Disk defragmenter no longer opens

[Fuzion636]

So a few days ago I kept getting an error about about hard drive consistency after using disk defragmenter an hour or two before my next system restart. Once I restarted I kept getting this error: Windows needs to check the hard drive for consistency. It kept freezing at 1 sec until I would reboot and randomly keep pressing buttons on the keyboard until it went past the error checking.

I was finally able to get past this by running windows 7 error checking utility on next reboot since it said it wouldn't work while windows was actively doing something.

The error is gone, but now disk defragmenter does not open
No matter which way I try to launch it

accessories\system tools\ run as administrator

my computer\right click on c: and choose properties\tools\disk defragmenter

This very useful program doesn't open up now for some reason. Please help me fix the launch problem with disk defragmenter. I use it quite often, because I do video authoring and I need to defrag the drive after a big project.

 

[Hopalong X]

The easy way to try is a System Restore point before the disk error popped up.

For instance if this past Monday was good and it started acting up Tuesday then try a late Monday System Restore point. If problem started Wednesday roll it back to a Tuesday date and time.

This is usually the easiest way to fix these type problems.
If it works let us know.
If not then we try a different solution.

Mike

 

[1Bowtie]

Follow the above post, good instruction. Win 7 is not like XP where you had to manuually defrag, in 7 just do disk cleanup and 7 will automaticly defrag when needed

 

[Hopalong X]

Bowtie

FYI
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3292-disk-defragmenter-schedule-turn-off.html

I think you have to set a schedule time when PC is on for the Auto to work.

My default time is 1AM Wednesday and the PC is never on then.

 

[Fuzion636]

The disk defragmenter gui interface doesn't even open, so I can't do anything to schedule tasks. I had the whole interface and everything, before the hard consistency error. Now when I click on the executable. The mouse clicks, but the interface never comes up.

I also disabled restore points and backup, because it eats system resources.
I do this within the first five minutes of a re-format this way all my system resources are freed up. I do this and black vipers super tweaks anytime I reinstall. Its one of the very first things I do.

 

[Hopalong X]

Well Black Viper just ruined your day.

None of his practices are usefull on Windows 7 except to cause problems.


Try this if it doesn't work you will probably have to do a full install.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R

 

[SledgeDG]

I do this and black vipers super tweaks anytime I reinstall.

Did you by any chance disable RPC (Remote Procedure Call) ??

 

[stormy13]

Well Black Viper just ruined your day.

This I would agree with. If this is what has caused the problem, you're going to have to either restore all services to their defaults, or start restoring them one at a time (that's assuming you remember which one's you changed) till things return to normal. If that doesn't work then you're pretty much looking at what Hopalong suggested, a repair install.

I also disabled restore points and backup, because it eats system resources.

Sorry to say but this is a myth with little basis in fact. The built in backup won't do anything or use any resources unless a backup schedule has been set up. System restore even more so. Unless you configure it differently a restore point is only made once every 7 days,

Restore Points (Windows)

Scheduled restore points

System Restore can be configured to create restore points at regular intervals. Users can also manually create and name a restore point at any time from within the System Restore user interface. These restore points are saved and compressed, and these choices are available to the user through the System Restore user interface. System Restore in Windows 7 creates a scheduled restore point only if no other restore points have been created in the last 7 days. System Restore in Windows Vista creates a checkpoint every 24 hours if no other restore points were created that day. System Restore in Windows XP creates a checkpoint every 24 hours of absolute time.

and will run once every 24 hours to see if a restore point has been created (manually, from installing a program or driver that created a restore point, or the scheduled 7 days), if not then it will shut off again; takes all of about 2 seconds to perform the check according to Task Manager on mine.

 

[Bill2]

If disabling system services is responsible for your problems, you can revert them to default settings. Use Lee Whittington's (he's a member here) SMART utility.

Tweak Windows Services with SMART Utility : HomePage | The Windows Club

 

[CarlTR6]

Bill2 and Stormy have given you good advice. Windows 7 is not XP. The knowledge you learned about tweaking and maintaining XP does not apply to Win 7. Forget that all of that. Win 7 is a brand new OS and not an evolution from XP. Win 7 manages services very differently and very efficiently. Don't mess with the services unless you understand exaclty what the service does and how it may affect other things in Win 7. There is very little you can do to speed up Win 7 or make it run more efficiently.

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Carl and all,
This is the problem with those who have gone from XP and Vista to Windows 7...the members want to optimize his/her system to go as fast as it can.
Windows 7 is the best OS from MS today and it runs smoothly and fast as designed.
So the best advice I can chime in on is ..."If it ain't broke don't fix it!"
That's my 2 cents worth of advice for the year!

 

[CarlTR6]

Dennis, you are right. I was one of those who went from XP to Win 7. I started out trying to use all of my XP knowledge and experience on Win 7. That is what led me this forum in the first place. Fortunately, I had restore points and was able to undo all of my "improvements". I then set about to learn Win 7. The tutorials were very helpful to me in getting a good grasp on how to things in and mange Win 7. I screwed a lot of things up. I learned the hard way. And I learned I did not know everything by a long shot.

 

[SledgeDG]

Exactly !!! Every new user should have to write a mandatory paper
like 500x Windows 7 is NOT XP or for our programmer Wse7en != XP

-DG

 

[Fuzion636]

It has nothing to do with services

I didn't change them at all, its just after running the error checking tool my defrag no longer launches the interface for some reason.

I did this
Super Tweaks for Windows 7 by Black Viper

Which doesn't alter services or registry at all, but I did this months ago so it shouldn't matter now. I use Defrag and CCCleaner to keep my system is tip top shape. The oly problem I have is the gui interface not opening for defrag.

Restoring is 20 min job + 5 mins for drivers
Its really not that big of a deal, if I have to then I have to. I would prefer not to though.

I went from 3.1 to 95 to 98 to 98se to vista ultimate to windows 7 64 bit home premium over the years. I still remember the days of prodigy internet and dos.

 

[Tepid]

Once I restarted I kept getting this error: Windows needs to check the hard drive for consistency. It kept freezing at 1 sec until I would reboot and randomly keep pressing buttons on the keyboard until it went past the error checking.

Uh, so you killed Chkdsk in the middle of running a chkdsk. Bad move.

I say, backup data, Nuke and Reload.

Probably have OS corruption that is causing you issues to begin with.

Reload the system and then stop messing with it, unless you just want to learn what you can do to break it.

1. Leave UAC enabled.

2. Leave The settings alone and let them do their job.

3. Really is not an issue

4. ehn, whatever

5. Do not update drivers using Windows Updates. Get them from the manufacturer directly.
Just trust me on that. Don't use Windows Updates for Drivers Updates.

6. Actually, this is not that big a deal and can be customized to your liking. So not really an issue.

7. ehn, whatever

8. Leave Services alone unless you actually really know what you are doing.

Good Luck!