The Defragmentor & ScaDnisk
Page:
Defrag:
Don't Scandisk and Defrag all your misplaced files and error's, do your Deleting first.
If your having trouble with the message ( it's tryed 10
times ) and do you want to continue?
First, do a ctrl/alt/del and end tasks on everything except explorer & systray and try
ScanDisk again. If it still doesn't complete it's task then boot to DOS and type chkdsk a:
/v (where A is the drive). Remember, scandisk does a better job.
Fragmentation occurs because files are written back to
the hard drive in whatever space is nearest the rotator arm position, not to where they
were originally located. The files are constantly being created, altered, and resized and
they are written onto the most convenient available sectors.
Example;
It's a fact, that you always increase a file by writing to it, (say) maybe add five pages
to it, and save it---Dah!!!, (well), It's not going to fit in the same space you retrieved
it from so it will go somewhere else. Windows seldom, if ever, retrieves whole files, it
works in bits and pieces. Windows will alway's know where they are BUT those bits and
pieces get scattered around all over the place when they're saved back to the hard drive.
RESULT=Fragmentation.
We need to keep thing's in order, because Windows-95
scatters files all over your hard
drive (as you'll find out soon). Windows-95 keeps track of everything, (don't get me
wrong). But when you save a file, W-95 divides it into small clusters and then will store
them all over the disk in a disorganized manner, (just like you and me) and you'll see
that when you run Defrag/Details. The problem is that windows has to spend more and more
time looking for your files. You can (along with other things) have PRINTER problems or
slow running apps. Again, defrag often.
How Does It Work:
Defragmemter speeds up your system because it reorganizes the files back together again,
result--SPEED and more free space. Of course after running more open files and then saving
them, we have to defrag again---it's as simple as that.
What To Do Before Set-Up:
Setting It To Your Specs;
Remember to exit out of all programs that may be running. Open advanced /menu, With this
menu up, make sure these buttom's are checked for : full defragmenter and check dive for
error's, and save these options to use every time. In this mode defrag will rewrite both
files and free space in contiguous clusters, result=more free space and faster system.
It's Really Cool To Watch It Work:
When defrag starts up, a message box will open, click the show details button and your
ready for the show.
Conclusion & Maintenance:
If you watched it work on your hard/drive, then you now understand that clean-it up, exit
all programs, back-up if you have to, scan/disc and defrag does need to be done on a
regular basis. Add a list item.
A Happy Disk is A Defraged Disk
ScanDisk:
You may not need this if you never delete or download anything and use a Virus or
uninstaller. Many folks just doesn't understand how fragile our Windows-95 system is and
have decided to get ride of those redundant DLL's and other files that some program said
(it's ok, yellow/green light is on), well-that's ok if you know what your doing but so
many (software CEO's) only want to know how much space did it create--Ha. I say, if you
don't know--give up a little space so windows doesn't crash unless your son-in-law works
for Microsoft. If you want an explaination-Click here.
OK, go to your Windows\Command folder and edit the scandisk.ini file for (environment). We
need to change the number of time outs, it should look like:
SCANTIMEOUT=OFF (change this to ON)
NUMPASSES=1 (change this to 5)
NOTE: Maybe you don't even have (ENIRONMENT) listed;
If you don't have it, then add them to a blank line--then run scandisk and let it fix
error's.
REMEMBER, run this in DOS mode--it doesn't work from Win-95. When it's done,
run defrag and you have just gotten more speed and no impolite messages.
