Defrag not complete; Safe mode causes BSOD, but XP runs fine....

[GTL]

My computer was running slow with the HD churning away, so I ran the anti-ware (Malwarebytes and Trend Micro) and found no infections.

Then I ran defrag, but had only 5% free space, so I deleted and moved files and got to 15%, but defrag runs for 10 minutes and declares itself done, but it looks like only about 20% of the drive is getting defragged and the rest is badly fragmented.

I ran CCleaner, chkdsk /r & /f, and went to run defrag in safe mode only to find trying to boot in safe mode causes the dreaded BSoD! But WinXP SP3 runs fine in normal mode!

Stop: 0X00000007E (0XC0000005, 0X80537009, 0XF7C5E3E0, 0XF7C5E0DC)

No hardware changes in more than a year, the last time I ran in safe mode was a couple of months ago to get rid of a nasty Trojan.

So, why will defrag not finish? Why does safe mode cause the BSoD?

FWIW:clearing up the HD space had reduced the HD  churn.

Thanks!

[Allan]

Did you boot to the recovery console and run chkdsk /r? If not, please do so.

[Ninoz]

I ran into a similar issue, lack of free space and defrag not completing. I ran chkdsk and dowloaded the trial Diskeeper as I have heard it defrags with less than 15% free space. It completed the defrag without any roadblocks. Works great. You can try it if troubleshooting doesnt help.

[patio]

Diskeeper Lite is a fine app...but in my experience will not defrag any drive that's under 10% Free Space.

[Allan]

Actually, XP's built-in defrag utility is essentially Diskkeeper Lite

[patio]

I thought that had changed after Win2K.

[Allan]

It's been a while, but as I recall XP's defrag engine was licensed from Diskkeeper

[patio]

I double-checked and you are indeed correct...

[Allan]

Twas ever thus

[rthompson80819]

You might also try the following free download defrag program.

http://www.piriform.com/defraggler/download

[dahlarbear]

1.  Defrag.  Well, ahem...  I prefer MyDefrag, but I'm not sure "defrag" is the problem.

2.  BSOD.  Strange that it blue screens on "Safe Mode" boot, but not a normal boot.

On general principle you might use System File Checker (sfc) to check for and replace corrupt and/or missing system files.  You should have your Windows XP Install CD handy because it may ask for it.

Some reference links:
     a.  Scannow SFC
     b.  System File Checker How To's, How to run it with and without a Windows CD
     c.  System File Checker (sfc) - Windows XP Professional Product Documentation
     d.  What is the System File Checker, and how do I run it?

[GTL]

Thanks to all that replied, but...

I ran chkdsk /r in the recovery console and System File Checker, but no apparent change:

Booting in safe mode results in BSOD and defrag runs for maybe 10 minutes before claiming it's done.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

[harry 48]

download smart defrg from oribt its good and always completes

[killerb255]

Thanks to all that replied, but...

I ran chkdsk /r in the recovery console and System File Checker, but no apparent change:

Did chkdsk /r find any bad sectors?

[dahlarbear]

Did chkdsk /r find any bad sectors?

You may use Microsoft's "event viewer" to locate result of previous chkdsk execution.  See below to access. 

Open Start, Run, type (without quotes) 'eventvwr.msc' and click OK. Select the Application report and examine all the events with the 'Winlogon' source.

Posted by "Daniel Martín" in thread CHKDSK produce a Log ?