Where's the free space on my drive?

[Someone]

I am running Wwindows XP Pro and I set up my system so
that my swap file is on a separate partition than is my
OS.

I recently wanted to defrag this separate drive
(partition) and so I went into my virtual memory settings
for my swap file and I selected "No swap (or page) file"
and then asked windows to defrag the drive that my swap
file exists on. I then went to defrag the drive.
Instead of defragging, I receive a warning that asks me
to free up space on the drive in order that defrag can
run. So I increased the size of the drive (partition) to
800mb and the defrag ran.

My latest defrag report says:

Volume XP Pro SWAP FILE (K
Volume size = 800 MB
Cluster size = 64 KB
Used space = 600 MB
Free space = 200 MB
Percent free space = 25 %

Volume fragmentation
Total fragmentation = 0 %
File fragmentation = 0 %
Free space fragmentation = 0 %

File fragmentation
Total files = 5
Average file size = 297 MB
Total fragmented files = 0
Total excess fragments = 0
Average fragments per file = 1.00

Pagefile fragmentation
Pagefile size = 593 MB
Total fragments = 1

Folder fragmentation
Total folders = 2
Fragmented folders = 1
Excess folder fragments = 0

Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
Total MFT size = 31 KB
MFT record count = 16
Percent MFT in use = 51 %
Total MFT fragments = 2

----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------
Fragments File Size Files that cannot be
defragmented
None
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------

There should be no files on this drive! What could
possibly be the explanation for the reference to:

File fragmentation
Total files = 5
Average file size = 297 MB

in this report?

I dropped to a cmd prompt and executed the dir cmd to
check the contents of this drive. It says the drive is
empty. I should note I have also reduced the cluster
size from 65k to 1k and this produces no difference in
the amount of free drive space. Does anyone have any
idea as to what is causing this and a solution?

 

[Hz]

Having the swap on another partition is slower than having it on the
boot partition. If you want speed, put it on another (fast) drive.

--
Hz


Someone wrote:

| I am running Wwindows XP Pro and I set up my system so
| that my swap file is on a separate partition than is my
| OS.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am running Wwindows XP Pro and I set up my system so
that my swap file is on a separate partition than is my
OS.

I recently wanted to defrag this separate drive
(partition) and so I went into my virtual memory settings
for my swap file and I selected "No swap (or page) file"

The fact that you said 'no page file' does not actually delete the file.
It makes it possible for it to be defragment without having to do so
'offline'. Also there will be a System Volume Information folder there,
which may have some restore point info in it, if only empty points and a
simple log or two (to see these have Folder Options - View set to show
Hidden files, and *not* Hide Protected mode ones)

The partition seems to need no defragmentation. But a comment - a page
file in XP should be on a partition with 4K cluster size for maximum
efficiency. This matches the page size used internally in the
addressing system of an Intel architecture CPU, and therefore means that
data can be transferred direct between file and RAM with no need for
intermediate buffering. Also it is only really a good idea to have the
page file away from C: if it is going on a physically separate drive -
the aim is to reduce seek times, not necessarily to have it at zero
fragmentation

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am running Wwindows XP Pro and I set up my system so
that my swap file is on a separate partition than is my
OS.

I recently wanted to defrag this separate drive
(partition) and so I went into my virtual memory settings
for my swap file and I selected "No swap (or page) file"

The fact that you said 'no page file' does not actually delete the file.
It makes it possible for it to be defragment without having to do so
'offline'. Also there will be a System Volume Information folder there,
which may have some restore point info in it, if only empty points and a
simple log or two (to see these have Folder Options - View set to show
Hidden files, and *not* Hide Protected mode ones)

The partition seems to need no defragmentation. But a comment - a page
file in XP should be on a partition with 4K cluster size for maximum
efficiency. This matches the page size used internally in the
addressing system of an Intel architecture CPU, and therefore means that
data can be transferred direct between file and RAM with no need for
intermediate buffering. Also it is only really a good idea to have the
page file away from C: if it is going on a physically separate drive -
the aim is to reduce seek times, not necessarily to have it at zero
fragmentation