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Scandisk/Defrag aborting

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by complore

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When running scandisk and Disk Defragmenter on my Windows ME PC I come across the errors listed below. I would like to know what is causing this and how to find and cure the problem.

1) Scandisk will run on Standard setting only. When run on the Thorough scan setting the scan will abort when checking through the Data area at about 5,312 clusters. The error message that appears claims that a program that is running has written to/changed the data on the disk. On opening Task Manager however, there are only two programs running: Scandisk and Explorer. The power settings are set to never turn off and the Screen saver has been de-activated.

2) When disk defragmenter runs it will check through to 10% (for example) and then stop, restart itself and run fast through 10% and then more slowly through to 14%, then stop, restart.... It continues in this way until it finally reaches 100% and finishes. Again the only programs running are Disk Defragmenter and Explorer.

The PC has an up-to-date virus guard and is regularly checked. On shut down it has started to shutdown improperly causing SCandisk to attempt to run on Start-up.

14 replies

by dmiles

There may be programs such as Anti-Virus running in the back ground.
Disable power management while running scandisk and disk defragmenter
The problem could be caused by Cross-Linked files that share the same portion of your hard drive
Lost file fragments are seperate fragements
Invalid file information,which scandisk will find and fix these errors.

by complore

Thank you for your ideas. Unfortunately, if you had looked at my question you would see that the anti-virus is disabled, Power Management set never to interfere and the only programs running are Scandisk and Explorer. If I could run Scandisk I wouldbe able to fix the cross linked files.
Please let me know if you have any other suggestions.

by dklippert

Sometimes the 10% hang up occurs just because the system needs longer to re organize the files.
Here's some material athat may help:
(Enter the Q number in the search box at www.support.microsoft.com)

Disk Defragmenter Hangs After Choosing Diskto Defragment

Q218160
"Drive's Contents Have Changed: Restarting..." Defragmenting

Q186978

Here?s some background.
http://www.putergeek.com/scandisk_defrag/

For machines other than ME, the suggestions include running defrag in Safe Mode
Use control>alt>delete to bring up task manager and end "EVERY" task except systray and explorer

Delete the c:\windows\applog folder

by b_pope

you have a program writing to the hard drive, which is most likely a program setup to check for updates or moniter your system on a regular basis.

such as antivirus, internet explorer, or some other program you've installed, & at the time of install it asked if you wanted it to check for updates & you've said yes to this setting.

some programs don't even ask like Real player, they leave it up to you to go into their settings & change it.

by b_pope

I would reboot your PC then check & see whats running in your system config utility and write them down.
open these individual programs & find the option/settings that either starts these programs at boot or the settings that let them check for updates or moniter your system & disable these features.
then reboot & run your scan disc & defrag.

by b_pope

I'm running ME also & can run both scan disc & defrag with several different programs running in the task bar, ZoneAlarm Pro,Norton antivirus,Asus probe,Adsubtract Pro.
you can still leave most programs running as long as you set their settings in the right manner.

Make sure in control panel+internet options that IE check for updates is disabled.

by b_pope

one last one, your probably not connected to the internet,right?. but if your on high speed DSL or cable make sure your modem is switched off, it got me the first couple of times after getting high speed.

by dmiles

the other cause is that you have bad sectors on your hard drive that each time scandisk tries to scan the data is changed,because the clusters are damaged,try fixingwith Norton disk dictor or partition magic

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