How do you delete files that do not defragment?

[Guest]

So I keep trying to defrag my hard drive but there are several files that do
not defragment. I checked the file name and the location the fragmented file
is supposed to be however the particular file in some cases is no longer
there, it has been moved to a different drive altogether. Is it possible to
get rid of these files that "do not defragment" ???

 

[Guest]

So I keep trying to defrag my hard drive but there are several files that do
not defragment. I checked the file name and the location the fragmented file
is supposed to be however the particular file in some cases is no longer
there, it has been moved to a different drive altogether. Is it possible to
get rid of these files that "do not defragment" ???

You may have to many cluttered together or something might be corrupted. Bu
you dont alwyas want to delete something that does not defragment as it might
be some important file or if you delete it you might cause a corruption ,
crash, etc:.
How big are the files and can you list them?

(been a while a long while since ive been here but im back to help when i
can again)

 

[Roberto]

So I keep trying to defrag my hard drive but there are several files that
do
not defragment. I checked the file name and the location the fragmented
file
is supposed to be however the particular file in some cases is no longer
there, it has been moved to a different drive altogether. Is it possible
to
get rid of these files that "do not defragment" ???

It may be a case of corruption, try running chkdsk /r from Start > Run
... you will have to reboot, or you can do it from the recovery
console.
See MS KB Article ID: 315265 for more info

rgds
Roberto

 

[Guest]

The files for the most part aren't important. They're all old movies that I
have deleted off the hard drive. Ranging from 600megs-2.6GBs a couple are
still on but I don't need them on there.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

So I keep trying to defrag my hard drive but there are several files that do
not defragment. I checked the file name and the location the fragmented file
is supposed to be however the particular file in some cases is no longer
there, it has been moved to a different drive altogether. Is it possible to
get rid of these files that "do not defragment" ???

While a completely defragged drive might appeal to
your aesthetic sense, you are probably wasting your
time when trying to ensure that every single file is contiguous.
The aim of defragging is to speed up your PC. If there
is no improvement in speed, why defrag?

I recently ran a rigorous test by creating 50 files on a spare
disk, each 10 MBytes in size, and each consisting of up to
80 fragments. I then did this:
- Clear a second partition on the same spare disk.
- Reboot the PC.
- Copy the 50 files to this second partition.
- Measure the time it took to complete the operation.

I then repeated the exercise after defragging and also
when the same files were created without fragmentation.
The times I measured varied by plus/minus 10%, in spite
of the very heavy fragmentation of each and every file.

In other words, defragging your drive once every so often
will probably speed up your PC a little but attempting to make
every single file contiguous is a waste of time. Take out your
stop watch and measure things by yourself!

 

[JS]

Some files will not be defragmented simply because they are in use by
Windows or an application.
Also if you formatted using FAT32 then each new folder created uses some
disk space and will cause most defragmenters to break a file into two or
more fragments (depending on how large the file is and the number of folders
in that area of the disk) to use the space on each side of the folder
cluster.

If you use either Microsoft's built in defragmentation tool or most third
party software they use the 'MoveFile' api which has it's own limitations,
for more info see:
http://www.xpforum.co.uk/forums/technical-reference-library/2169-cluster-size-exposed.html

Jim

 

[steam3801]

The files for the most part aren't important. They're all old movies that I
have deleted off the hard drive. Ranging from 600megs-2.6GBs a couple are
still on but I don't need them on there.

Ummm, if you've deleted them, why is/how come the system is still
trying to defrag them .... ?

 

[Guest]

thanks for the suggestion, tried it, and it still won't defrag... I might be
SOL on this one eh

 

[Guest]

I guess have the problem is I'm not so much worried as to why the files
didn't defrag, it's more I'm curious as to why some of them are even there. A
few have been deleted (or so I thought) from the drive altogether yet the
defrag tool says these files are sitting where they aren't and that it can't
defrag em.

Also I only defrag like every 3 months because I have a 200GB HD and the
30gigs I have to free up to defrag, well usually I'm using them

 

[Guest]

I got no idea... with half of the files it can't defrag that is the case and
I'm as confused as you might be by it

 

[Guest]

Some files will not be defragmented simply because they are in use by
Windows or an application.
Also if you formatted using FAT32 then each new folder created uses some
disk space and will cause most defragmenters to break a file into two or
more fragments (depending on how large the file is and the number of folders
in that area of the disk) to use the space on each side of the folder
cluster.

If you use either Microsoft's built in defragmentation tool or most third
party software they use the 'MoveFile' api which has it's own limitations,
for more info see:
http://www.xpforum.co.uk/forums/technical-reference-library/2169-cluster-size-exposed.html

Jim




What is your operating system and if so like somewhat above said do a recovery but also do chkdsk/v two times and this is the most vigurous check in cmd prompt console that i use every other day. Another way to do this would be to go to my computer right click on that harddrive or one of them if you have more than one do it one at a time. First like i said go right click then properties then tools and there should be a part called error checking clcik check now and check in both boxes then ok and click yes then close out everything the go to start and click restart and it will check everything for you. then do a defrag once this is done or a chkdsk/v twice before the defrag then do the defrag at least 2 or 3 times. If it still doesnt defrag or is not there or whatever just delete it. If you want to remove the registries from those files that they perhaps made by being iso or compressed you may want to get CCleaner known as Crap Cleaner and Go to this site which i put insturctions

on how to use CCleaner for the registry fixes and that should take care of that problem. If you are unsure of the directions my e-mail is on that site as well. http://www.freewebs.com/gmanson/

 

[Plato]

thanks for the suggestion, tried it, and it still won't defrag... I might be
SOL on this one eh

Not all files can be defragged in XP. If this bothers you, contact MS.

 

[steam3801]

I got no idea... with half of the files it can't defrag that is the case and
I'm as confused as you might be by it

Sorry to state the bleedin' obvious, but have you emptied the Recycle
Bin (which is, after all, simply another directory/folder on the hard
drive)?

 

[Don MI]

So I keep trying to defrag my hard drive but there are several files that
do
not defragment. I checked the file name and the location the fragmented
file
is supposed to be however the particular file in some cases is no longer
there, it has been moved to a different drive altogether. Is it possible
to
get rid of these files that "do not defragment" ???

Control Panel, Folder Options, View tab. Windows XP has two types of hidden
file options. Ordinary hidden files you can choose to hide or not hide in
one choice in the View tab. Down further on the View list you can also
choose to hide or not hide Protected System files. Perhaps you are hiding
Protected System Files and the files you cannot find are protected system
files.

Usually files that do not defrag are files in use {such as Window System
files}. Sometimes you can defrag more files by running defrag in Safe Mode
when fewer files are in use. In any case some fragmented files are not a
problem.

Don

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Filling a disk so much that there is insufficient room to
defrag is not good disk management. You should have at
least 20% free space at all times, or 40 GBytes in your case.

 

[Guest]

haha, ya man a few months ago I (using cut and paste method) moved the file
from C:\My Documents\My Videos to E:\My Movies and I'm defraging C: so they
shouldn't be there, and the recyle bin has been emptied many times since

 

[Guest]

What?! Really? I didn't know... well I'll keep that in mind... I want to go
pick up another HD... that should help. Thanks for the info

 

[steam3801]

haha, ya man a few months ago I (using cut and paste method) moved the file
from C:\My Documents\My Videos to E:\My Movies and I'm defraging C: so they
shouldn't be there, and the recyle bin has been emptied many times since

OK. WinXP has been known to "hang on" to some video type files.

Download a 3rd party file management program (from www.download.com or
www.tucows.com - plenty of share/freeware options avavilable) and
check to see whether the file is actually there.

I'm beginning to think that altho the file(s) have been deleted, they
are still "recorded" in the FAT, defrag goes to look for them, can't
find them and so tells you it couldn't defrag them

 

[Guest]

Control Panel, Folder Options, View tab. Windows XP has two types of hidden
file options. Ordinary hidden files you can choose to hide or not hide in
one choice in the View tab. Down further on the View list you can also
choose to hide or not hide Protected System files. Perhaps you are hiding
Protected System Files and the files you cannot find are protected system
files.

Usually files that do not defrag are files in use {such as Window System
files}. Sometimes you can defrag more files by running defrag in Safe Mode
when fewer files are in use. In any case some fragmented files are not a
problem.

Don


Yes that could work. But he should also run command prompt with the chkdsk/v in in as well.