Defragment problem

Polariz · 07-23-2003, 11:13 PM

My main drive (40GB) has WinXP on it as well as many programs, leaving around 20% space left. However whenever I try to defragment the drive the whole system restarts. This occurs in the standard MMC defragmenter of XP, and also in a program called 'PerfectDisk' which I downloaded as an alternative. I then also tried a scandisk/surface scan in XP but that also resets the machine.

Any ideas? No programs installed on my PC lock up due to this problem/potential damaged disk, but my disk is very messy in terms of fragmented files - any suggestions guys?

By the way however, a free demo of Perfect disk is available and I personally think the idea is fantastic. It doesnt just sort our files that are fragmented; it also arranges your files by how often the files are modified, and (even though it sounds stupid) places the boot files at the start of the disk drive (WinXP defrags the boot files but doesnt put em at the front of the drive).

www.perfectdisk.com

geffers · 07-24-2003, 04:11 AM

try defraging in safe mode that way you know you have only
the basics that windows requires to run

igalan · 07-24-2003, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Polariz
My main drive (40GB) has WinXP on it as well as many programs, leaving around 20% space left. However whenever I try to defragment the drive the whole system restarts. This occurs in the standard MMC defragmenter of XP, and also in a program called 'PerfectDisk' which I downloaded as an alternative. I then also tried a scandisk/surface scan in XP but that also resets the machine.

Do you get any error in the event log? Do you use FAT32 or HPFS? For correcting disk problems Norton Utilities have always been number one. But there can be a problem with the partition table, do you get the error as soon as scandisk starts, or in middle of the process?

Polariz · 07-24-2003, 10:30 AM

I've been scheduling chkdsk to run before windows starts up as the drive needed to be unmounted so it could fix the disk if required.

In cmd, the chkdsk tags I use are:

/f (Fixes errors on the disk).
/v (Displays cleanup msgs if any)
/r (Locates bad sectors and recovers readable info [Implies /f])
/x (Forces the volume to dismount if necessary)

This then runs before Windows can start, but resets the machine. The same program will then run again as Windows tries to boot, as if it's forgotten to do the job beforehand; if I dont cancel the disk check, the same thing will happen again. The problem occurs right in the middle of the process.

I use NTFS on all drives (WinXP formatted drives).

However, after Igalan suggested the error log I started to brown my underwear:

Error name : IdeChnDr
Description: The device, \Device\Ide\IdeDeviceP0T1L0, did not respond within the timeout period.

Hmmm.

igalan · 07-24-2003, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Polariz
Error name : IdeChnDr
Description: The device, \Device\Ide\IdeDeviceP0T1L0, did not respond within the timeout period.

That at least points to what is most likely the problem. Which mobo do you have? If it's nForce based you should not use nVidia IDE driver. If not, I would reinstall mobo drivers and IDE driver again; just to be sure. You can also try running the IDE drive in PIO mode, just to see if the problem still exist or not (you have to go into the BIOS and disable UDMA for this drive.)

Polariz · 07-24-2003, 11:45 AM

I've just attempted another run of the full scandisk/surface scan. It resets the machine on part 4 of 5 (File data check) at around 22%. However after looking at the error log I have no 'Errors' like which I posted earlier in the eventlog, so the two problems appear to be unrelated. I am running an 845PE chipset with P4 (Asus BE7-G).

So theres something wrong with the surface I reckon. Mmm new 140GB drive plz.

igalan · 07-24-2003, 11:58 AM

I think that the error that you just showed is a clear indication that something is wrong in the IDE controller; even if it doesn't get logged everytime.

At work my computer uses i845G chipset (ASUS P4B533-V). I'm running the Intel 82801 Ultra ATA Storage Controller 4.0.1001.0. You could check which IDE driver are you running, and also the test of PIO mode could be useful. You can also try run scandisk in safe mode, just in case it can fix it,

twofaze · 08-06-2003, 11:42 PM

Norton has some good utiliteis as well.......

08-07-2003, 12:11 AM

Have you checked into your device manager to see that every thing is running as it should be? That one of the features I like the most about XP. There maybe something that just needs to be uninstalled and re-installed.

If you dont know how to get to it, its

start/controll panel/performance and matinence/see basic info/ hardware. look for the box that says device manager/ click on it.

look for anything with a red circle with a line through it or a red exclemation point. Double click on what ever you see that need fixed. it will open a box that will give you an option to uninstall or you can look for any updates for that driver.

07-23-2003, 11:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Polariz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 79	Defragment problem My main drive (40GB) has WinXP on it as well as many programs, leaving around 20% space left. However whenever I try to defragment the drive the whole system restarts. This occurs in the standard MMC defragmenter of XP, and also in a program called 'PerfectDisk' which I downloaded as an alternative. I then also tried a scandisk/surface scan in XP but that also resets the machine. Any ideas? No programs installed on my PC lock up due to this problem/potential damaged disk, but my disk is very messy in terms of fragmented files - any suggestions guys? By the way however, a free demo of Perfect disk is available and I personally think the idea is fantastic. It doesnt just sort our files that are fragmented; it also arranges your files by how often the files are modified, and (even though it sounds stupid) places the boot files at the start of the disk drive (WinXP defrags the boot files but doesnt put em at the front of the drive). www.perfectdisk.com __________________ AMD Athlon64 3500+ CPU, Socket 939/Newcastle/CBAXC Week 3604 @ 2423MHz Shuttle SN95G v1.3 /nForce3 2x 512mb TwinMOS PC3200 128bit Geforce 6800 128mb AGP8x 240GB Hard Disks Sony DVDRW DL

07-24-2003, 04:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
geffers Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Birmingham England Posts: 631	try defraging in safe mode that way you know you have only the basics that windows requires to run __________________ keep right on geffers

07-24-2003, 10:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
Polariz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 79	I've been scheduling chkdsk to run before windows starts up as the drive needed to be unmounted so it could fix the disk if required. In cmd, the chkdsk tags I use are: /f (Fixes errors on the disk). /v (Displays cleanup msgs if any) /r (Locates bad sectors and recovers readable info [Implies /f]) /x (Forces the volume to dismount if necessary) This then runs before Windows can start, but resets the machine. The same program will then run again as Windows tries to boot, as if it's forgotten to do the job beforehand; if I dont cancel the disk check, the same thing will happen again. The problem occurs right in the middle of the process. I use NTFS on all drives (WinXP formatted drives). However, after Igalan suggested the error log I started to brown my underwear: Error name : IdeChnDr Description: The device, \Device\Ide\IdeDeviceP0T1L0, did not respond within the timeout period. Hmmm. __________________ AMD Athlon64 3500+ CPU, Socket 939/Newcastle/CBAXC Week 3604 @ 2423MHz Shuttle SN95G v1.3 /nForce3 2x 512mb TwinMOS PC3200 128bit Geforce 6800 128mb AGP8x 240GB Hard Disks Sony DVDRW DL

07-24-2003, 11:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
Polariz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 79	I've just attempted another run of the full scandisk/surface scan. It resets the machine on part 4 of 5 (File data check) at around 22%. However after looking at the error log I have no 'Errors' like which I posted earlier in the eventlog, so the two problems appear to be unrelated. I am running an 845PE chipset with P4 (Asus BE7-G). So theres something wrong with the surface I reckon. Mmm new 140GB drive plz. __________________ AMD Athlon64 3500+ CPU, Socket 939/Newcastle/CBAXC Week 3604 @ 2423MHz Shuttle SN95G v1.3 /nForce3 2x 512mb TwinMOS PC3200 128bit Geforce 6800 128mb AGP8x 240GB Hard Disks Sony DVDRW DL

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

07-24-2003, 11:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
igalan PCTT Articles Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Barcelona, SPAIN Posts: 1,018	I think that the error that you just showed is a clear indication that something is wrong in the IDE controller; even if it doesn't get logged everytime. At work my computer uses i845G chipset (ASUS P4B533-V). I'm running the Intel 82801 Ultra ATA Storage Controller 4.0.1001.0. You could check which IDE driver are you running, and also the test of PIO mode could be useful. You can also try run scandisk in safe mode, just in case it can fix it,

08-06-2003, 11:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
twofaze Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: ATL Posts: 21	Norton has some good utiliteis as well.......

08-07-2003, 12:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
feenies-wife Guest Posts: n/a	Have you checked into your device manager to see that every thing is running as it should be? That one of the features I like the most about XP. There maybe something that just needs to be uninstalled and re-installed. If you dont know how to get to it, its start/controll panel/performance and matinence/see basic info/ hardware. look for the box that says device manager/ click on it. look for anything with a red circle with a line through it or a red exclemation point. Double click on what ever you see that need fixed. it will open a box that will give you an option to uninstall or you can look for any updates for that driver.