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Rockaway17
10 Posts
0
8633
March 13th, 2001 10:00
ScanDisk and Defrag Don't Do Anything
I recently reformatted my Dell Dimension 4100 PC because of errors on the drive. This was about 2 weeks ago, and I wanted to get it back to a new condition, so I called Dell and had a tech representative talk me through it. Finally, everything works.
However, I noticed that my computer is running considerably slower than it should. It takes about 35 to 40 seconds to start up, which is pretty abnormal for a 933 Megahertz Pentium III machine with 384 MB of RAM (which I upgraded from 128). It used to take 15-20 seconds.
Since my computer runs so slowly, I've been trying to do a ScanDisk/Defrag combo. However, ScanDisk and Defrag don't do anything. I'll start them up, and here's what happens.
ScanDisk says "Checking file allocation tables," and then "Checking folders." But that's it. You know how usually on the right of the status bar in ScanDisk, it will count how many files it's scanned and how many are left? It doesn't get to that point. Then, eventually, I get that stupid annoying "ScanDisk has restarted 10 times because another program is writing to your disk..." junk. Which doesn't make sense, because I turned off ALL unnecessary programs. That aside, I click the "No" button to that ScanDisk message (why would anyone click "Yes"?), and then it just sits at "Checking folders." The computer is quiet and doesn't make any hard drive sounds. The ScanDisk program isn't even Not Responding or frozen or anything. It just looks like its taking an incredibly, incredibly long time to do whatever it is that its doing.
As far as Defrag goes, it's basically the same thing. I'll start Defrag, but it'll just keep saying "Drive's contents changed: Restarting...", and the progress bar won't go anywhere. It stays at 0% and just keeps saying that my drives contents have changed. Which again doesn't make sense, because I have virtually nothing running. And, like ScanDisk, the program Defrag isn't frozen or Not Responding, it's just taking very long.
Sorry for the long winded message, but does ANYONE know how I can fix this and make my computer more productive? It's very annoying because I do a lot of video editing on my computer and it's taking a lot longer than it should.
Thank you for your help.
--James
However, I noticed that my computer is running considerably slower than it should. It takes about 35 to 40 seconds to start up, which is pretty abnormal for a 933 Megahertz Pentium III machine with 384 MB of RAM (which I upgraded from 128). It used to take 15-20 seconds.
Since my computer runs so slowly, I've been trying to do a ScanDisk/Defrag combo. However, ScanDisk and Defrag don't do anything. I'll start them up, and here's what happens.
ScanDisk says "Checking file allocation tables," and then "Checking folders." But that's it. You know how usually on the right of the status bar in ScanDisk, it will count how many files it's scanned and how many are left? It doesn't get to that point. Then, eventually, I get that stupid annoying "ScanDisk has restarted 10 times because another program is writing to your disk..." junk. Which doesn't make sense, because I turned off ALL unnecessary programs. That aside, I click the "No" button to that ScanDisk message (why would anyone click "Yes"?), and then it just sits at "Checking folders." The computer is quiet and doesn't make any hard drive sounds. The ScanDisk program isn't even Not Responding or frozen or anything. It just looks like its taking an incredibly, incredibly long time to do whatever it is that its doing.
As far as Defrag goes, it's basically the same thing. I'll start Defrag, but it'll just keep saying "Drive's contents changed: Restarting...", and the progress bar won't go anywhere. It stays at 0% and just keeps saying that my drives contents have changed. Which again doesn't make sense, because I have virtually nothing running. And, like ScanDisk, the program Defrag isn't frozen or Not Responding, it's just taking very long.
Sorry for the long winded message, but does ANYONE know how I can fix this and make my computer more productive? It's very annoying because I do a lot of video editing on my computer and it's taking a lot longer than it should.
Thank you for your help.
--James
Voodoochild03
10 Posts
321
0
Posted March 13th, 2001 11:00
The only thing I can think of is that you have at least SOMETHING running. When I do ScanDisk and Defrag I turn off everything basicallym there are only three things left in my taskbar when I'm doing it, and none of them are doing anything at the time. By the way, one of the three is Task Scheduler, which I pause. I don't know if you already do shut everything off basically, but I don't know.... later.- hey i had this problem with my t series b4 and come to find otu its my ati video driver, ctrl+alt+del and end task on EVERYTHING except explorer...its the only way. on the other had if it continues to run slow plz email me LngDstncRnr@aol.com i have some other ideas that may get you back to speed
-Jon - Go to the bottom right of the taskbar and close or disable all those icons
there, even the Virus icon.
Close your screen saver and then try it.
You may have to go do the "Start, run, type in msconfig and click.
Then close the right programs there. Go to the "Hardware" talk forum
for more of the same questions. Try coping the answers and save them
in MS Word. Then print them out.
I had this too and finally figured it out.
Just take the time and you'll get it.
READ READ READ...that's what I've been doing.
Take care,
Russ (54 & retired) Pottsville, PA
Rockaway17
10 Posts
321
0
Posted March 13th, 2001 11:00