Defrag doesn't

T

Tom Ellison

WinXP Pro

I suspected my database (Access MDB) was not operating anywhere close to
optimally, probably due to fragmentation.

Using the defragmenter, I defragged the drive.

When defragmenter finishes it shows 6 large and very fragmented files in a
list "Files that did not defragment:"

The one file I wanted defragmented is in this list. Statistics are:

Fragments: 11,045
File Size: 1.88 GB

All the files that did not defrag are 1.5 - 3 GB and are horribly
fragmented, with 3000 to 15000 fragments.

There is 7.6 GB free space, much larger than any of these files.

Repeated defragmenting does no more to remedy this.

Do I need more free space before I can defrag these?

I have shut down SQL Server Services, which might otherwise have been
accessing these files. Can I also check for other possble causes why they
may be open? Computer Management/System Tools/Shared Folders/Open Files
shows no files open. This is only for sharing, right? Where could I look
for locally opened files?

Thanks!

Tom Ellison
 
W

Wesley Vogel

Have you tried compacting database (Access MDB)?

Defrag & Free Space

[[A volume must have at least 15% free space for defrag to completely and
adequately defragment it. Defrag uses this space as a sorting area for file
fragments. If a volume has less than 15% free space, defrag will only
partially defragment it. To increase the free space on a volume, delete
unneeded files or move them to another disk. ]]
Defrag
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/defrag.mspx

[[Although the defragmentation tools can partially defragment volumes that
have less than 15 percent free space, for best results delete unneeded files
or move them to another volume to increase the free space to at least 15
percent. You can also use the Disk Cleanup tool to delete unnecessary
files. For more information about Disk Cleanup, see Windows XP Professional
Help.]]
Before Using the Disk Defragmentation Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr...prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/prkd_tro_oegv.asp

[[After you defragment a volume, you can view the defragmentation report to
see the results. The report includes a list of files that remain fragmented
(having two or more fragments). Some reasons that a file might remain
fragmented include:

• The volume lacks adequate contiguous free space to defragment all files.
Disk Defragmenter requires at least 15 percent free disk space to completely
defragment a volume.]]
From...
Files That You Cannot Defragment
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...windows/xp/all/reskit/en-us/prkd_tro_ldtg.asp

About compacting and repairing an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP052727261033.aspx

Compact and repair an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP051874491033.aspx

Defragment and Compact Database to Improve Performance
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/288631/EN-US/

Troubleshoot compacting, repairing or recovering an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP051883161033.aspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
T

Tom Ellison

Dear Wesley:

Thanks very much for getting back to me on this.

Now, the 7.6 GB free space I reported is out of a total drive space reported
of 37.24, so it is just above 20%. Sorry I failed to report that. Your
response was very appropriate given that I had omitted this fact, but it
does not now appear to me to be the source of my problem.

Now, your later facts say that the volume must have "contiguous free space"
in order to defragment. I have 6 horribly fragmented files of considerable
size.

Now, imagine that I had 2 files of 1 GB each on a 37 GB volume, each
fragmented into a thousand pieces, and spread out over the drive. The drive
would be about 3% full, and yet there could easily be no contiguous free
space large enough for 1 GB. Is this actually saying I could not defrag
that drive? With 2000 pieces spread across 37 GB, each piece could be as
small as 20 MB. Do you see what I'm saying?

While this is extreme, I am looking at the map displayed of my volume, and
it has hundreds of tiny red bands indicating little pieces of these 6 files.
Given the proportions shown, there is almost certainly no contiguous space
that is anywhere near to 1 GB, let alone the 1.6 to 2.8 GB needed to defrag
any one of these files.

Is my only remaining option to burn these large files off to DVD or to buy
another HD and copy them?

I have 5 years as an Access MVP, and am aware of Compact and Repair. That
has certainly been done with this file. Compaction can reduce the file
size, but would not have any affect on fragmentation. Compaction occurs
within a new copy of a file. The new file would be highly fragmented, as
the free space on the drive is fragmented.

I offer this illustration. I have a 40 GB hard drive with a single 10 MB
file on it. It is fragmented in 8 KB pieces, 12,500 of them. Spread evenly
across 40 GB, the free space between them would be less than 4 MB each. So,
on a drive that is 0.025% full, you cannot defrag. Have I got this right?

While my situation is not this regularly arranged, it has somwhat that
appearance.

I'm sure a better defrag utility would be possible. Not your fault, of
course.

Hey, I should look you up in Seattle, eh? Do you go to the Summits?

Tom Ellison


Wesley Vogel said:
Have you tried compacting database (Access MDB)?

Defrag & Free Space

[[A volume must have at least 15% free space for defrag to completely and
adequately defragment it. Defrag uses this space as a sorting area for
file
fragments. If a volume has less than 15% free space, defrag will only
partially defragment it. To increase the free space on a volume, delete
unneeded files or move them to another disk. ]]
Defrag
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/defrag.mspx

[[Although the defragmentation tools can partially defragment volumes that
have less than 15 percent free space, for best results delete unneeded
files
or move them to another volume to increase the free space to at least 15
percent. You can also use the Disk Cleanup tool to delete unnecessary
files. For more information about Disk Cleanup, see Windows XP
Professional
Help.]]
Before Using the Disk Defragmentation Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr...prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/prkd_tro_oegv.asp

[[After you defragment a volume, you can view the defragmentation report
to
see the results. The report includes a list of files that remain
fragmented
(having two or more fragments). Some reasons that a file might remain
fragmented include:

• The volume lacks adequate contiguous free space to defragment all files.
Disk Defragmenter requires at least 15 percent free disk space to
completely
defragment a volume.]]
From...
Files That You Cannot Defragment
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...windows/xp/all/reskit/en-us/prkd_tro_ldtg.asp

About compacting and repairing an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP052727261033.aspx

Compact and repair an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP051874491033.aspx

Defragment and Compact Database to Improve Performance
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/288631/EN-US/

Troubleshoot compacting, repairing or recovering an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP051883161033.aspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Tom Ellison said:
WinXP Pro

I suspected my database (Access MDB) was not operating anywhere close to
optimally, probably due to fragmentation.

Using the defragmenter, I defragged the drive.

When defragmenter finishes it shows 6 large and very fragmented files in
a
list "Files that did not defragment:"

The one file I wanted defragmented is in this list. Statistics are:

Fragments: 11,045
File Size: 1.88 GB

All the files that did not defrag are 1.5 - 3 GB and are horribly
fragmented, with 3000 to 15000 fragments.

There is 7.6 GB free space, much larger than any of these files.

Repeated defragmenting does no more to remedy this.

Do I need more free space before I can defrag these?

I have shut down SQL Server Services, which might otherwise have been
accessing these files. Can I also check for other possble causes why
they
may be open? Computer Management/System Tools/Shared Folders/Open Files
shows no files open. This is only for sharing, right? Where could I
look
for locally opened files?

Thanks!

Tom Ellison
 
T

Tom Ellison

Dear Wesley:

I have removed many files from the hard drive. I now have 41% free space,
and I still cannot compact these files.

I seem to recall the Symantec / Norton utilities do a much better job of
defragmentation. Any comments?

Tom Ellison


Wesley Vogel said:
Have you tried compacting database (Access MDB)?

Defrag & Free Space

[[A volume must have at least 15% free space for defrag to completely and
adequately defragment it. Defrag uses this space as a sorting area for
file
fragments. If a volume has less than 15% free space, defrag will only
partially defragment it. To increase the free space on a volume, delete
unneeded files or move them to another disk. ]]
Defrag
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/defrag.mspx

[[Although the defragmentation tools can partially defragment volumes that
have less than 15 percent free space, for best results delete unneeded
files
or move them to another volume to increase the free space to at least 15
percent. You can also use the Disk Cleanup tool to delete unnecessary
files. For more information about Disk Cleanup, see Windows XP
Professional
Help.]]
Before Using the Disk Defragmentation Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr...prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/prkd_tro_oegv.asp

[[After you defragment a volume, you can view the defragmentation report
to
see the results. The report includes a list of files that remain
fragmented
(having two or more fragments). Some reasons that a file might remain
fragmented include:

• The volume lacks adequate contiguous free space to defragment all files.
Disk Defragmenter requires at least 15 percent free disk space to
completely
defragment a volume.]]
From...
Files That You Cannot Defragment
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...windows/xp/all/reskit/en-us/prkd_tro_ldtg.asp

About compacting and repairing an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP052727261033.aspx

Compact and repair an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP051874491033.aspx

Defragment and Compact Database to Improve Performance
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/288631/EN-US/

Troubleshoot compacting, repairing or recovering an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP051883161033.aspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Tom Ellison said:
WinXP Pro

I suspected my database (Access MDB) was not operating anywhere close to
optimally, probably due to fragmentation.

Using the defragmenter, I defragged the drive.

When defragmenter finishes it shows 6 large and very fragmented files in
a
list "Files that did not defragment:"

The one file I wanted defragmented is in this list. Statistics are:

Fragments: 11,045
File Size: 1.88 GB

All the files that did not defrag are 1.5 - 3 GB and are horribly
fragmented, with 3000 to 15000 fragments.

There is 7.6 GB free space, much larger than any of these files.

Repeated defragmenting does no more to remedy this.

Do I need more free space before I can defrag these?

I have shut down SQL Server Services, which might otherwise have been
accessing these files. Can I also check for other possble causes why
they
may be open? Computer Management/System Tools/Shared Folders/Open Files
shows no files open. This is only for sharing, right? Where could I
look
for locally opened files?

Thanks!

Tom Ellison
 
A

Alias

Tom said:
Dear Wesley:

I have removed many files from the hard drive. I now have 41% free space,
and I still cannot compact these files.

I seem to recall the Symantec / Norton utilities do a much better job of
defragmentation. Any comments?

Turn off your AV's auto scan. If that doesn't work, try it in Safe Mode.

Alias
 
W

Wesley Vogel

Tom,

It beats the heck out of me why those files will not defrag.

I wouldn't touch Symantec / Norton with a ten foot pole.

If you want to try a 3rd party defragger, try Raxco's PerfectDisk.

http://www.raxco.com/

http://www.raxco.com/products/perfectdisk2k/

MS' defrag is a scaled down version of Executive Software International's
defrag (now Diskeeper Corp.)

http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Tom Ellison said:
Dear Wesley:

I have removed many files from the hard drive. I now have 41% free space,
and I still cannot compact these files.

I seem to recall the Symantec / Norton utilities do a much better job of
defragmentation. Any comments?

Tom Ellison


Wesley Vogel said:
Have you tried compacting database (Access MDB)?

Defrag & Free Space

[[A volume must have at least 15% free space for defrag to completely and
adequately defragment it. Defrag uses this space as a sorting area for
file
fragments. If a volume has less than 15% free space, defrag will only
partially defragment it. To increase the free space on a volume, delete
unneeded files or move them to another disk. ]]
Defrag
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/defrag.mspx

[[Although the defragmentation tools can partially defragment volumes
that have less than 15 percent free space, for best results delete
unneeded files
or move them to another volume to increase the free space to at least 15
percent. You can also use the Disk Cleanup tool to delete unnecessary
files. For more information about Disk Cleanup, see Windows XP
Professional
Help.]]
Before Using the Disk Defragmentation Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr...prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/prkd_tro_oegv.asp

[[After you defragment a volume, you can view the defragmentation report
to
see the results. The report includes a list of files that remain
fragmented
(having two or more fragments). Some reasons that a file might remain
fragmented include:

• The volume lacks adequate contiguous free space to defragment all
files. Disk Defragmenter requires at least 15 percent free disk space to
completely
defragment a volume.]]
From...
Files That You Cannot Defragment
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...windows/xp/all/reskit/en-us/prkd_tro_ldtg.asp

About compacting and repairing an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP052727261033.aspx

Compact and repair an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP051874491033.aspx

Defragment and Compact Database to Improve Performance
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/288631/EN-US/

Troubleshoot compacting, repairing or recovering an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP051883161033.aspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Tom Ellison said:
WinXP Pro

I suspected my database (Access MDB) was not operating anywhere close to
optimally, probably due to fragmentation.

Using the defragmenter, I defragged the drive.

When defragmenter finishes it shows 6 large and very fragmented files in
a
list "Files that did not defragment:"

The one file I wanted defragmented is in this list. Statistics are:

Fragments: 11,045
File Size: 1.88 GB

All the files that did not defrag are 1.5 - 3 GB and are horribly
fragmented, with 3000 to 15000 fragments.

There is 7.6 GB free space, much larger than any of these files.

Repeated defragmenting does no more to remedy this.

Do I need more free space before I can defrag these?

I have shut down SQL Server Services, which might otherwise have been
accessing these files. Can I also check for other possble causes why
they
may be open? Computer Management/System Tools/Shared Folders/Open Files
shows no files open. This is only for sharing, right? Where could I
look
for locally opened files?

Thanks!

Tom Ellison
 
T

Tom Ellison

Dear Wesley:

Thanks for tracking my thread.

I deleted files and brought my free space up 1-2% at a time. When I finally
got to 70% free space, it did defrag the drive.

Until that point, it was pretty clear from looking at the "map" of
fragmentation that there was not a contiguous space large enough for even 1
GB of file. The files not defragging were all well over 1 GB.

Now it will be interesting to see what performance is like.

Tom Ellison


Wesley Vogel said:
Tom,

It beats the heck out of me why those files will not defrag.

I wouldn't touch Symantec / Norton with a ten foot pole.

If you want to try a 3rd party defragger, try Raxco's PerfectDisk.

http://www.raxco.com/

http://www.raxco.com/products/perfectdisk2k/

MS' defrag is a scaled down version of Executive Software International's
defrag (now Diskeeper Corp.)

http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Tom Ellison said:
Dear Wesley:

I have removed many files from the hard drive. I now have 41% free
space,
and I still cannot compact these files.

I seem to recall the Symantec / Norton utilities do a much better job of
defragmentation. Any comments?

Tom Ellison


Wesley Vogel said:
Have you tried compacting database (Access MDB)?

Defrag & Free Space

[[A volume must have at least 15% free space for defrag to completely
and
adequately defragment it. Defrag uses this space as a sorting area for
file
fragments. If a volume has less than 15% free space, defrag will only
partially defragment it. To increase the free space on a volume, delete
unneeded files or move them to another disk. ]]
Defrag
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/defrag.mspx

[[Although the defragmentation tools can partially defragment volumes
that have less than 15 percent free space, for best results delete
unneeded files
or move them to another volume to increase the free space to at least 15
percent. You can also use the Disk Cleanup tool to delete unnecessary
files. For more information about Disk Cleanup, see Windows XP
Professional
Help.]]
Before Using the Disk Defragmentation Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr...prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/prkd_tro_oegv.asp

[[After you defragment a volume, you can view the defragmentation report
to
see the results. The report includes a list of files that remain
fragmented
(having two or more fragments). Some reasons that a file might remain
fragmented include:

• The volume lacks adequate contiguous free space to defragment all
files. Disk Defragmenter requires at least 15 percent free disk space to
completely
defragment a volume.]]
From...
Files That You Cannot Defragment
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...windows/xp/all/reskit/en-us/prkd_tro_ldtg.asp

About compacting and repairing an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP052727261033.aspx

Compact and repair an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP051874491033.aspx

Defragment and Compact Database to Improve Performance
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/288631/EN-US/

Troubleshoot compacting, repairing or recovering an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP051883161033.aspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In Tom Ellison <[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
WinXP Pro

I suspected my database (Access MDB) was not operating anywhere close
to
optimally, probably due to fragmentation.

Using the defragmenter, I defragged the drive.

When defragmenter finishes it shows 6 large and very fragmented files
in
a
list "Files that did not defragment:"

The one file I wanted defragmented is in this list. Statistics are:

Fragments: 11,045
File Size: 1.88 GB

All the files that did not defrag are 1.5 - 3 GB and are horribly
fragmented, with 3000 to 15000 fragments.

There is 7.6 GB free space, much larger than any of these files.

Repeated defragmenting does no more to remedy this.

Do I need more free space before I can defrag these?

I have shut down SQL Server Services, which might otherwise have been
accessing these files. Can I also check for other possble causes why
they
may be open? Computer Management/System Tools/Shared Folders/Open
Files
shows no files open. This is only for sharing, right? Where could I
look
for locally opened files?

Thanks!

Tom Ellison
 
T

Tom Ellison

The database now functions in 60% as much time as previously. A rather nice
bonus.

Tom Ellison


Tom Ellison said:
Dear Wesley:

Thanks for tracking my thread.

I deleted files and brought my free space up 1-2% at a time. When I
finally got to 70% free space, it did defrag the drive.

Until that point, it was pretty clear from looking at the "map" of
fragmentation that there was not a contiguous space large enough for even
1 GB of file. The files not defragging were all well over 1 GB.

Now it will be interesting to see what performance is like.

Tom Ellison


Wesley Vogel said:
Tom,

It beats the heck out of me why those files will not defrag.

I wouldn't touch Symantec / Norton with a ten foot pole.

If you want to try a 3rd party defragger, try Raxco's PerfectDisk.

http://www.raxco.com/

http://www.raxco.com/products/perfectdisk2k/

MS' defrag is a scaled down version of Executive Software International's
defrag (now Diskeeper Corp.)

http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Tom Ellison said:
Dear Wesley:

I have removed many files from the hard drive. I now have 41% free
space,
and I still cannot compact these files.

I seem to recall the Symantec / Norton utilities do a much better job of
defragmentation. Any comments?

Tom Ellison


Have you tried compacting database (Access MDB)?

Defrag & Free Space

[[A volume must have at least 15% free space for defrag to completely
and
adequately defragment it. Defrag uses this space as a sorting area for
file
fragments. If a volume has less than 15% free space, defrag will only
partially defragment it. To increase the free space on a volume, delete
unneeded files or move them to another disk. ]]
Defrag
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/defrag.mspx

[[Although the defragmentation tools can partially defragment volumes
that have less than 15 percent free space, for best results delete
unneeded files
or move them to another volume to increase the free space to at least
15
percent. You can also use the Disk Cleanup tool to delete unnecessary
files. For more information about Disk Cleanup, see Windows XP
Professional
Help.]]
Before Using the Disk Defragmentation Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr...prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/prkd_tro_oegv.asp

[[After you defragment a volume, you can view the defragmentation
report
to
see the results. The report includes a list of files that remain
fragmented
(having two or more fragments). Some reasons that a file might remain
fragmented include:

. The volume lacks adequate contiguous free space to defragment all
files. Disk Defragmenter requires at least 15 percent free disk space
to
completely
defragment a volume.]]
From...
Files That You Cannot Defragment
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...windows/xp/all/reskit/en-us/prkd_tro_ldtg.asp

About compacting and repairing an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP052727261033.aspx

Compact and repair an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP051874491033.aspx

Defragment and Compact Database to Improve Performance
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/288631/EN-US/

Troubleshoot compacting, repairing or recovering an Access file
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP051883161033.aspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In Tom Ellison <[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
WinXP Pro

I suspected my database (Access MDB) was not operating anywhere close
to
optimally, probably due to fragmentation.

Using the defragmenter, I defragged the drive.

When defragmenter finishes it shows 6 large and very fragmented files
in
a
list "Files that did not defragment:"

The one file I wanted defragmented is in this list. Statistics are:

Fragments: 11,045
File Size: 1.88 GB

All the files that did not defrag are 1.5 - 3 GB and are horribly
fragmented, with 3000 to 15000 fragments.

There is 7.6 GB free space, much larger than any of these files.

Repeated defragmenting does no more to remedy this.

Do I need more free space before I can defrag these?

I have shut down SQL Server Services, which might otherwise have been
accessing these files. Can I also check for other possble causes why
they
may be open? Computer Management/System Tools/Shared Folders/Open
Files
shows no files open. This is only for sharing, right? Where could I
look
for locally opened files?

Thanks!

Tom Ellison
 

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