fragmented files? [Unable to defragment]

Hi barkey1991,
welcome to Windows BBS ... ... !

During defragmentation, the tools needs space to move things around. This happens in several steps and the less free space there is, the longer it takes. At a certain percentage, it simply can not be done anymore.

Christer

 

If we assume the file system being NTFS, when a file is created it gets an entry in the MFT (Master File Table) which is located in a certain reserved space on the hard disk. Each MFT entry is 4 kb in size which means that a file larger than that will get a second fragment elsewhere. A file which has two fragments, the MFT entry + a second fragment, is not reported as fragmented. When the file is changed, the change may fit within existing fragments but it is likely that a third fragment is the result. These additional fragments will end up where ever there is free space.

Identifying fragmented files for deletion is difficult and not what you want to do. I would recommend buying a second hard disk, either installed internally or in an USB enclosure. When partitioned and formated, move certain files from the original one to the new one until you have ~25% free space on the original one. Now, you should be able to defragment.

Christer

 

You will have to put a bit of meat on that question ....

Where are you seeing these fragmented files and why do you want to delete them?

File fragmentation is a normal occurrence - when Windows writes to disk it starts at the first bit of free space and then moves onto the next and so on. The file is therefore not necessarily contiguous and it is true that this can degrade performance.

The standard method of restoring the fragmented files into a contiguous block is to defragment the drive. Windows has a built in defragger - right click on the drive in Explorer or My Computer > Properties > Tools tab > Disk Defragmenter.

 

You need about 25% free space on the drive to defragment efficiently.

Side note - I see you have another thread on the same subject - I have merged the threads.