTFS drives is actually located in 2 different locations -
INSIDE of the MFT Reserved Zone and OUTSIDE of the MFT Reserved Zone.
Explorer tells you the total from both locations. Microsoft's defrag APIs
do not let defragmenters use the free space INSIDE of the MRZ - which by
default is 12.5% of the drive.

- 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.