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Can't run defrag

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14 replies

by p_cheatum

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When trying to run defrag (Start\Programs\Accessories\System Tools or from the c:\Windows folder)I am getting an error message saying there is not enough free memory to run the program. It suggests closing other programs and trying again. I closedeverything running exept Explorer and get the same message. The computer has 128MB of memory which it is seeing upon bootup. Could one of the memory cards be bad and not working properly even though it's being detected? Shouldn't defrag run with only 64MB ram even if one card is bad? How do I rearrange the memory to make more free? Thanks.

14 replies

by dmiles

It should run on 64MB
Try to run defrag by shutting down th anti-virus software and then disable power management nad try running,when finished enable both

by nettek

This occurs when you have use a third-party disk utility to create a disk drive that is greater than 8GB with cluster sizes smaller than 8 Kilobytes. You'll have to get a third-party defrag utility.

by jminard

Try doing the selective startup in msconfig with nothing loaded at startup for win98 or higher . . . or hit control+alt+delete and end task on everything except systray and explorer.

by true_texan

In the long run, you really need to find out what is loading that is taking up your memory. The quick fix is to boot into safe-mode. Then you can run defrag, and boot back to normal mode.

Hope this helps.

by fullcircle9711

The easiest way to do this is to startup in safe mode and run your defrag. A better way is run msconfig and disable load startup group items under selective startup. If you've never done this your going to be pleasently surprised at how much fasteryour machine operates once you've rebooted the system. The items in the startup group here are completely optional 99% of the time anyway with the only exception of a few tsr's that must be present to run very specific hardware or their associated applications. An example of this would be if you have a us robotics winmodem then you will find a file named winmodem in the startup group that must remained checked in order for that modem to work.

by maxwell edison

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If Safe Mode doesn't work, boot up in DOS mode. Defrag is a DOS program that can be executed from the DOS prompt.

I suspect that once you run defrag - AND SCANDISK - the things that caused your problem will be fixed.

This may be a "catch22" dilemma.

The problem is that you can't run Defrag. However, you may need to run defrag - AND SCANDISK - to solve your problem!

I suspect it's not a memory problem, per se, such as not enough RAM available, but a memory problem as it relates to caching and the like. Therefore, you need to ren defrag - AND SCANDISK - to solve the problem.

If none of the above works, you may need to buy Norton Speed Disk, or something similar, to get that first defrag completed.

Best of luck,

Maxwell

by p_cheatum

Booting into safe mode still doesn't allow me to run the defrag or scandisk programs - same error. I booted to DOS and was able to run scandisk but back in Windows still the same o.

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