34 replies to this topic

[Damare]

On my Presario RP (D:) hard disc drive (have Compaq notebook), it says I need to defragment, but when I try, it says I cant cause I only have 11% memory and it needs to 15% to run. "Try deleting programs you dont need" comes up. I dont have many programs, and the ones I do have, I need. I can see I need to defragment. Almost that whole bar is in the red. The virtual memory too low thing comes up a lot too lately. Any suggestions? Thanks

[Troy]

Hi there,

I find you can use Jkdefrag in situations like this. It's a very powerful defragmenter that should pull you out of this bother.

It's a standalone program, meaning you don't have to "install" it. Just download the .zip from the link below, extract the folder and open Jkdefrag.exe and it will run.

I use Jkdefrag in place of the built-in Windows defragmenter. And the best part - it's completely free!

Jkdefrag Link

Cheers

Troy

[Abydos]

Hi Damare

You can use disk cleanup to try free some space.

Start-->programs-->accessories-->system tools-->disk cleanup.

If you have more than one partition, relocating pictures, text-documents and music-files can free up space aswell. Alternatively, relocate them to an external source (CD/DVD, USB stick) might be helpful aswell. Piece of advice, don't use "cut" but "copy / paste" when relocating. Only delete the old entry when copied successfully, that way, if you loose whatever was in the clipboard, you still have the original.

Ccleaner and ATF Cleaner from Atribune are great tools for clearing out TEMP files, cookies, etc.

If you need further instructions or info, please notify.

Regards Abydos

[Digerati]

First, you should never defrag a hard drive without cleaning all the crud off of it first. It is counter-productive to defrag with potentially 1000s of tiny temporary files scattered across your drive. I suggest you look through the Begin Cleaning section under Delete Temporary Files in my Cleaning Out Malware post for instructions for cleaning using 3 common methods.

edit add - Okay - scratch that - I see Abydos beat me to it - but he offered excellent advice here -

Your Virtual Memory problem is also caused by low disk space - so once you free up some space, both your defrag and VM problems should (if you free up enough) go away.

Also, you should defrag in Safe Mode - this ensure only the minimum number of drivers are loaded and files are opened - meaning they can be moved as necessary for more effecient defragging.

But nevertheless - this is a band-aid patch and you need to buy more drive space - simply adding a second drive and moving your Page File and some of your installed programs will then fix your problem - and is one of the least expensive and easy-to-do upgrades.

If you still have problems after cleaning your disk of temp files, come back, there are more things we can do before taking any drastic steps.

[Abydos]

First, you should never defrag a hard drive without cleaning all the crud off of it first. It is counter-productive to defrag with potentially 1000s of tiny temporary files scattered across your drive. I suggest you look through the Begin Cleaning section under Delete Temporary Files in my Cleaning Out Malware post for instructions for cleaning using 3 common methods.

edit add - Okay - scratch that - I see Abydos beat me to it - but he offered excellent advice here -

No need to scratch that. Its a more detailed explanation than the one I presented.

And no harm done to get the advice twice (easier to remember )

Regards Abydos

[Digerati]

And no harm done to get the advice twice (easier to remember )

I have always thought of such things as reinforcement for the OP - reassuring that it is not a wacho offering some off-the-wall advice. Now the question for Damare is, "is this two wackos offering off-the-wall advice?" Or 3 - not to leave Troy out of the fun.

Actually, now that I think about this - we all gave you bad advice Damare. Do NOT download CCleaner, ATF, or JKDefrag! You already are critically low on disk space so compounding matters by downloading more files is not the solution.

So I change my recommendation and just run through the steps using Windows own Disk Cleanup, then defrag. And then, if you have enough space, you may want to download those tools.

Edited by Digerati, 28 April 2008 - 06:34 AM.

[Damare]

Thanks for the fast replies guys! Troy...I did what you said. It worked nicely on the C drive. I can see a big difference, at least as far the color bars are concerned. On the D drive, (where my problem is) it looks better arranged, but there is stil a ton of red (fragmented files) & the free space is still at 11%. This is my capacity after using your defragger: C drive - 48.47 GB capacity/ 24.09 GB free space/ 49% free space. (thats fine) D Drive (presarioRP) - 7.39 GB capacity/856 MB free space/ 11% free space. (not fine) Abydos...Ive used the disk cleaup many times. There is nothing to clean up. "Total amount of disk space you gain" is currently at 0. What about the "More Options" menu? Windows components, Installed programs? I dont want to lose anything I use. I may try moving files to an external source like you said (at least temporarily), but I dont have very many, which is why this is a bit puzzling. I regularly delete Temp files & Cookies. Have AVG virus & Superantispyware run regularly. Also have Giant Disk Cleaner - "Broken Shorcuts Cleaner Wizard" is always used (currently empty) - "Obsolete & Junk Files Cleaner Wizard" is always used (currently empty) - "Duplicate Files Cleaner Wizard" is used on the D Drive (currently empty), but on the C drive, when I tried to use it (always backing up files first ofcourse) there were some 8000 files that it said needed to be emptied. When I started emptying them, I found myself losing a bunch of stuff. For instance, I ended up completely messing up my Google Earth program. So I restored everything back (duplicate files) to be safe. I dont know what to cut or what to keep, so I left that alone. Digerati...I know once I free up space, my problems should go away. I have used the Windows disc clean up like I said to Abydos. The windows defragger was used to, but again I only have 11% free space, and it says I need at least 15% for it to run effectively. It looks like my only option at this point is to move as many big programs to a dvd or two, and then try to defrag again. If there is anything else you guys can tell me, let me know. Ill keep checking back.

[Digerati]

No, this will be easy. You have tons of space on your C drive - simply create a temporary folder on your Desktop - which is on C drive, unless you changed it. Call the folder "D Drive Temporary Hold" - or something like that. Then move ("Cut" and Paste) a few big folders off of D:\ and into D Drive Temporary Hold - move enough to get enough space back, then defrag.

(If uncomfortable with "Cut" and Paste, then Copy and Paste, verify ok, then delete off D.)

When done, "move" the folders back. If you pull the folders off of the "root" of D, then it is easy to remember where they belong.

Where is your PF? If on C, you should not be getting those errors again. If you have one on D too, delete it - you don't need one on every drive, just one properly sized PF file on a fast drive is enough.

Having said that, if me, I would move EVERYTHING off of D drive, run chkdsk /r on it, then, BEFORE anything else, "set" my "fixed sized" PF as the first thing on the 7Gb D Drive. Then start moving some of the stuff back.

Edited by Digerati, 28 April 2008 - 09:05 AM.

[Abydos]

Hi Damare Good you got C drive defragged. To further free up some space from the D drive, do you have the possibility to move something on to the C drive? That would be the best solution as I see it. As mentioned earlier, text documents, music files and pictures are all easy to move. I don't know any of the tools / programs you mention. But if they mess things up like that, I would be very catious in my use of them. Generally, its not adviceable to mess with old registry keys unless one knows excactly whats going on. For such programs to be fully trustable, they would have to know every single program on the market, and I doubt one such exist. That said, try and see if you can do the above. If you have the possibility of re-installing one or two programs from D to C that should work also. Just be sure you have everything you need to re-install it before uninstalling things. Regards Abydos

[Damare]

Alright, thanks again guys. Now for the dumb question of the day. How do I get into the Presario_RP (D:) drive to locate files? I double click it from "My Computer" and a warning message comes up: "Recovery Partition. This area of your hard disk contains files for your system recovery. Do not delete or alter these files. etc..." I hit "Open" and see only one file that says "Recovery" - "Folder Empty" when cursor is over it. What am I missing? (besides a few brain cells) And I dont know where my PF is? Im still kinda new to this computer thing, so forgive me.

[Digerati]

Alright, thanks again guys. Now for the dumb question of the day. How do I get into the Presario_RP (D:) drive to locate files? I double click it from "My Computer" and a warning message comes up: "Recovery Partition. This area of your hard disk contains files for your system recovery. Do not delete or alter these files. etc..."
I hit "Open" and see only one file that says "Recovery" - "Folder Empty" when cursor is over it. What am I missing? (besides a few brain cells)

Well, that changes everything - so my guess now is you only have one hard drive, and it is divided into 2 partitions (which Windows treats as 2 drives).

So are you getting errors about D drive during normal use?

And I dont know where my PF is? Im still kinda new to this computer thing, so forgive me.

We were all new at one time.

Your Page File - the actual file this is used setup and used by Virtual Memory - is probably on your C drive - you can verify this by right clicking My Computer > Properties>Advanced. Then under Performance, click Settings > Advanced, then under Virtual Memory, click Change to view your setting. I would cancel out and not change anything at this time, but let us know what it says.

[Abydos]

Alright, thanks again guys. Now for the dumb question of the day. How do I get into the Presario_RP (D:) drive to locate files? I double click it from "My Computer" and a warning message comes up: "Recovery Partition. This area of your hard disk contains files for your system recovery. Do not delete or alter these files. etc..."
I hit "Open" and see only one file that says "Recovery" - "Folder Empty" when cursor is over it. What am I missing? (besides a few brain cells)

And I dont know where my PF is? Im still kinda new to this computer thing, so forgive me.

Hi Damare

Ehmm, only dumb questions are those not asked. And I feel alittle dumb aswell if thats any comfort for you

Should have thought of that, that its a recovery partition.
As far as I know, you don't need to defragment that drive. You shouldn't store anything there aswell as far as I know. Not much of a laptop geek, so I might be wrong on that one.

Its a partition you can use if you ever need to bring back the computer to the day it left factory. Sort of a way to re-install you windows system.

So actually, you're done defragmenting your system drive, and that should be it, unless I missed something, but then I am sure someone will point that out.

Kind (and embarraressed ) regards Abydos

[Damare]

Digerati...thanks for the help! - I am NOT getting errors about D drive during normal use. My Page File stats - Drive C/space available - 25398MB. Custom size is "checked". Initial size MB 576 - Maximum size MB 1152 (nothing else "checked") Total paging file size for all drives - minimum allowed 2MB/ Recommended 573MB/ Currently allocated 576MB. Is this good then? Abydos...thanks for the help! - With my defragging complete I guess, all thats left is the question of "Virtual Memory Too Low" that has been popping up lately. Ill check back...

[Abydos]

Hi again Damare Regarding your pagefile, if its good or not, depends on how much RAM you have. So could you report back those numbers? Regards Abydos

[Damare]

I have an HP mobile AMD Sempron Processor 3300+ 797MHz, 384 MB of Ram, according to the "system properties" General menu. Hope this helps. Thanks