Defrag and Free Space (available or not)

[Guest]

Hello,

When defrag is run (on C: drive), only hard dirve configured, usually get a
message similar to this:

"Volumn MyVolume (C has 13% free space, but only 5% is available for use
by Disk Defragmenter. To run effectively, Disk Defragmenter needs at least
15% usable free space.". It then asks do want to go on, etc. It was
suggested (and seems ok) to ignore that, the worst that could happen, it take
a long time.

Well, I am getting 0% for the available use number (no matter what I delete
or put back on). And then when you run, it takes a while, but nothing is
moved or changed. It've got the first "free space" up to 24% free, and down
to 13% (both with available use free still 0%, this doesn't change now.

I've tried compressed folders, Recycle Bin errant settings. I do not use
Index service, the only "System space", is the page file which hasn't changed
in eons.

I have W2000 Pro, NTFS file system, all latest service packs. I see Disk
Defragmenter is implemented as an console file ("dfrg.msc"), so don't see any
file version.

What is Free Space vs. "Available for Use Free Space"?

(i noticed something else that changed around this similar time. When I run
the Disk Errors check (My Computer, right click on C: drive, Properties, Tool
Tab, Error Checking, Check Now Button), this schedules disk check next
reboot. This used to leave a file C:\bootex.log wth the lines like old
Chkdsk and this:

Cleaning up 4 unused index entries from index $SII of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 4 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 0x9.

Also, null characters every other byte??

But it does not do this anymore (Leave any log file).

Michael

 

[Mark Denton[MSFT]]

Try running the disk cleanup wizard:

cleanmgr.exe

This may give you options to clean up your disk that you may not have
thought of.

If you can get enough contiguous free space defrag should run successfully.

After you run the cleanup wizard, you may have to run defrag several times
to get the drive fully defragmented.

Let me know if you are successful with cleanmgr.exe.

Please reply directly to the thread with any updates. You may receive this
email notification before you are able to view my reply in the newsgroup.
Regards,
Mark Denton [MSFT]

Microsoft Server Setup Team

NOTE: Please reply to the newsgroup and not directly to me. This allows
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