[SOLVED] Windows Defragmenter 0% Fragmented, but taking a very long time

Imozeb

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I am trying to defragment my PC hard drive using Windows Defragmenter. My hard drive is about 70% full.

Windows Defragmenter says that the drive is 0% fragmented, but my defrag has been stuck on pass 5 for the past hour.

I have not defragmentated in a while (~1 year of heavy use) because my computer would not let me defrag with 16GB Intel Optane memory enabled, so I temporarily disabled the Optane memory and am now defragmenting.

I’ve run chkdsk and Windows reports my disk as healthy. I’ve also run CrystalDisk Benchmark two months ago and that also reported my drive as healthy.

Any advice would be appreciated.
 
Solution
NTFS file system usually does not need defragmentation. Even more - do not defrag SSD drives nevertheless what any flashing ads or "experts" are saying. You will only shorten your SSD life with that.

Also it is not possible to defragment Windows system drive while Windows is working.

If you still want to defragment your system drive (HDD drives only!), you must do that during boot time. Boot into recovery mode and run defrag command from console. Or schedule boot time defragmentation by utility like IObit Smart Defrag or Defraggler. More details under link below.

https://superuser.com/questions/1222344/running-windows-disk-defragmentation-on-boot-in-windows-10
NTFS file system usually does not need defragmentation. Even more - do not defrag SSD drives nevertheless what any flashing ads or "experts" are saying. You will only shorten your SSD life with that.

Also it is not possible to defragment Windows system drive while Windows is working.

If you still want to defragment your system drive (HDD drives only!), you must do that during boot time. Boot into recovery mode and run defrag command from console. Or schedule boot time defragmentation by utility like IObit Smart Defrag or Defraggler. More details under link below.

https://superuser.com/questions/1222344/running-windows-disk-defragmentation-on-boot-in-windows-10
 
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Solution

Imozeb

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Apr 30, 2020
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NTFS file system usually does not need defragmentation. Even more - do not defrag SSD drives nevertheless what any flashing ads or "experts" are saying. You will only shorten your SSD life with that.

Also it is not possible to defragment Windows system drive while Windows is working.

If you still want to defragment your system drive (HDD drives only!), you must do that during boot time. Boot into recovery mode and run defrag command from console. Or schedule boot time defragmentation by utility like IObit Smart Defrag or Defraggler. More details under link below.

https://superuser.com/questions/1222344/running-windows-disk-defragmentation-on-boot-in-windows-10
Thanks! I’ll try to run defrag from safe mode.
 

Colif

Win 11 Master
Moderator
NTFS doesn't need defrag? - that has been around a long time, so its funny defrag is run once a month on ssd now and hdd are on the list if you look at disk maintenance schedule - https://hardforum.com/threads/has-anyone-ever-heard-ntfs-doesnt-need-defrag.1724598/

Defrag runs trim on ssd, not the old fashioned defrag. Win 10 smart enough to know what an ssd is by now. Defrag evolved as disk tech did.

https://www.hanselman.com/blog/the-real-and-complete-story-does-windows-defragment-your-ssd

not sure about the can't defrag C thing, I haven't had a hdd as boot drive for 6 years so can't check. I remember when screensaver used to restart defrag... ah, the good old days.
 
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Imozeb

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Well in device manager, Windows seems to think that my HDD is an SSD even if though I’m 100% sure it’s an HDD. It could be some weird combo issue with the Intel Optane memory? So maybe it isn’t running defrag the correct way? Though I have to turn off Intel Optane to defrag.