Techno-dumb blonde needs defrag advice, pleeeeeze!

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I'm running Windows XP Home Edition + SP2 on a Dell Inspiron 8600 laptop. I
badly need to defragment my hard drive for the first time. Do I need to
switch off or suspend any programs running in the background first,
anti-virus etc., and/or my broadband connection? During normal use, my PC
seems to be accessing the HDD almost continuously. Plus, is there anything
else I should do or know before unleashing the Windows Defragger on my drive?
Sorry if this question seems really stupid or obvious, but I really am a
techno-backward girlie trying to learn this stuff as I go along! Can anyone
advise? Thanks in advance... kali x
 
I seriously doubt you're a "techno-backward girlie". I'll bet you're
just a regular person trying to work her way through the intimidating
complexity of a computer. And you've already done the right thing by
asking about a procedure before you try it. I'd say that makes you
sharper than most who post here.

Whether or not you should switch off any programs running in the
background before a defrag depends on your particular configuration. I
have no trouble running Windows Disk Defragmenter with all my background
processes. Other people can only defrag successfully in Safe Mode.

Try to defrag without turning off background processes. (Close any open
applications, obviously.) If Disk Defragmenter can't run it will tell
you so. You won't cause damage to your system by trying this. If you get
a 'sorry, no go' message just restart your computer in Safe Mode and
defrag from there.

Although not necessary, it's a good practice to run Disk Error Checking
(with 'Automatically fix file system errors' checked) before a defrag.

No need to turn off your internet connection before a defrag.

"During normal use, my PC seems to be accessing the HDD almost
continuously."

Your PC accesses your hard disk continuously for many reasons that have
nothing to do with fragmentation. For example, Disk Indexing could be
compiling indexes, your media player could be updating its library, your
antivirus program could be running a scan, XP could be performing one of
its occasional background defags, etc. etc. Or a virus or other malware
could be hard at work.

Open Task Manager and leave it on top of your desktop. Sort the listing
in order of CPU time. Next time you hear that familiar sound glance to
Task Manager and see what's going on.
 
Thanx for your helpful, encouraging and understanding reply. I shall
definitely proceed as you advise. I'm glad you have faith in my growing
abilities... however, I think I'm gonna shatter your illusions when I ask -
how do I start my pc in Safe Mode?!
With apologies in advance! kali x
 
Thanks again, and for sparing my blushes (I HAVE heard of Google!). The
reason that I thought my HDD needed defragging in the first place was how
much slower my laptop seems to have become lately. I have installed and run
PCTools Registry Mechanic with all options selected, but I've not noticed any
real improvement.
I brought up Task Manager as you suggested. With no other applications
running, sorting the listing in order of CPU time shows 'System Idle Process'
at the top with a reading of 99. Next is 'explorer.exe', CPU 01, Mem Usage
21,404K. Occasionally, other names appear in the second spot for a second
(too quick to see!), but generally it settles as above. I'm guessing this is
all pretty obvious?!
My system tells me I have 1GB RAM and 75GB HDD with 52GB free. Is there
anything more I can do to check out and/or improve my system? Any help and
advice would really be appreciated... thankyou once more in advance, kali
x
 
From Kali... said:
Thanks again, and for sparing my blushes (I HAVE heard of Google!). The
reason that I thought my HDD needed defragging in the first place was how
much slower my laptop seems to have become lately. I have installed and
run
PCTools Registry Mechanic with all options selected, but I've not noticed
any
real improvement.
I brought up Task Manager as you suggested. With no other applications
running, sorting the listing in order of CPU time shows 'System Idle
Process'
at the top with a reading of 99. Next is 'explorer.exe', CPU 01, Mem Usage
21,404K. Occasionally, other names appear in the second spot for a second
(too quick to see!), but generally it settles as above. I'm guessing this
is
all pretty obvious?!
My system tells me I have 1GB RAM and 75GB HDD with 52GB free. Is there
anything more I can do to check out and/or improve my system? Any help and
advice would really be appreciated... thankyou once more in advance,
kali
x
Click to expand...
Uninstall Registry Mechanic before it removes some indispensable entry.
 
"Is there anything more I can do to check out and/or improve my system?"

Begins with G. Sounds like 'frugal'. Compish? ;-)
 
Thankyou for your help + patience.

kali x




Ted Zieglar said:
"Is there anything more I can do to check out and/or improve my system?"

Begins with G. Sounds like 'frugal'. Compish? ;-)
Click to expand...
 
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