I would like to regularly run defragmentation during night hours. 
However, when I program it as a scheduled task, the UI window opens 
but - since I don't click "Analyze" nor "Defragment" it does nothing and 
sits there waiting for my input. What option or flag do I have to pass 
so that it actually starts defragmentation (preferably even if the free 
space is less than 15%)?

Michael

Michael Moser wrote:
> I would like to regularly run defragmentation during night hours.
> However, when I program it as a scheduled task, the UI window opens
> but - since I don't click "Analyze" nor "Defragment" it does
> nothing and sits there waiting for my input. What option or flag do
> I have to pass so that it actually starts defragmentation
> (preferably even if the free space is less than 15%)?

Start button --> RUN --> type in:

  cmd /k defrag /?

--> Click OK.

That should give you the command line optioons you would want to use when 
making your scheduled task.

Probably: defrag c: -f

-- 
Shenan Stanley
     MS-MVP
-- 
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

How to Automate Disk Defragmenter Using Task Scheduler Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555098/en-us

---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Michael Moser wrote:
> I would like to regularly run defragmentation during night hours. 
> However, when I program it as a scheduled task, the UI window opens but 
> - since I don't click "Analyze" nor "Defragment" it does nothing and 
> sits there waiting for my input. What option or flag do I have to pass 
> so that it actually starts defragmentation (preferably even if the free 
> space is less than 15%)?
> 
> Michael
>

You can run a batch file or script with the commands:

-go.bat-
start /WAIT %windir%/system32/defrag C: /f
start /WAIT %windir%/system32/defrag D: /f
echo off
echo "defrag done"
pause
--cut here--




System Defrag

Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Defragmenter

Restore Defrag.exe (Line 280)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Add a Scheduled Task:

Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Scheduled Tasks/Add Scheduled Task. 
If Defrag is not listed, use Browse:  C:\Windows\System32\defrag.exe...

Defrag All Hard Drives as a Scheduled Task (Line 20)
http://www.dougknox.com/utility/scripts_desc/defrag_all.htm

Add Defrag to the Context Menu (Right Click) - Line 43
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

There is a command line version that will accept parameters
defrag /f  D: (force a defrag of D: drive)

Automating Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q253/5/97.asp


-- 

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

SupportSpace
www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

"Michael Moser"  wrote in message 
news:O1m6Ycs6IHA.2336@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>I would like to regularly run defragmentation during night hours. However, 
>when I program it as a scheduled task, the UI window opens but - since I 
>don't click "Analyze" nor "Defragment" it does nothing and sits there 
>waiting for my input. What option or flag do I have to pass so that it 
>actually starts defragmentation (preferably even if the free space is less 
>than 15%)?
>
> Michael
>

Michael Moser wrote:
> I would like to regularly run defragmentation during night hours. 

I would recommend getting JKDefrag. It has a command line version which 
is ideal for running as a scheduled task.

The Windows XP built-in defragmenter defragments just the files; you end 
up with defragmented files (they are individually contiguous on disk) 
but they are spattered all over your disk.

JKDefrag (which is free, and nothing to do with me) defragments the 
files, but also moves them as close as possible to location 0, which is 
the fastest part of the disk.

After I'd run JKDefrag I though my applications were hanging when I 
launched them, until I realised that the disk accesses involved were 
almost silent because the files were all clustered together (no pun 
intended).

-- 
Steve Swift
http://www.swiftys.org.uk/swifty.html
http://www.ringers.org.uk

> Michael Moser wrote:
>> I would like to regularly run defragmentation during night hours.
>
> I would recommend getting JKDefrag. It has a command line version
> which is ideal for running as a scheduled task.
>
> The Windows XP built-in defragmenter defragments just the files; you
> end up with defragmented files (they are individually contiguous on
> disk) but they are spattered all over your disk.
>
> JKDefrag (which is free, and nothing to do with me) defragments the
> files, but also moves them as close as possible to location 0, which
> is the fastest part of the disk.
>
> After I'd run JKDefrag I though my applications were hanging when I
> launched them, until I realised that the disk accesses involved were
> almost silent because the files were all clustered together (no pun
> intended).

But I would recommend using XP's Task Scheduler to simply schedule it to 
run with the appropriate flags.

As for "because the files were all clustered together", that simply 
creates more need for more defrags than is neccessary.  Fragmentation 
begins to happen within the first few writes to the disk, where as when 
there are spaces between the file sets, the OS can more quickly find a 
place to dop a file.  Remember, the registry is being read and written 
to constantly, so even if you don't create files, fragmentation is going 
to start happening.

I never heard of JKDefrag but if it's any good it will have options for 
putting things on the beginning, first, mid, last, and the end of the 
sector lists.  Else it's not much good if it only does what you 
describe.  In general, IMO, using a 3rd part app to do what XP can do 
well natively is just adding more opportunity for problems and 
corruption to occur both on disk and in memory and in the registry.
  Perhaps you should research the registry and its use a little?

HTH

Swifty wrote:
>>... JKDefrag ... defragments the
>> files, but also moves them as close as possible to location 0, ...

Twayne wrote:
> I never heard of JKDefrag but if it's any good it will have options for
> putting things on the beginning, first, mid, last, and the end of the
> sector lists.

 By default, JkDefrag maintains a free space of 1% of total disk between zones:
  directories (at start of disk), regular files, SpaceHogs

 There are many options for optimizing, compacting, size of free space,
sorting, forcing all to start or end of disk, etc.
http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/

DISKEEPER IS THE BEST

"a_nonymous"  wrote in message 
news:epxj4kF8IHA.1200@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Swifty wrote:
>>>... JKDefrag ... defragments the
>>> files, but also moves them as close as possible to location 0, ...
>
> Twayne wrote:
>> I never heard of JKDefrag but if it's any good it will have options for
>> putting things on the beginning, first, mid, last, and the end of the
>> sector lists.
>
> By default, JkDefrag maintains a free space of 1% of total disk between 
> zones:
>  directories (at start of disk), regular files, SpaceHogs
>
> There are many options for optimizing, compacting, size of free space,
> sorting, forcing all to start or end of disk, etc.
> http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/
>
>

No, it isn't.  Go do your shouting somewhwere else; preferable outdoors.

> DISKEEPER IS THE BEST
>
> "a_nonymous"  wrote in message
> news:epxj4kF8IHA.1200@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Swifty wrote:
>>>> ... JKDefrag ... defragments the
>>>> files, but also moves them as close as possible to location 0, ...
>>
>> Twayne wrote:
>>> I never heard of JKDefrag but if it's any good it will have options
>>> for putting things on the beginning, first, mid, last, and the end
>>> of the sector lists.
>>
>> By default, JkDefrag maintains a free space of 1% of total disk
>> between zones:
>>  directories (at start of disk), regular files, SpaceHogs
>>
>> There are many options for optimizing, compacting, size of free
>> space, sorting, forcing all to start or end of disk, etc.
>> http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/

well I hate to diagree. And y do you say its not.

"Twayne"  wrote in message 
news:eTsquwM8IHA.5712@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> No, it isn't.  Go do your shouting somewhwere else; preferable outdoors.
>
>> DISKEEPER IS THE BEST
>>
>> "a_nonymous"  wrote in message
>> news:epxj4kF8IHA.1200@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> Swifty wrote:
>>>>> ... JKDefrag ... defragments the
>>>>> files, but also moves them as close as possible to location 0, ...
>>>
>>> Twayne wrote:
>>>> I never heard of JKDefrag but if it's any good it will have options
>>>> for putting things on the beginning, first, mid, last, and the end
>>>> of the sector lists.
>>>
>>> By default, JkDefrag maintains a free space of 1% of total disk
>>> between zones:
>>>  directories (at start of disk), regular files, SpaceHogs
>>>
>>> There are many options for optimizing, compacting, size of free
>>> space, sorting, forcing all to start or end of disk, etc.
>>> http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/
>
>
>

<snipped>

THE LORD wrote:
> DISKEEPER IS THE BEST

Twayne wrote:
> No, it isn't.  Go do your shouting somewhwere else; preferable
> outdoors.

THE LORD wrote:
> well I hate to diagree. And y do you say its not.

Actually - given you claim it is 'the best', and you claimed that first in 
this conversation - the need for you to explain your claim would come first.

Admittedly - in Windows XP itself is a cut-down version of Diskeeper. 
However - in as many years as I have done this - although I recommend 
defragmentation as a means of upkeep - I have found none that do their job 
so much better than the rest as to encourage a purchase of a program to do 
it.

JKDefrag is actually the first defragmentation product I decided to 
recommend above just using the built-in functionality.  Not because it does 
such a spectacular job above and beyond that of the innate defragmentation 
utility, but almost entirely because of its screensaver and price (free.) 
;-)

-- 
Shenan Stanley
     MS-MVP
-- 
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html