speeddisk(nortonsystemworks) does not st

The most common reason for this is because there's some other program running that is making changes to files while speed disk is running.

When you run speeddisk, disable any ScreenSavers, make all programs are shutdown. Look in the system tray (lower right side of the screen). Every icon thats there (other than the time, system event scheduler, and perhaps the "eject hardware" icon) represents a program that should probably be shut down prior to running speeddisk. Click (or simetime right-click) on the icon to see if it can be shutdown.

Yep! BudTheGrey has it. Some program(s) are trying to write to the disk while speedisk is running. Speed disk can't operate. Run your antivirus program [just to be sure][continual writing to the disk is a possible sign].

Also, you can run under SafeMode. The program I like on Win98 is DiskKeeper. The single station version is inexpensive and there is a 30-day free trial version. It runs to completion quickly (for a defragger) regardless of what background programs are running, including anti-virus, firewalls, Memokit, whatever. It is the only defragger I have ever found that will run to completion no matter what.

what does the "eject hardware" icon mean?

to make it clear for techrepublique-technicians responsible for this silly system.
if i want to make a comment or ask for additional infos related to one answer, the only way is to comment without touching the rate-button. but then this comment is not below the message refferred to.
if i want this to be below the message i must rate unacceptably, which is really strange. unaccept an acceptable answer, eighter you change this or give up the points system.

confusione total in techrepublics forum:

submit only unacceptable blabla and leave this question open.

no my friends. if i rate a single of several answers as acceptable the question will still be open and my askers comment is in the right position. pls redesign your system its confusing!