defragmenter failure

[Guest]

Hello, I am having trouble trying to defragment files of my computer. I have
run the defragmenter a few times and after completing the process the volume
is still the same and the analisis of the volume always comes up: you should
defragment this volume. Please help I am not and advance computer user. I
have XP home edition, and have about 18% of free disk space for the program
to work.
Thank you very much for your assistance
Elly

 

[R. McCarty]

18% free is probably not enough space to re-position some of the
data on the PC. Defragmenting is sort of like a Rubik's Cube. It
has to temporarillly move data and at 18% free it's not able to do
this. Have you done a cleanup on the PC ? ( Removed unused
applications and temporary data ). Personally, I'd recommend you
download & run Raxco's Perfect Disk 7.0. It does not require as
much free space and does a better job of defragmenting a drive.
It requires both an Off-Line (Pre XP GUI) session and then an
On-Line session. Sign up & Download info here:
http://www.raxco.com/products/downloadit/perfectdisk2000_download.cfm

You didn't mention your drive's capacity - but with only 18% free,
it may be time to consider a larger physical disk.

 

[JS]

Some useful tools that may free of some extra space:
CCleaner: http://www.ccleaner.com/
Microsoft's Disk Cleanup Tool: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312/en-us

Also SystemRestore files can eat up disk space:
http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20020711S0009

Don't forget to Empty your recycle bin periodically.

Automate Cleanup:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/maintenance.mspx

JS