WIN9X defrag

[BAD.IRON]

Hey Driver Guy:

Just a quick tip that you may want to add to your list of tips.

I have had several customers complain about not being able to defrag their hard drive. There are not aware that you need to shut down screen savers, anti virus programs etc.

The solution is quite simple, boot to SAFE MODE and defrag for there.

BAD.IRON

[enahs]

or, you can try this registry hack; it'll disable the screensaver when defrag runs:

hkey_users\.default\software\microsoft\windows\cur rentversion\applets\defrag\settings

create a string value named DisableScreenSaver and set it's value to yes.

[techs]

Originally posted by enahs:
or, you can try this registry hack; it'll disable the screensaver when defrag runs:

hkey_users\.default\software\microsoft\windows\cur rentversion\applets\defrag\settings

create a string value named DisableScreenSaver and set it's value to yes.

if you could only tell me how to do this to disable the "Scandisk has stopped and started 10 times, yada, yada" message and I'll bake you my famous brownies!

[DR]

Try booting with a boot disk (make sure it has the DOS program scandisk on it) and at the prompt type [scandisk C:]. You even get to look at a purty graphic while it works.
Are they chocolate brownies?

[underfunded]

I bet they are 'special' brownies that make you all warm and tingley feeling inside and you feel like you could fly. Until you hear a noise and become totally paranoid that Big Brother is watching you and that the Feds are about ready to break down the door and arrest you for eating your 'special brownies'. :P

[enahs]

if it's your screen saver that's doing it, don't set the screen saver to automatically come on, instead create a shortcut to your favorite .scr on your desktop and give it a keyboard shortcut. then, you can start it whenever ya want.

[techs]

Originally posted by DR:
Try booting with a boot disk (make sure it has the DOS program scandisk on it) and at the prompt type [scandisk C:]. You even get to look at a purty graphic while it works.
Are they chocolate brownies?

I use the scandisk c: /autofix/surface quite frequently, but i try to avoid it unless i can't get to windows cause i think it has a problem with long file names.
BTW the secret ingredient is coffee, lots of it. sugar, coffee, chocolate- the diet of techs!

[This message has been edited by techs (edited September 18, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by techs (edited September 18, 2000).]

[DR]

Thanks for that command line. I'll have to put it in my DOS book. The other tip on using safe mode has been a very good one also. Maintenence is much faster and easier.
I'd have to be working on a laptop to eat your brownies while doing tech work. No way I'd sit still with that much energy.