Analyze Operation Suggests Defragmenting Disk Multiple Times (229850)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
This article was previously published under Q229850

SUMMARY

If you use the Disk Defragmenter tool to defragment a disk that is highly fragmented, there may be insufficient free space to effectively defragment the files. If this condition exists and you perform a defragment operation and then immediately perform an analyze operation on the same volume, Disk Defragmenter may report: "It is recommended that you defragment this volume" even though you just completed a defragment operation. This continues until there is enough free space to effectively defragment the volume.

In this case, you should temporarily move the most fragmented files off the volume and defragment again. If the condition persists, temporarily move a few large, contiguous files off the volume. This temporary measure gives Disk Defragmenter some contiguous "working room" that it needs to complete the defragmentation process on the rest of the volume. This also allows Disk Defragmenter to consolidate the free spaces on the partition, increasing the possibility that the temporarily moved files can be moved back to the partition into contiguous space.

MORE INFORMATION

Another condition that may cause the defragment operation not to succeed is a highly fragmented paging file. An active paging file is held open for exclusive use by Windows 2000. Disk Defragmenter cannot defragment any file that is open for exclusive use. There is, however, a way to defragment the paging file, or at least reduce the degree of fragmentation for the paging file.

Defragmenting the Paging File

To defragment, or reduce the amount of fragmentation in the paging file:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click System.
  2. On the Advanced tab, click Performance Options.
  3. Click Change to open the Virtual Memory dialog box.
  4. Change the paging file to another drive.
  5. Reduce the minimum and maximum size of the original paging file on the drive you want to defragment to 0 MB.
  6. Reboot your computer to have the system use the new paging file.
  7. Run Disk Defragmenter on the original drive to consolidate the free space segments created by moving the paging file.
  8. Re-create the paging file on the original drive.
  9. Reduce the minimum and maximum size of the temporary paging file to 0 MB.
  10. Reboot your computer.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/13/2003
Keywords:kbenv kbinfo KB229850
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