Techies: how do I defrag in safe-mode?

[havocmom]

And is it a good thing to do? Someone posted defrag question weeks ago and someone replied to do it in safe mode. Our PC is really running icky but Havocdad gave up on defragging as it always got stuck in same place then just started over and over again, no end in sight.

Any of you 'puter whizzes with insight wanting to help an old Luddite out? Need the thing to work or I'll be isolated and looney in the boonies.

We do run Norton and so on. No viruses found in ages. Thing is just slowing down. How often should I run adaware? Someone advised running virus scan in safe mode. Is that better than reg mode? Any way to 'splain it to me?

Much thanks. You can PM me with advice if you want.

[Junkdrawer]

1. Press F8 while booting the computer...

when the menu comes up, select Safe Mode. It will take a lot longer for Windows to start. Once started, go to

Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Defragmenter

Follow the directions when the defragmenter starts.

[lcordero]

2. defrag in safe-mode in order to avoid having to isolate

what is using your disk at the time.
The case for defragging, using Norton, and using adaware is that an ounce of prevention is better than having to use a pound of cure.

[Habibi]

3. Well, maybe run AdAware as often as you defrag?

Kinda make it a housecleaning task, done on a regular basis. (I should take my own advice!) At least once a week, especially if you spend a lot of time online.

[havocmom]

4. Thank you, friends!

DUers are the best!

[electricmonk]

5. Get Diskeeper Lite

After you get done with this defrag go here and scroll down to Diskeeper Lite. It's faster than the Microsoft defrag utility and you don't have to turn everything else off or do it in safe mode. Even better is to get the full version so you can schedule defrags but I've been running the Lite version for more than a year and haven't had any problems out of it.

[fknobbit]

6. Run Nortons speed disk!

And lose some programs that are starting up with windows.

[TreasonousBastard]

7. What OS?

Win 98 users have always been having problems with defragging-- it's slow and stops dead toward the end.

What a lot of us have done is find the Defrag for Win ME on the Microsoft site-- a free download, and it works much faster with no hangups. Dunno if it helps for XP.

Right now, I have no idea where on MS it is-- it seems to move around a lot.

Another trick is to change the virtual memory settings to a specific swapfile size before defragging. Then, you can turn it back later, but it will speed up things a lot. No matter how much memory is installed, the damn swapfile is always in use.