[celtish]

Defrag is restarting far too often and it is often rewinding itself a lot e.g. jumping back from 90% to say 70%. All this is tiresome.

I'm attaching my SYSTEM.INI - could someone comment on the settings and ideally provide some model settings? Thanks.

Quote

SYSTEM.INI
06:13 30 July 2007

[boot]
oemfonts.fon=vgaoem.fon
shell=Explorer.exe
system.drv=system.drv
drivers=mmsystem.dll power.drv
user.exe=user.exe
gdi.exe=gdi.exe
sound.drv=mmsound.drv
dibeng.drv=dibeng.dll
comm.drv=comm.drv
mouse.drv=mouse.drv
keyboard.drv=keyboard.drv
*DisplayFallback=0
fixedfon.fon=vgafix.fon
fonts.fon=vgasys.fon
386Grabber=vgafull.3gr
display.drv=pnpdrvr.drv

[keyboard]
keyboard.dll=
oemansi.bin=xlat850.bin
subtype=
type=4

[boot.description]
system.drv=Standard PC
keyboard.typ=Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
mouse.drv=Standard mouse
aspect=100,96,96
display.drv=Standard Display Adapter (VGA)

[386Enh]
ebios=*ebios
woafont=app850.fon
mouse=*vmouse, msmouse.vxd
device=*dynapage
device=*vcd
device=*vpd
device=*int13
device=C:\SCANNER\SCANDEV.386
keyboard=*vkd
MinSPs=16
PageBuffers=32
32BitDiskAccess=1
DMABufferSize=64
MaxPhysPage=40000
PagingDrive=D:
MinPagingFileSize=263168
ComBoostTime=2
PageOverCommit=20
PerVMFiles=200
RemovableIDE=1
VideoFastPaste=On
VGAMonoText=Off
LocalLoadHigh=1
MinTimeSlice=40
SysVMEMSLimit=-1
ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1
EMMExclude=C000-CFFF,C000-CFFF,C000-CFFF
display=*vdd,*vflatd

[NonWindowsApp]
TTInitialSizes=4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 20 22

[power.drv]

[drivers]
wavemapper=*.drv
MSACM.imaadpcm=*.acm
MSACM.msadpcm=*.acm
midi=mmsystem.dll
wave=mmsystem.dll

[iccvid.drv]

[mciseq.drv]

[mci]
cdaudio=mcicda.drv
sequencer=mciseq.drv
waveaudio=mciwave.drv
avivideo=mciavi.drv
videodisc=mcipionr.drv
vcr=mcivisca.drv
MPEGVideo=mciqtz.drv
MPEGVideo2=mciqtz.drv

[vcache]
ChunkSize=2048
MinFileCache=4096
MaxFileCache=393216
NameCache=4096

[MSNP32]

[Password Lists]
RGROBERTS=C:\WINDOWS\RGROBERT.PWL

[ScannerParameters]
LAMP_DELAY=20
SCAN_SPEED=1
GERMAN_SET=0
PaperType=0
NoTransparency=0
ScannerOrigin=67
ScannerGrayOrigin=81
ScannerBWOrigin=81
Scanfx_IO=378
Port_ChipType=20
Port_Mode=0

[drivers32]
msacm.lhacm=lhacm.acm
VIDC.VDOM=vdowave.drv
MSACM.msg711=msg711.acm
vidc.CVID=iccvid.dll
VIDC.IV31=ir32_32.dll
VIDC.IV32=ir32_32.dll
vidc.MSVC=msvidc32.dll
VIDC.MRLE=msrle32.dll
msacm.msg723=msg723.acm
vidc.M263=msh263.drv
vidc.M261=msh261.drv
MSACM.imaadpcm=imaadp32.acm
MSACM.msadpcm=msadp32.acm
MSACM.msgsm610=msgsm32.acm
MSACM.trspch=tssoft32.acm
VIDC.IV50=ir50_32.dll
msacm.iac2=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IAC25_32.AX
msacm.l3acm=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\L3CODECA.ACM
VIDC.YUY2=msyuv.dll
VIDC.UYVY=msyuv.dll
VIDC.YVYU=msyuv.dll

[TTFontDimenCache]
0 4=2 4
0 5=3 5
0 6=4 6
0 7=4 7
0 8=5 8
0 9=5 9
0 10=6 10
0 11=7 11
0 12=7 12
0 13=8 13
0 14=8 14
0 15=9 15
0 16=10 16
0 18=11 18
0 20=12 20
0 22=13 22

[noguru]

Your defrag trouble is most probably caused by programs running in the background. System.ini settings will not solve this. Try running defrag in safe mode if closing programs in the background does not work. Or try another defragmenter. Diskeeperlite is free and is a lot faster anyway. But save mode can do the trick if you like\want\must use Windows defrag.

[celtish]

noguru, on Jul 30 2007, 05:44 PM, said:

Your defrag trouble is most probably caused by programs running in the background. System.ini settings will not solve this. Try running defrag in safe mode if closing programs in the background does not work. Or try another defragmenter. Diskeeperlite is free and is a lot faster anyway. But save mode can do the trick if you like\want\must use Windows defrag.

Believe me, it goes without saying that I have tried all the usuals and there are no viruses, trojans, or the like either. Even in safe mode (where there are fewer background programmes running) the same characteristics are there, albeit safe mode if a little faster.

[myelin]

Press Ctrl-Alt-Del and End task all the programs except Explorer and Systray and then restart defrag.

[marxo]

I don't think that SYSTEM.INI or background stuff is the problem. That stuff you have now happened to me back in the days of 9x because I had bad sectors on HDD, so u might try checking...

[Andrew T.]

I might as well speak for myself: I have the same problem with the Disk Defragmenter starting over far too often when fulfilling its duty for me to want to use it.

I wish there was a way to run DEFRAG on Windows 95 through a DOS interface, like in...well, DOS 6. In my experience, disk tools like Defrag and Scandisk tools are much more reliable when operated outside of the Windows environment.

[marxo]

Andrew T., on Jul 31 2007, 05:37 PM, said:

In my experience, disk tools like Defrag and Scandisk tools are much more reliable when operated outside of the Windows environment.

You might say that, but it is kinda like that due to the fact that in DOS there is no background services like in Windows (at least not in the same way) that will interupt DEFRAG.

[Andrew T.]

marxo, on Jul 31 2007, 12:00 PM, said:

You might say that, but it is kinda like that due to the fact that in DOS there is no background services like in Windows (at least not in the same way) that will interupt DEFRAG.

My point exactly!

[celtish]

Thanks for your inputs, guys, but like I said before .... done this, tried that..... no viruses ... no bad sectors ... no nothing .....

It might have been something to do with the fact that even though the HD was half empty / half full and mostly empty space there were a few persistent semi-used clusters right at the *end* of the disk ....

I'm not totally convinced that SYSTEM.INI is completely irrelevant, either, marxo .... I was hoping that one of you guys would have cast an expert eye over the sysini .....

[marxo]

Hey you can always try some 3rd party alternative that is free, right?

[RJARRRPCGP]

celtish, on Jul 30 2007, 01:28 AM, said:

Defrag is restarting far too often and it is often rewinding itself a lot e.g. jumping back from 90% to say 70%. All this is tiresome.

I'm attaching my SYSTEM.INI - could someone comment on the settings and ideally provide some model settings? Thanks.

Quote

SYSTEM.INI
06:13 30 July 2007

[boot]
oemfonts.fon=vgaoem.fon
shell=Explorer.exe
system.drv=system.drv
drivers=mmsystem.dll power.drv
user.exe=user.exe
gdi.exe=gdi.exe
sound.drv=mmsound.drv
dibeng.drv=dibeng.dll
comm.drv=comm.drv
mouse.drv=mouse.drv
keyboard.drv=keyboard.drv
*DisplayFallback=0
fixedfon.fon=vgafix.fon
fonts.fon=vgasys.fon
386Grabber=vgafull.3gr
display.drv=pnpdrvr.drv

[keyboard]
keyboard.dll=
oemansi.bin=xlat850.bin
subtype=
type=4

[boot.description]
system.drv=Standard PC
keyboard.typ=Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
mouse.drv=Standard mouse
aspect=100,96,96
display.drv=Standard Display Adapter (VGA)

[386Enh]
ebios=*ebios
woafont=app850.fon
mouse=*vmouse, msmouse.vxd
device=*dynapage
device=*vcd
device=*vpd
device=*int13
device=C:\SCANNER\SCANDEV.386
keyboard=*vkd
MinSPs=16
PageBuffers=32
32BitDiskAccess=1
DMABufferSize=64
MaxPhysPage=40000
PagingDrive=D:
MinPagingFileSize=263168
ComBoostTime=2
PageOverCommit=20
PerVMFiles=200
RemovableIDE=1
VideoFastPaste=On
VGAMonoText=Off
LocalLoadHigh=1
MinTimeSlice=40
SysVMEMSLimit=-1
ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1
EMMExclude=C000-CFFF,C000-CFFF,C000-CFFF
display=*vdd,*vflatd

[NonWindowsApp]
TTInitialSizes=4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 20 22

[power.drv]

[drivers]
wavemapper=*.drv
MSACM.imaadpcm=*.acm
MSACM.msadpcm=*.acm
midi=mmsystem.dll
wave=mmsystem.dll

[iccvid.drv]

[mciseq.drv]

[mci]
cdaudio=mcicda.drv
sequencer=mciseq.drv
waveaudio=mciwave.drv
avivideo=mciavi.drv
videodisc=mcipionr.drv
vcr=mcivisca.drv
MPEGVideo=mciqtz.drv
MPEGVideo2=mciqtz.drv

[vcache]
ChunkSize=2048
MinFileCache=4096
MaxFileCache=393216
NameCache=4096

[MSNP32]

[Password Lists]
RGROBERTS=C:\WINDOWS\RGROBERT.PWL

[ScannerParameters]
LAMP_DELAY=20
SCAN_SPEED=1
GERMAN_SET=0
PaperType=0
NoTransparency=0
ScannerOrigin=67
ScannerGrayOrigin=81
ScannerBWOrigin=81
Scanfx_IO=378
Port_ChipType=20
Port_Mode=0

[drivers32]
msacm.lhacm=lhacm.acm
VIDC.VDOM=vdowave.drv
MSACM.msg711=msg711.acm
vidc.CVID=iccvid.dll
VIDC.IV31=ir32_32.dll
VIDC.IV32=ir32_32.dll
vidc.MSVC=msvidc32.dll
VIDC.MRLE=msrle32.dll
msacm.msg723=msg723.acm
vidc.M263=msh263.drv
vidc.M261=msh261.drv
MSACM.imaadpcm=imaadp32.acm
MSACM.msadpcm=msadp32.acm
MSACM.msgsm610=msgsm32.acm
MSACM.trspch=tssoft32.acm
VIDC.IV50=ir50_32.dll
msacm.iac2=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IAC25_32.AX
msacm.l3acm=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\L3CODECA.ACM
VIDC.YUY2=msyuv.dll
VIDC.UYVY=msyuv.dll
VIDC.YVYU=msyuv.dll

[TTFontDimenCache]
0 4=2 4
0 5=3 5
0 6=4 6
0 7=4 7
0 8=5 8
0 9=5 9
0 10=6 10
0 11=7 11
0 12=7 12
0 13=8 13
0 14=8 14
0 15=9 15
0 16=10 16
0 18=11 18
0 20=12 20
0 22=13 22

Apparently, Defrag is less likely to restart with more RAM.

PCs that have less than 128 MB of RAM are the most likely to suffer from Defrag restarts.

Even with Windows 98, you should have at least 256 MB of RAM.

Hopefully, you have at least that.

This post has been edited by RJARRRPCGP: 08 August 2007 - 08:42 AM

[kzdc]

I have had problems with running defrag in the past, which appears to be associated with the DHCP client. You can try unplugging your network card during defragging, or use as I do, a fixed IP address.

[soporific]

RJARRRPCGP, on Aug 9 2007, 12:41 AM, said:

Apparently, Defrag is less likely to restart with more RAM.

PCs that have less than 128 MB of RAM are the most likely to suffer from Defrag restarts.

Even with Windows 98, you should have at least 256 MB of RAM.

Lets be precise when we can be. Defrag restarts occur because the defrag application has encountered a write to the hard disk, and so wants to start from the start. If your system is doing so much memory intensive work that it needs to write to the swap file (that is located on the drive you are trying to defrag) then this will also cause a defrag restart. But you shouldn't be trying to defrag and doing lots of work on your computer anyway. Set defrag to start after hours!

But that is the only reason why low amounts of RAM will cause Defrag restarts. In fact, a system with only 64 mbs of RAM will still run fine and defrag will run fine. Of course the more RAM the better, but the advice above is not very useful without an explanation.

In short, those experiencing defrag restarts need to find the cause of writes to the hard disk. Even bad hard disk sectors shouldn't be the problem

[ldb]

More info on your system specs:
Amount of ram
Hard drive size/usage/partitions/DMA

I see your swap file is on drive D. Is this another partition or a second drive? If another partition, you are doing yourself no good. My swap file is on drive C with a minimum of 20MB and NO maximum. I have 256 of ram and use the WinME defrag exe. When I go to defrag, I disable the swap file and reboot and do the defrag. I then re-enable the swap file so as to get a fresh one.

If your drive you are trying to defrag is large, it is going to take awhile. The partial restarts you are seeing are not that uncommon. I keep the operating system and heavily used apps on the C drive and other apps and documents on other partitions. Makes for easier disk maintenance and backups.

[celtish]

Guys - Thanks for all your comments but note
# I have 256MB RAM
# I don't use a netork card
# The swap file is on D: drive (i.e. second hard disk) because I was advised so to do elsewhere on these forums
# Defrag is the WinME version courtesy of MDGx
# I do not use partitioning
# My hard drives are C: 10MB D: 20MB. I hate these latest monster disks, I don't need them.
But to get back to the point, which was inviting informed comment on the shape of my SYSTEM.INI file!

[gosh]

What you should do is rename system.ini to system.old, then rename system.cb to system.ini. In msconfig when you uncheck the box for system.ini, what msconfig does is rename system.cb to system.ini and moves the old system.ini. System.cb is the bare minimum you need to boot your win9x computer, so if you have the same problem with that it's not a system.ini issue.

As far as defrag, i've seen it not work, even in safe mode. Usually the problem is with the cache file. There are articles on microsoft's website that show what file to delete to clear that. But i wouldn't use microsoft's defrag, it isn't reliable.

-gosh

[ldb]

Quote

# My hard drives are C: 10MB D: 20MB. I hate these latest monster disks, I don't need them.
But to get back to the point, which was inviting informed comment on the shape of my SYSTEM.INI file!

I used you ini file to question the placement of your swapfile. As long as it is on a different disk, it may give you some performance improement depending on the speed of the file transfer of that drive.

One caveat of having one of those larger hard drives is that they are much faster at doing things like defragiing the drive. Going from a 5200 rpm 2MB cache HD to a 7200 rpm 8MB cache HD is almost like getting a new system.

Some good information here about trying to solve defrag problems if you have not already tried all of these:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.p...ff63b2bf5d8fa42

I am not an expert on system.ini, but my guess is that the system uses a different one for Safe mode than normal mode which would point ot that file not being the cause of your problem.

[galahs]

Well here's my system.ini

Quote

[boot]
oemfonts.fon=vgaoem.fon
shell=Explorer.exe
system.drv=system.drv
drivers=mmsystem.dll
user.exe=user.exe
gdi.exe=gdi.exe
sound.drv=mmsound.drv
dibeng.drv=dibeng.dll
comm.drv=comm.drv
mouse.drv=mouse.drv
keyboard.drv=keyboard.drv
*DisplayFallback=0
fonts.fon=vgasys.fon
fixedfon.fon=vgafix.fon
386Grabber=vgafull.3gr
display.drv=pnpdrvr.drv

[keyboard]
keyboard.dll=
oemansi.bin=
subtype=
type=4

[boot.description]
system.drv=Standard PC
keyboard.typ=Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
mouse.drv=Standard mouse
aspect=100,96,96
display.drv=3dfx Voodoo Series

[386Enh]
ebios=*ebios
woafont=dosapp.fon
mouse=*vmouse, msmouse.vxd
device=*dynapage
device=*vcd
device=*vpd
device=*int13
keyboard=*vkd
display=*vdd,*vflatd
PagingDrive=C:
MinPagingFileSize=102400

[NonWindowsApp]
TTInitialSizes=4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 20 22

[power.drv]

[drivers]
wavemapper=*.drv
MSACM.imaadpcm=*.acm
MSACM.msadpcm=*.acm
wave=mmsystem.dll
midi=mmsystem.dll

[iccvid.drv]

[mciseq.drv]

[mci]
cdaudio=mcicda.drv
sequencer=mciseq.drv
waveaudio=mciwave.drv
avivideo=mciavi.drv
videodisc=mcipionr.drv
vcr=mcivisca.drv
MPEGVideo=ctencmci.drv
MPEGVideo2=mciqtz.drv
PCDVDVideo=ctencmci.drv
DVDVideo=ctencmci.drv

[vcache]

[Password Lists]
BAB00N=C:\WINDOWS\BAB00N.PWL

[drivers32]
msacm.lhacm=lhacm.acm
VIDC.VDOM=vdowave.drv
MSACM.imaadpcm=imaadp32.acm
MSACM.msadpcm=msadp32.acm
MSACM.msgsm610=msgsm32.acm
msacm.msg711=msg711.acm
MSACM.trspch=tssoft32.acm
vidc.CVID=iccvid.dll
VIDC.IV31=ir32_32.dll
VIDC.IV32=ir32_32.dll
vidc.MSVC=msvidc32.dll
VIDC.MRLE=msrle32.dll
VIDC.IV50=ir50_32.dll
msacm.iac2=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IAC25_32.AX
VIDC.YUY2=msyuv.dll
VIDC.UYVY=msyuv.dll
VIDC.YVYU=msyuv.dll
msacm.msg723=msg723.acm
vidc.M263=msh263.drv
vidc.M261=msh261.drv
msacm.msaudio1=msaud32.acm
msacm.sl_anet=sl_anet.acm
msacm.l3acm=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\L3CODECA.ACM

[MSNP32]

0 22=13 22

I have no problems with defraging my hard disk.

[fastlanephil]

celtish, on Aug 13 2007, 09:39 PM, said:

Guys - Thanks for all your comments but note
# I have 256MB RAM
# I don't use a netork card
# The swap file is on D: drive (i.e. second hard disk) because I was advised so to do elsewhere on these forums
# Defrag is the WinME version courtesy of MDGx
# I do not use partitioning
# My hard drives are C: 10MB D: 20MB. I hate these latest monster disks, I don't need them.
But to get back to the point, which was inviting informed comment on the shape of my SYSTEM.INI file!

I used to have the same problem in an old 98FE system I was using. I used to do the so-called "three-finger-salute" solution--press Ctrl-Alt-Del like myelin suggested and then when the window pops up prompting you to "Close program", select one program, except not Explorer, and then click "End Task" in the lower left hand corner. Repeat this "Close program" sequence for all programs except for Explorer and you should be able to get through Scandisk and Defrag without very many restarts.

When you're finished with Scandisk and Defrag, reboot so your programs reload.

This post has been edited by fastlanephil: 17 September 2007 - 07:03 AM

[galahs]

I have to contribute the stability of most of my systems be in Windows 98 / 2000 or XP to the fact I have no startup items.


For example if I Ctrl-Alt-Delete my Win98SE system straight after bootup to the GUI, all that appears is "Explorer"