Re: Defrag problem

Cal

Whether or not to partition is a controversial subject. In the past those arguing for partitioning have done so on the basis that it helps improve performance. Others dismiss any gains as being minimal pointing out that other factors have more influence on performance. Both arguments have merit. What is not disputed is the pagefile needs to be in the same volume as Windows, unless it is in it's own partition place at the beginning of a second hard drive. Retaining a minimal 50 mb pagefile in the Windows partition is still considered necessary to enable the system to handle small memory dumps, if and when they occur. For more explanations please view links below:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm
http://aumha.org/a/parts.htm

Other ways to increase free disk space on your C partition can be achieved by relocation of folders.

For Temporary Internet Files select Start, Control Panel, Internet Options, Temporary Internet Files. Settings, Move Folder.

To move the Outlook Express Store Folder select in Outlook Express Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder, Change.
http://www.tomsterdam.com/insideoe/files/store.htm

My Documents is one of a number of system created Special Folders including My Pictures and My Music. These can more easily be relocated using Tweak Ui. Download TweakUI, one of the MS powertoys, from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

In TweakUi select My Computer, Special Folders. You can scroll down to see the full list of Special Folders to the left of the Change Location button.

You may also need to change Default File locations in the Microsoft Office programmes you choose to move the My Documents folder. For Word go to Tools, Options, File Locations, highlight Documents, click on Modify and change file path. For Excel go to Tools, Options, General and change default file path.

You mentioned getting an external hard drive. I would think about merely adding a second internal hard drive. I imagine your computer can accomodate this and it would be more covenient.. If you do decide to add a second hard drive, leave the existing hard drive as master and make the new drive the slave.

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Hope this helps.

Gerry
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FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
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Cal M wrote:
Mikeyhsd and Gerry, I appreciate the interest/help. My final frag
report: Volume (C:)
Volume size = 14.65 GB
Cluster size = 4 KB
Used space = 8.80 GB
Free space = 5.85 GB
Percent free space = 39 %

Volume fragmentation
Total fragmentation = 0 %
File fragmentation = 0 %
Free space fragmentation = 0 %

File fragmentation
Total files = 43,310
Average file size = 243 KB
Total fragmented files = 0
Total excess fragments = 0
Average fragments per file = 1.00

Pagefile fragmentation
Pagefile size = 768 MB
Total fragments = 1

Folder fragmentation
Total folders = 3,290
Fragmented folders = 1
Excess folder fragments = 0

Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
Total MFT size = 119 MB
MFT record count = 46,686
Percent MFT in use = 38 %
Total MFT fragments = 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fragments File Size Files that cannot be defragmented
None
39% increased to 45% with paging on D drive, went back to 39% when
returned paging to C drive. Question: Is there anything wrong with
leaving paging on the D drive with my data files? 6% increased space
is quite a bit. As for the other tips on ridding the C drive of
unnecessary clutter (hibernate, temp files, restore, etc) I had
already cleaned those things up.
Mikeyhsd, although I am somewhat computer literate, I still would not
have dared to go into "strange territory" like page files etc without
a more detailed explanation, but I do appreciate your try. Perhaps I
am just a bit too cautious and careful.

.