can't defragment hard disk

[stillin1]

HELP! I've got an Advent lap-top, windows ME and Norton Tools. I can not get the hard drive to defragment. NT keeps telling me that there are FAT files that need fixing and lost clusters, and that NDD can fix them. I run NDD (for hours) and - no fix. Anyone any ideas / pointers / advice please.

[tony draper]

Not sure, but fat file probs are bad news, had that twice over the years and both required a H/D format and reinstal.

[Ronbmy]

Stop ALL other software from running first.

This includes anti virus software.

If you have Microsoft Orifice this can cause problems if the Find Fast utility is installed. This utility builds index files of all files on your drive, can take hours to finish and will stop defrag.

The following works on Win98 but I do not have a machine with ME installed in order to check it.

Reboot the machine and force it into SAFE MODE. In '98 keep pressing the ctrl key whilst booting.

This will start Windoze without loading the mass of drivers and other software.

Then run the maintenance wizard.

This will allow most to scandisk and defrag.

[Gertrude the Wombat]

I had something like this once - defrag wouldn't work, said disk had a problem, said to run scandisk. Scandisk said OK there was a problem but it was too minor for it to be worth fixing. (Duh! - wish they'd test these things together.)

I solved this by ... not trying to defrag. I've never actually seen a measurable improvement in performance by degragging anyway.

[niallcooney]

Ronbmy has it... run defrag in safe mode. Might take an hour or two. And leave the computer ALONE when you're doing it!

N

[AngleAndAttack]

I also had problems with defrag.Someone told me I had to terminate all programs running in the background.
I always run defrag this way:

1.Press CTR ALT DEL.
2.Remove all programs except "systray" and "explorer" .
3.Start defrag.
4.Restart.

You can also d/l "enditall" here:

http://home.ptd.net/~don5408/toolbox/enditall/

It`s a nifty program that terminates progs of your choice.I find this handy when I want to run games/sims etc.that need all the power my PC can give.

A&A

[stillin1]

Thanks one and all.
No success yet but still trying, keep the suggestions coming.

P.S. How far can you throw a Lap-top when really angry?

[Ronbmy]

Just put brain in gear and re-read the original post. The problem is NDD not defrag.

Have you had a look at...

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...hlight=0,256MB