unlocking files in defragmenter

[T5]

I have a 300gb HDD but when I try to defrag it it says that it cannot defrag
certain files because they are locked......this results in my HDD always
being 40% fragmented.... how do I unlock these files?

 

[Richard Urban]

Locked files are files that are in use by the operating system. They can not
be unlocked. You need a third party defragmenting utility that can perform a
boot time defrag. This will usually take care of the condition.

PerfectDisk is one.

Diskeeper is another.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

 

[John Barnes]

This has been recommended by a number of users. I haven't used, nor do I
recommend. http://www.auslogics.com/disk-defrag/

 

[T5]

thanks Richard but is this really the case? In the old xp defragmenter you
were able to firstly analyze and it would show you what the file
would/should look like before and after defragmenting. Then after
defragmenting the drive all of the files would be laid out accordingly, In
vista even after a boot time defrag I am still left with a 40% fragmented
drive. Now, if I switch certain things off, I think indexer is one of them
and system restore, I am able to fully defrag. I know I have sort of half
answered my own question but am I doing the right thing?

 

[Richard Urban]

What program are you using for your defragmenting. The program that comes
with Vista does not do a boot time defrag. Nor does it show you the drives
condition pictorially.

If you turn off services and shut down programs that are operating in the
back ground you will, of course, free up a lot more files that can be
defragmented.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

 

[T5]

Hi again Richard,

I have been using the defragmenter that comes as part of IOLO system
mechanic 7.0 Professional and auslogic disk defragmenter, they both say that
I have 40% fragmented files and that I have locked files. I have also used
the trial version of Perfect Disk and ran a boot time defrag but I still
have 40% fragmented files ......so what is the purpose of a boot time defrag
apart from wasting boot time?

 

[Richard Urban]

Different programs operate differently. Every manufacturer has his/her idea
of what to display as fragmented. That being said, Perfect Disk is used by
many knowledgeable users and it does a fine boot time defrag.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

 

[T5]

thx for the advice achilles, I am not too cut up about it, If I disable sys
restore and indexing the whole of my drive seems to defrag, don't know why?
What I do want to know is why does the defrag log always report files locked
or in use when I have nothing other than the defrag tool working?

 

[Richard Urban]

Most any system file that is loaded during boot up is locked by the system.
There are many that fit into this category.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)