Curious

[Kriskringle]

Every time I run 'ScanDisk' it restarts umteen times with windows message telling me to close all other running applications. Nothing is running, I read that for some Windows versions with a particular wordprocessing package there is a hidden program called 'Find Fast' running in the background which indexes all files ever viewed/etc. I don't have it but does anyone no of other programs running in the background that can be deleted in MS-DOS which could be slowing every thing right down.

 

[Polymorphic]

what version of windows are you running? have you checked a real process viewer or just the ctrl-alt-del task switcher? often the easiest way to run scandisk is to pop into safe mode.

--poly

 

[Trotter]

Good advice, Poly.

Sounds like you are running 98, Kris. If you are, click START, RUN, type "MSCONFIG", ENTER, STARTUP tab. Uncheck everything. Reboot. Then try to run ScanDisk, followed by DiskDefragmenter. Go back through the steps, and recheck your anti-virus, firewall, and whatever you must have start-up with Windows (which should be as little as possible).

Oh, and when the gray box pops up on startup, just check the "Don't start or show me" box and hit OK.

 

[htcs]

often the easiest way to run scandisk is to pop into safe mode.
[/B]

Usually programs running in the background will cause the file system to change - which makes defrag (and scandisk) startover.

Best way is to go into Safe Mode (just tap the F8 key during POST upto when windows starts). None of that stuff in MSCONFIG will run or start in safe mode - hence no programs running in the background. When you're done defraging - run scan disk or those anti-virus scans, things go a bit faster in safemode

And a good hint, if you're using a free spyware/adware program like Spybot - Search & Destroy, or Adaware SE 6, run those in Safe Mode - 99% of the time it will be able to get rid of the spyware/adware programs without a restart!

 

[Kriskringle]

ORIGINAL POST

Cheers, for the advice!

I will run system tools etc in safe-mode from now on.

Never used "MSCONFIG" before, you know what, there were programs checked in it that I've long uninstalled and deleted from my registry. You never know were absolete references and the like pop-up all over 'B'indows.

One of which was 'abu.exe' the notorius 'about_blank homepage hi-jacker' as I remember it (it was an absolete reference anyway since I got rid of it with e-mail advice for the friendly guys at HI-JACKTHIS).

There was also two entries for 'LoadPowerProfile' with the exact same location address. Now even I know at least one can be unchecked.

Only recently begun exploring my registry and MS-DOS code for deleting 'index.dat' files.

Will have to work with "MSCONFIG" a bit and see what the other 14 odd 'load-ups' are all about.

Enjoyable stuff, finding out how everything works and tweaking the system.