Defrag problems

On 01/04/2010 10:40 AM, someone watching wrote:
"98 Guy" wrote in message ...
someone watching wrote:

It's missing NUABOUT.DLL

ok, I've added it to the zip file. Try this:

http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/7/19/2010382/sd32.zip

Well, kinda figured this would happen, now it's requesting S32STAT.DLL. And
after that it will likely request another, then another ... in fact I'm not
so sure SD can run as a stand-alone. I think it MUST HAVE certain features
of NU installed (but not 100% sure).

I fooled with Norton 2002 some time ago and found 2001 actually worked
better for my needs. That's what is installed on the current W98 setup. What
I recall of 2002 is vague but I did install the package and was not happy
with it, don't recall exactly why but it may have been because of Speedisk!
I wanted 2002 but then noticed it appeared the same as 2001 (functionality
and all). Perhaps it was because SD required certain other NU features to be
installed to work it was uninstalled ... just don't recall.

If others are looking to install a very nice utility package I'd recommend
NU 2001. There are various mods you can perform to enhance performance;
here's one:

Found on my systems the Norton file called SYMEVNT.386 took a noticeable
toll on performance. Since I don't use their event scheduler decided to
remove it.

Here's how you can do it; make a .REG file (e.g. KILLEVNT.REG) from the
following, then run it.

---

REGEDIT4

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\VxD\SYMEVNT]

---

This will remove the startup entry in your registry. Reboot. Done.



Yeah, so WHY didn't you or 98 Guy profile the supposed application with
Dependency Walker??

*IF* 9X users or supporters want to mess around with things like this,
at least make an effort to ensure the stuff works... it isn't like there
aren't tools to use to check these things... make the effort.

As an alternative, Nuts and Bolts 98 also included a disk defrag [and
other programs] which HAS been offered in several places as a standalone
and CHECKED for necessary support files PRIOR to offering.

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Info, Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and Government
___---

"philo" wrote in message
...
Aster wrote:
I tried to defrag HD from MS DOS, I restarted PC into a MS-DOS prompt,
typed

defrag c: /f /sd- /skiphigh

but got message saying that "this program requires microsoft windows"..

So defrag utility does not work from DOS. Defragging from Windows does
work, since it constantly restarts and says "drive's content changed:
restarting", then tried defrag from Safe mode (from Run command prompt)
but
had the same issue "drive's content changed: restarting", just less
frequently. Finally I tried "Selective startup" in Msconfig, unchecked
all
boxes, restarted into Safe mode, then run command from command prompt. I
was
able to defrag, but it took a huge time. And I still I faced the same
problem a few times, "drive's content changed: restarting".
Is there better method or better tool for defragging? The default windows
tool is too ugly.



Correct

defrag does not run in dos

you took the best option

all msconfig items unchecked
and in safe mode

Who cares if it's ugly ...it works

However Norton Speed Disk for win98 is a bit better

That was back before Norton turned into bloatware
---------------------------------


Is it possible to run defrag with 1-click script (vbscript or bat), for more
convenience?
Firstly script need set up a Clean boot configuration with MSCONFIG
("Selective startup" with all boxes unchecked), then restart Windows 98 in
Safe mode and run defrag command.

On 01/05/2010 05:32 AM, Aster wrote:

"philo" wrote in message
...
Aster wrote:
I tried to defrag HD from MS DOS, I restarted PC into a MS-DOS
prompt, typed

defrag c: /f /sd- /skiphigh

but got message saying that "this program requires microsoft windows"..

So defrag utility does not work from DOS. Defragging from Windows does
work, since it constantly restarts and says "drive's content changed:
restarting", then tried defrag from Safe mode (from Run command
prompt) but
had the same issue "drive's content changed: restarting", just less
frequently. Finally I tried "Selective startup" in Msconfig,
unchecked all
boxes, restarted into Safe mode, then run command from command
prompt. I was
able to defrag, but it took a huge time. And I still I faced the same
problem a few times, "drive's content changed: restarting".
Is there better method or better tool for defragging? The default
windows
tool is too ugly.



Correct

defrag does not run in dos

you took the best option

all msconfig items unchecked
and in safe mode

Who cares if it's ugly ...it works

However Norton Speed Disk for win98 is a bit better

That was back before Norton turned into bloatware
---------------------------------


Is it possible to run defrag with 1-click script (vbscript or bat), for
more convenience?
Firstly script need set up a Clean boot configuration with MSCONFIG
("Selective startup" with all boxes unchecked), then restart Windows 98
in Safe mode and run defrag command.



This has been done several times before here.
Short answer: Yes. Though this is a "qualified" yes.

Note though, run-once entries and/or autoexec.bat {or other batch
files} entries need addressed upon re-start.

In at least a few discussions, such already made apps or scripts were
discussed, such as:
GeoDisk [which had issues when I tested it with my configuration at
that time];
using scripts, though not by directly using msconfig; why use an app
when the intent is to use a script; it should do this in its own coding.

Obvious Registry areas that need addressed:

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion*\Run
2. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\*Run
3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion*\RunOnce
4. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\*RunOnce
5.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion*\RunServices
6.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion*\RunServicesOnce

7.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion*\RunOnce\Setup

Some things often over-looked which can cause these delays and/or
re-starts a

1. screen savers;

2. power management;

3. your {potentially} permanent Internet connection;

4. your network, particularly wireless connections;

5. networked folders and/or drives;

6. limited memory and/or disk cache and swap settings;

7. most anti-malware applications do NOT actually shut-down (remove
themselves) completely even when disabled;

8. ANY usage of the computer during the scandisk/defrag process;

9. the above are/cause *monitoring activity*, hence these and anything
else which does this can potentially cause re-starts and/or disk writes,
INCLUDING defrag which writes relocation and other changes to the disk
[changing FAT locations/entries, etc.], or applications which write
their changed entries directly to the registry.

An alternative is to check Do not show this again when defrag/scandisk
pops-up the box complaining about disk changes, and running it when the
computer has the most limited usage {like when you are asleep} using
Task Manager or similar, AND limiting the disk/partition size when
running, e.g., doing the disks/partitions during different sleep periods
[different days].

For script examples see:

Bill James · Microsoft MVP
http://billsway.com/vbspage/

For instance [though this doesn't address clean boot]:

'ScanFragAll.vbs - ScanDisk and DeFrag on all hard drives.
'© Bill James - - rev 10 Oct 1999
Option Explicit
Dim WshShell
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.Run "scandskw /all /n /silent",1,true
WshShell.Run "defrag /F /P /all /noprompt",1,true


--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Info, Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and Government
___---

Bill James is right!



"MEB" wrote in message
...
On 01/05/2010 05:32 AM, Aster wrote:

"philo" wrote in message
...
Aster wrote:
I tried to defrag HD from MS DOS, I restarted PC into a MS-DOS
prompt, typed

defrag c: /f /sd- /skiphigh

but got message saying that "this program requires microsoft windows"..

So defrag utility does not work from DOS. Defragging from Windows does
work, since it constantly restarts and says "drive's content changed:
restarting", then tried defrag from Safe mode (from Run command
prompt) but
had the same issue "drive's content changed: restarting", just less
frequently. Finally I tried "Selective startup" in Msconfig,
unchecked all
boxes, restarted into Safe mode, then run command from command
prompt. I was
able to defrag, but it took a huge time. And I still I faced the same
problem a few times, "drive's content changed: restarting".
Is there better method or better tool for defragging? The default
windows
tool is too ugly.



Correct

defrag does not run in dos

you took the best option

all msconfig items unchecked
and in safe mode

Who cares if it's ugly ...it works

However Norton Speed Disk for win98 is a bit better

That was back before Norton turned into bloatware
---------------------------------


Is it possible to run defrag with 1-click script (vbscript or bat), for
more convenience?
Firstly script need set up a Clean boot configuration with MSCONFIG
("Selective startup" with all boxes unchecked), then restart Windows 98
in Safe mode and run defrag command.



This has been done several times before here.
Short answer: Yes. Though this is a "qualified" yes.

Note though, run-once entries and/or autoexec.bat {or other batch
files} entries need addressed upon re-start.

In at least a few discussions, such already made apps or scripts were
discussed, such as:
GeoDisk [which had issues when I tested it with my configuration at
that time];
using scripts, though not by directly using msconfig; why use an app
when the intent is to use a script; it should do this in its own coding.

Obvious Registry areas that need addressed:

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion*\Run
2. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\*Run
3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion*\RunOnce
4. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\*RunOnce
5.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion*\RunServices
6.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion*\RunServicesOnce

7.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion*\RunOnce\Setup

Some things often over-looked which can cause these delays and/or
re-starts a

1. screen savers;

2. power management;

3. your {potentially} permanent Internet connection;

4. your network, particularly wireless connections;

5. networked folders and/or drives;

6. limited memory and/or disk cache and swap settings;

7. most anti-malware applications do NOT actually shut-down (remove
themselves) completely even when disabled;

8. ANY usage of the computer during the scandisk/defrag process;

9. the above are/cause *monitoring activity*, hence these and anything
else which does this can potentially cause re-starts and/or disk writes,
INCLUDING defrag which writes relocation and other changes to the disk
[changing FAT locations/entries, etc.], or applications which write
their changed entries directly to the registry.

An alternative is to check Do not show this again when defrag/scandisk
pops-up the box complaining about disk changes, and running it when the
computer has the most limited usage {like when you are asleep} using
Task Manager or similar, AND limiting the disk/partition size when
running, e.g., doing the disks/partitions during different sleep periods
[different days].

For script examples see:

Bill James · Microsoft MVP
http://billsway.com/vbspage/

For instance [though this doesn't address clean boot]:

'ScanFragAll.vbs - ScanDisk and DeFrag on all hard drives.
'© Bill James - - rev 10 Oct 1999
Option Explicit
Dim WshShell
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.Run "scandskw /all /n /silent",1,true
WshShell.Run "defrag /F /P /all /noprompt",1,true


--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Info, Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and Government
___---

On 1/5/2010 05:32, Aster wrote:



Is it possible to run defrag with 1-click script (vbscript or bat), for
more convenience?
Firstly script need set up a Clean boot configuration with MSCONFIG
("Selective startup" with all boxes unchecked), then restart Windows 98
in Safe mode and run defrag command.



This program will do that. There's an option to use Msconfig, but
the better option is to run it in the "Restrictive mode". This will
unload unprotected non-system processes. Most processes don't even load
as it runs before the desktop loads.

http://www.blueorbsoft.com/scandefrag/

On 1/5/2010 05:32, Aster wrote:



Is it possible to run defrag with 1-click script (vbscript or bat), for
more convenience?
Firstly script need set up a Clean boot configuration with MSCONFIG
("Selective startup" with all boxes unchecked), then restart Windows 98
in Safe mode and run defrag command.



This program will do that. There's an option to use Msconfig, but
the better option is to run it in the "Restrictive mode". This will
unload unprotected non-system processes. Most processes don't even load
as it runs before the desktop loads.

http://www.blueorbsoft.com/scandefrag/

Bill
How Big is his RAM
How much Free Space on Hard Disk -- for Virtual Memory to run defrag
command!




"Bill Blanton" wrote in message
...
On 1/5/2010 05:32, Aster wrote:



Is it possible to run defrag with 1-click script (vbscript or bat), for
more convenience?
Firstly script need set up a Clean boot configuration with MSCONFIG
("Selective startup" with all boxes unchecked), then restart Windows 98
in Safe mode and run defrag command.



This program will do that. There's an option to use Msconfig, but
the better option is to run it in the "Restrictive mode". This will
unload unprotected non-system processes. Most processes don't even load
as it runs before the desktop loads.

http://www.blueorbsoft.com/scandefrag/

Bill
How Big is his RAM
How much Free Space on Hard Disk -- for Virtual Memory to run defrag
command!




"Bill Blanton" wrote in message
...
On 1/5/2010 05:32, Aster wrote:



Is it possible to run defrag with 1-click script (vbscript or bat), for
more convenience?
Firstly script need set up a Clean boot configuration with MSCONFIG
("Selective startup" with all boxes unchecked), then restart Windows 98
in Safe mode and run defrag command.



This program will do that. There's an option to use Msconfig, but
the better option is to run it in the "Restrictive mode". This will
unload unprotected non-system processes. Most processes don't even load
as it runs before the desktop loads.

http://www.blueorbsoft.com/scandefrag/

I have no idea the amount of resources available on Aster's
system. Why do you ask me? I was answering the question I quoted.


On 1/5/2010 21:12, Hot-text wrote:
Bill
How Big is his RAM
How much Free Space on Hard Disk -- for Virtual Memory to run defrag
command!




"Bill Blanton" wrote in message
...
On 1/5/2010 05:32, Aster wrote:



Is it possible to run defrag with 1-click script (vbscript or bat), for
more convenience?
Firstly script need set up a Clean boot configuration with MSCONFIG
("Selective startup" with all boxes unchecked), then restart Windows 98
in Safe mode and run defrag command.



This program will do that. There's an option to use Msconfig, but
the better option is to run it in the "Restrictive mode". This will
unload unprotected non-system processes. Most processes don't even load
as it runs before the desktop loads.

http://www.blueorbsoft.com/scandefrag/

I have no idea the amount of resources available on Aster's
system. Why do you ask me? I was answering the question I quoted.


On 1/5/2010 21:12, Hot-text wrote:
Bill
How Big is his RAM
How much Free Space on Hard Disk -- for Virtual Memory to run defrag
command!




"Bill Blanton" wrote in message
...
On 1/5/2010 05:32, Aster wrote:



Is it possible to run defrag with 1-click script (vbscript or bat), for
more convenience?
Firstly script need set up a Clean boot configuration with MSCONFIG
("Selective startup" with all boxes unchecked), then restart Windows 98
in Safe mode and run defrag command.



This program will do that. There's an option to use Msconfig, but
the better option is to run it in the "Restrictive mode". This will
unload unprotected non-system processes. Most processes don't even load
as it runs before the desktop loads.

http://www.blueorbsoft.com/scandefrag/