Disk Defragmenter

[suffolk*sue]

Hi, can anyone help please.

I am running Windows XP.
I decided I would do a defrag, computer is six years old and never been done.
After analyzing the Recovery drive, this doesn't need doing. Doing the same to the Main drive and this does need doing.
Before defragging the message says to have at least 15% free to do it successfully, I have 3%. I went through old progs and deleted quite a few, mainly games my son installed years ago, but it still shows 3%. Can anyone advise me what to do next.

Thanks.

[Sikes]

Have you tried a program like CCleaner? It will remove lots of files that you dont need.

[km1971]

After 'deleting' them have you also emptied the recycle bin? All 'deleting 'does is change the location in the file access table to the recycle bin. You haven't saved any space yet.

If you doing a major defrag for the first time you need to (a) allow at least an hour, and (b) reboot and do it again. If you can get a trial of something like Norton 360 you can use it's performance tools.

Ideally, if you have a usb external disk or flash memory you can copy large files to that while you are deciding what to keep. Once you have defragged you can load them back for safety until you are sure.

Ken

[suffolk*sue]

Nothing in the recycle bin, should have said uninstalled stuff rather than deleting. I already have Norton 2009 on here, would that have any sort of tools, don't know much about computers.

[mshrmh]

suffolk*sue - before you defrag you can use the "disk cleanup" tool - also under the System Tools area of XP. It will look for other files that can be removed such as temporary internet files and other "temp" files (often created when doing downloads) - it will also offer to "compress" old files that are not used.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312

If you set it going it gives you options (with tick boxes) before actually deleting/compressing etc, so if you're unsure you can have a look & come back & ask more questions.

[km1971]

Norton 2009 is only anti-vitus/internet security. You need to say if you have a laptop or a desktop, also the size of the disk. With a desktop you can cheaply install a second disk to store your data, leaving the C drive just for programs.

Looks as if your disk is full of data rather than programs.  If you look in my pictures, my videos, My Documents etc you can click on the top of the size column to find the largest ones. You should also start/search for *.PDF as these can be massive.

I would also suggest you load - http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html - for free. This will give you a one page summary of your PC.

Do you have XP on CD? Have you installed the Service Packs? If you still have these as .exe on your PC you can copy them to CD and delete. Or did it come with MS Works and you are using MS Office? If you haven't got the XP disks you have potentially worse risks than not being able to defrag. You need to make sure you have copies of any data you cannot afford to lose.

Compressing old files is a last resort as it will slow your PC. Better to try saving space first.

Ken

[Paul Caswell]

Another good tool that's very helpful for discovering where all your disk space has gone is WinDirStat.

http://windirstat.info/index.php

It's free.

Paul

[gordon5]

Hi

As an alternative to the windows disk defragmenter (which can take several hours!) I use the Auslogics one found here - http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/ - download the free version of course!!

Its a nice piece of software (Imho).

gordon5

[suffolk*sue]

Hi

As an alternative to the windows disk defragmenter (which can take several hours!) I use the Auslogics one found here - http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/ - download the free version of course!!

Its a nice piece of software (Imho).

gordon5

Thank you for your replies.

Hi Gordon, I downloaded the above, but on trying to defrag it says the same as before, because there is less than 10% disc space it may affect the effectiveness of the defrag, so I was unsure whether to continue.