defrag problems

[Guest]

When I try and defraf my computer, it only go to about 6% and then trys to
reboot. Then it goes to a black screen with a message boot failure: system
halted. I had done a disk check before this a had a lot of recoverd bad
clusters. Is my hard drive going bad and have to be replaced? I can reboot
the system if I turn it off and back on. Using windows xp.

 

[Guest]

Try turning off your screen saver , and close all programes that aren't
needed.
http://www.practicalpc.co.uk/computing/windows/defragtips.htm
These guys talk about that under'closed for buisness'.

 

[omni]

Try defragging in safe mode. Which defragger are you using? The
specialized third party tools might be a better option than the Windows
Disk defragger.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the help. I shut down all running programs and did a defrag.
Some files would not defrag, so I got rid of them. I defrag again and it did
complete. I also had some bad video file I deleted. Going to do a disk scan
again to see if I have any bad custer.

 

[Edward W. Thompson]

Try defragging in safe mode. Which defragger are you using? The
specialized third party tools might be a better option than the Windows
Disk defragger.

"The specialized third party tools might be a better option than the Windows
Disk defragger." Care to explain how you have come to this conclusion?

As far as I am concerned the native defragger in WINXP is as efficient as
any
third party software but perhaps somewhat slower and without the 'glossy'
interface.
It has the significant advantage of being free

 

[Guest]

I though that my problem was solved, but still having problems. System will
shut down for no reason and come to a black screen: boot failure: system
haulted. I still think my HD is going out. Everytime I do a Disk scan I get
bad clusters.

 

[Fitz]

Have you checked the hard drive manufacture's web site for diagnostic tools?
You might try that and see if any of the tools report problems with the hard
drive.

 

[Fitz]

Also, if you're getting different bad clusters every time you scan...your
hard drive is getting ready to toast. Don't scan anymore until you back up
all important data. Do that NOW!

 

[omni]

"The specialized third party tools might be a better option than the
Windows
Disk defragger." Care to explain how you have come to this
conclusion?

As far as I am concerned the native defragger in WINXP is as efficient
as
any
third party software but perhaps somewhat slower and without the
'glossy'
interface.
It has the significant advantage of being free

Yes, i agree Windows does come free. Personally i prefer third party
tools as they are fasterl, for the automatic features and the fact that
they just run in the background and i have faced fewer hassles during the
actual defrag process with these than the Windows Disk Defragger.

 

[Guest]

I think you are right, HD going bad. I downloaded a iagnostic tool from WD
and it will not complete the test. Always fails. I am not to worried about
it, because I have a second computer. Just going to get a new HD. They
don't cost much anymore. Thanks for the help.