Defrag will not run anymore

Run defrag in safe mode.

It is likely that your virus scanner or screen saver is interferring with your defrag. I agree with Answer 1, run defrag in Safe mode. When the Windows logo appears, press F8 and choose Safe Mode.

The previous two answerers are correct. Booting to Safe Mode starts your computer in a manner that does not start all the other programs that run in the background and stays in memory. If you carefully watch the defrag, you will see that it reports that the hard disk drive contents have changed and it is restarting the defrag (or words to that effect). The happens because those other programs are polling the computer, checking for e-mail, viruses, screen savers (counting), etc.

It's best to always run a scandisk or a defgrag in safe mode.

Thank you for your replies. I do appreciate them. I have already tried running it in safe mode, and it still does the same thing. I am sorry I did not mention this in my question.
I have ran the Dell Diagnostic utilities--almost anything you can think of. That is why I ask if there is a way to install(replace) the defrag program---or if there are files possibly missing (possibly from a zip file?) that did not get installed when I re-installed the system. Sorry I am a pain!

I would try to remove all virus and spyware programs that are running, some still run in safe mode. A good site for spyware removal or detection is www.ad-aware.com They have a utility to detect and remove spyware based on a definition file of known programs. Be sure to get the updated def file also.

V

Try diskeeper light
http://www.executive.com/downloads/menu.asp
I had the same problem.

Just what all have you tried? You say you've tried many things, but safe mode is the only specific thing you've mentioned.

A thought: even running in safe mode, if file is run that is infected with a virus, it becomes active and infects other files. COuld be causing your problem.

Dimension 4100 866 processor 128 ram, will not run Defrag. It says "Drive's contents changed: restarting..." It will run to 5% then a message comes up that says there are errors on my drive C
and to run ScanDisk. I ran the short standard scan disk-no errors. I ran the thorough scan disk about and it had no errors. (ran in safe mode) It took 2 1/2 hours to run that-VERY SLOW. Not supposed to be that slow? I have looked at Microsoft website in their knowledge base was
article: Q186978 relating to "drives contents changed...". I did this article - you go into the system configuration utility and do selective startup. Then reboot and run Defrag.That didn't work. So, I set the configuration utility back to normal.
I also tried deleting the Applog folder and letting it set up a new one. That didn't work. After I did that, it wouldn't run over 0%. So I restored that file from the recycle bin. I
was unsure of that because it said it was a read only file,I know you usually don't deletethem. This was from Microsoft article Q238165.
When it is running towards that 5%, if you open up the screen for full view, the page is blank. Normally you would see the tiny
blocks even if there was no color in them. I get a blank white page.
But I can not get any errors on my Drive C to show themselves. I did get a virus in System Restore files of all places to go!
It was the Win95.Hybris.Worm. Per Norton Antivirus, I purged those files out.
On this defrag tonight, it said: Defrag Error Message:
ID NO: DEFRAG004. I may try to look this up also.
I also went to Microsoft Word and ran the Detect and Repair. Also cleared NVRAM and restored BIOS settings default

IncognitO, I am not rejecting you. will try to clear up. appreciate your help!!!