Need help with disc defragmenting

maryfrench

Hi I'm new here and after reading some of the posts I see there are a lot of computer savvy people here, which I'm not.
My problem is that after a lot of bother with norton 2008 I downloaded the uninstaller and got rid of it, then I installed AVG which is fine. I should then have left things alone but I like to make sure of things and I stupidly used the search in windows to find any remaining Norton files and symantic files. Well it found some and even though I didn't know what they were used for I deleted them.
Well now to the point, sorry! Since then the disc defragmentor stops half way and says it can't defrag some files and see the report, but the report has nothing on it.
So its leaving quite a few red lines on it which it never did before. Do you think its because I deleted files which I don't understand and how can I fix this.
I made sure since that I used the disc checker before start up but it found no problems.
Sorry this is so long and I would appreciate help. Thanks.

GoofyGAT

"So its leaving quite a few red lines on it which it never did before." - I doubt this is cause for too much concern, but if you'd like to investigate what may have gone wrong - even possibly solve this, try these steps.....

Do a System Restore before you uninstalled Norton 2008, then run Disk Defrag (DD) to see if it functions normally. If it does, then the Norton uninstall may have caused the problem. If it doesn't, then something else may have done so.

Either way, you'll want to uninstall Norton again - so run the uninstall utility (<---download from here). Make sure to follow the instructions including, "Your computer may be restarted more than once, and you may be asked to repeat some steps after the computer restarts."

After the above completes, run DD again before doing anything else, to see if it's functioning normally. Delete the remaining Symantec files like you did in the past, & run DD again. What happens?

If the above doesn't solve the DD problem eventually, try free DD alternatives like IObit SmartDefrag & Auslogics Disk Defrag. G

maryfrench

Hi thankyou for your reply.
I actually did do a system restore and did exactly what you said to do when it happened. But makes no difference. Maybe I will try the link you gave me for other defragmenters.
Also its not the fact of leaving a few red lines (fragments) its the fact that it stops after 30 to 40%.

imho

You need to do Chkdsk . if you dont know how to do it look on Google for the answer.Sorry i havnt time to write it all out .Just going out .
Just re read your post ,you have already done Chkdsk.

GoofyGAT

In addition, try deleting all Temp & Temporary Internet files (Internet cache).

Did the PC have any kind of virus/spyware infection recently? G

isofa

Download Diskeeper Lite from http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp
It's an excellent tool, and may solve the problem, or show the files which are causing an issue. Some system files cannot be moved, and this is perfectly normal.

Backbiter

Try restarting in Safe Mode and then defragging. When you restart, hit the F8 button repeatedly till you see a start-up screen with the option to start in Safe Mode. It might make the Defragger run without stopping.

maryfrench

Thank you all. I started in safe mode (which I've never done before so was a bit scared) but I am an OAP so I'm not doing bad. Anyway it did go all the way to 98% then a window came up saying "some files could not be fragmented" this never happened before I messed about with deleting Norton. But it is much better now. Not so many red fragments showing as before.
So thanks again.

spud17

"some files could not be fragmented"

I sometimes get this when I defragment.

I ignore it because (I'm assuming XP) is not so sensitive to defragmentation as e.g.Windows 98.

Personally as long as after defragging when I click the "analyse" button it shows under 5% I leave it.