Can't defrag this volume for some reason

Fuzion64 · 21 Jan 2018

Can't defrag this volume for some reason-imea2.jpg

I am trying to optimize my system performance, by making sure every single drive is defragged, but when I open disk defragmenter and run it for all drives 1 volume cannot be optimized for some reason.

I have a 7200 RPM 1TB W.D. Primary for windows and a 7200 RPM 2TB W.D. External USB Passport Secondary for all multimedia. What are these last two volumes and why can't the last one on the list be defragged properly.

When I click analyze and optimize its over in 1-2 seconds and it returns 12% fragmented like nothing happened.

I've also tried installing iobit smart defrag 5 and running it - It recommends a large file defrag so I do it. Then I analyze it again and it keeps requesting a large file defrag as the recommended option.

Also I have noticed that smart defrag 5 is typically much faster and it has a better interface overall. For all appearance purposes it appears as though it cleans and defrags alot better than the windows one, but what I really want to know is whether there is any advantage at all to using it over the one that comes with windows.

Bree · 21 Jan 2018

Fuzion64 said:

What are these last two volumes and why can't the last one on the list be defragged properly...

Welcome to TenForums @Fuzion64

That will most likely be your Recovery Partition, permissions prevent you defragging it. As you will only ever boot this if you need to repair the PC defragging it serves no useful purpose. The other one may be another recovery partition or maybe the uefi partition - again, no point in defragging it.

Jchamp · 10 May 2018

My problem is on a windows 10. When running defrag, both C: & D: are optimized, but SYSTEM shows 100%
Fragmented & when analyzed then optimized it runs 2 quick passes then reverts right back to 100%. - - -
My boot time is terrible & hard drive stays maxed for several minutes.

Bree · 11 May 2018

Jchamp said:

My problem is on a windows 10. When running defrag, both C: & D: are optimized, but SYSTEM shows 100% Fragmented & when analyzed then optimized it runs 2 quick passes then reverts right back to 100%. - - -
My boot time is terrible & hard drive stays maxed for several minutes.

Welcome to TenForums @Jchamp

The purpose of SYSTEM is to hold the boot loader. Once this is in memory that partition is not accessed again. All the subsequent disk activity is Windows being loaded from the C: drive. There's no point in defragmenting SYSTEM, it will not help your start up times.

In fact, starting with version 1803 (the April 2018 Update) Microsoft no longer show the Recovery partition or SYSTEM in the list of drive that can be defragmented.

Your slow start up and max'd out disk activity is down to how your Windows is configured on the C: drive and what is being loaded at start up (both from MS and third party software). We can best help you if you start a new thread of your own for this slow start problem.

jimbo45 · 11 May 2018

Hi there

forget Defrag

use macrium to Image and Restore the relevant Disk -- this will effectively perform the same operation and much much faster too. Note IMAGE copy not CLONE as clone will do a sector by sector copy.

ensure also hibernation off, sleep off, and page file not overcommitted i.e too large.

Cheers
jimbo

cereberus · 11 May 2018

jimbo45 said:

Hi there

forget Defrag

use macrium to Image and Restore the relevant Disk -- this will effectively perform the same operation and much much faster too. Note IMAGE copy not CLONE as clone will do a sector by sector copy.

ensure also hibernation off, sleep off, and page file not overcommitted i.e too large.

Cheers
jimbo

OP's issue is trying to defrag a hidden partition that is unhidden in defrag menus (due to a bug) which is totally unnecessary. Bug is fixed in 1803.