severe and unresolvable fragmentation: why are tiny files in 9 fragments?

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Rahul - 26 Feb 2008 20:56 GMT

Hi,

I tried multiple defrags and I'm still left with a lot of
fragmentation on my drive. I seem to have enough free space though! 12
GB free on a 37 GB drive.

This is my primary windows drive. Single logical and physical drive.
No partitions here.

I've a separate physical drive for my pagefile. (with a tiny 100 MP
pagefile on my primary drive)

Any ideas how I can work around this and get a defragged drive? I've
attached a full report below just in case there is something bad there
that I didn't spot! Maybe some of you experts have tips for me? One
thing I noticed is that my MFT seems severely fragmented! How do I
cure that?

The other thing that stumps me is how can I have several tiny
(kilobyte sized) files that seem to be heavily fragmented?? Also
attached a snippet below!

-Rahul

*************************************************************************
olume (C:)
Volume size = 37.27 GB
Cluster size = 4 KB
Used space = 24.82 GB
Free space = 12.45 GB
Percent free space = 33 %

Volume fragmentation
Total fragmentation = 4 %
File fragmentation = 9 %
Free space fragmentation = 0 %

File fragmentation
Total files = 225,199
Average file size = 146 KB
Total fragmented files = 253
Total excess fragments = 17,588
Average fragments per file = 1.07

Pagefile fragmentation
Pagefile size = 100 MB
Total fragments = 2

Folder fragmentation
Total folders = 15,871
Fragmented folders = 8
Excess folder fragments = 21

Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
Total MFT size = 331 MB
MFT record count = 241,840
Percent MFT in use = 71 %
Total MFT fragments = 281
**************************************************************************

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Fragments File Size Filename
9 341 KB \WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\DataColl
\CollectedData_47463.xml
9 624 KB \Documents and Settings\username\My
Documents\Downloads\PowerCalcPowertoySetup.exe
9 533 KB \Documents and Settings\username\My
Documents\Downloads\TaskswitchPowertoySetup.exe
8 287 KB \RECYCLER
\S-1-5-21-220523388-1972579041-725345543-1008\Dc3.pdf
8 298 KB \WINDOWS\Installer\51cfc2b.msi
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

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Andrew E. - 27 Feb 2008 05:45 GMT

Open cmd,type:CLEANMGR Select C:,type:Defrag C: Once thru,type:EXIT Open
system properties,page file,set C: to "no page file",close out restart
pc.Once in
xp,open cmd,type:Defrag C: Exit when thru,reset C: page file to youre
specs,a
restart will be prompted after..This relieves xp & C: to defrag files that
are usually
in use,it may take a few tries but you'll get it.

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 68 lines]
> 8 298 KB \WINDOWS\Installer\51cfc2b.msi
> /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Reply to this Message

Rahul - 27 Feb 2008 12:49 GMT

> Open cmd,type:CLEANMGR Select C:,type:Defrag C: Once thru,type:EXIT Open
> system properties,page file,set C: to "no page file",close out restart
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> are usually
> in use,it may take a few tries but you'll get it.

I already tried! I set pagefile on C: to none (only one on E:) Didn't
help.

Although, I just had one pass on it. I'll try more to see if that
helps. I'm also moving MyDoc to the new drive. This copy should, by
necessity get rid of all fragmentation I assume? Then I'll pull it
back to C:

Thanks Andrew!

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Gerry - 27 Feb 2008 14:19 GMT

Rahul

The strange feature in your Defragmenter Report is the Master File
Table, which is badly fragmented. Normally it will only be in 2 or 3
fragments after running Disk Defragmenter. Adding up the fragmented
files I see 5 listed plus the pagefile plus the Master File Table equals
7, whereas the Report says you have 8. So there is one missing.

The following files are permanently excluded from being defragmented.
Bootsect.dos
Safeboot.fs
Safeboot.csv
Safeboot.rsv
Hiberfil.sys
Memory.dmp
Paging file
Source: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/bb457122.aspx

The first thing I would try is to change the default allocation to
System Restore from 12% on your C partition which is over generous. I
would reduce it to 700 mb. Right click your My Computer icon on the
Desktop and select System Restore. Place the cursor on your C drive
select Settings but this time find the slider and drag it to the left
until it reads 700 mb and exit. When you get to the Settings screen
click on Apply and OK, exit and restart your computer. Next select
Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to Empty
your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also select Start,
All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp, More Options,
System Restore and remove all but the latest System Restore point. Run
Disk Defragmenter.

If my first suggestion does not resolve the problem you might try Contig
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb897428.aspx

Signature

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>> Open cmd,type:CLEANMGR Select C:,type:Defrag C: Once
>> thru,type:EXIT Open system properties,page file,set C: to "no page
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Thanks Andrew!

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