Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (
More info?)
This is part of the Prefetching process. Prefetching is a good thing.
Optimizing Startup Times by Using Defragmentation Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/reskit/en-us/prkd_tro_uutk.asp
Idle Task Scheduling: The ProcessIdleTask API
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/sysperf/benchmark.mspx#EDAA
Hard Disks Do Not Turn Off After Your Computer Has Been Idle
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/Q313300
This command, typed in a command prompt, forces the optimization:
Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks
If the disk is NTFS, defrag.exe and dfrgntfs.exe run.
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I don't know why you'd want to turn it off.
To turn it off you need TweakUI or you have to adjust a setting in the
registry.
TweakUI
[+] General
Unselect: ? Optimize hard disk when idle
Optimize hard disk when idle
[[This allows Windows to rearrange files on the hard disk when the computer
is not in use to improve performance. This is a system wide setting which
requires a restart for changes to take effect.]]
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Download TweakUI here >>>
Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp
Tweak UI
TweakUI.exe
===
Tweak UI for Windows XP Guide
http://www.winxpsolution.com/Tweakuixppro.aspx
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HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory
Management\PrefetchParameters
Values for EnablePrefetcher are:
0 - no prefetch
1 - prefetch applications only
2 - prefetch boot only
3 - prefetch both applications & boot (default)
How to Disable the Prefetcher Component in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307498
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Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes
In news:A55FB90E-F335-44D8-ADEC-1152E409BE29@microsoft.com,
Panzer_Dan <Panzer_Dan@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
> Hi
> I'm not sure how it got activated but whenever I leave my PC idle for
> about 5 mins the hard disk starts defragmenting in the backround. I
> know this because I've called up the Task Manager and can see
> defrag.exe running in the list.
> How can I turn this automatic defragmenting off? I've looked in
> scheduled tasks etc but cannot find it anywhere.
> It's strange that it has only been apparent for a couple of weeks,
> before that it did not occur.
> It's not a massive problem or anything - I'd just like to know how to
> turn it off.
>
> Thanks