Error Message "Disk Defragmenter Could Not Initialize" (274106)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
This article was previously published under Q274106

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to analyze or defragment an NTFS volume using the Windows 2000 Disk Defragmenter utility, you may receive the following error message:
Disk Defragmenter could not initialize
This error message does not occur when you analyze or defragment other FAT, FAT32, or NTFS volumes.

CAUSE

This issue occurs only on highly fragmented NTFS volumes whose Master File Table (MFT) is also highly fragmented.

RESOLUTION

To work around this issue, back up the data on the NTFS volume, and verify that the backup file contains all of the file data. Then reformat the NTFS volume and restore it from the backup file. When this procedure is complete, the Disk Defragmenter utility should run successfully against that volume.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/26/2006
Keywords:kbDefrag kbprb w2000defrag KB274106
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