Hardrive Problems

[SKD_Tech]

Hey I know thisisn't related to Audio and Video but it is the only forum I really could ask experts on promptly. In windows 98 and 2000 I remember a a feature called scandisk to find and fix and errors on the computer's hard drive. Is there such a feature on XP and if there isn't is there a program I can get to do it? Thanks guys

SKD_Tech

[gd_nimrod]

Error checking?

Right-click on a partition and select properties, then Tools-> Error Checking should be what you're looking for.

[SKD_Tech]

can I have a step through process please because I don't know where to find the Partition menu

[gd_nimrod]

A partition is referred to as one of your hard drives. My computer-> select the hard drive (or partition) you want to error check.

[chickeneater]

as far as i know, xp doesnt have a scandisk program. But you can use the CHKDSK.exe. go Start-->Run--> in the box type in "CHKDSK.exe" (without the quotes) and there are three parts to it, so dont get worried. personally I dont trust Microsoft to do stuff for me, so i dont defragment my hardrive, or scan disc for errors(only on the occasion).

[gd_nimrod]

"so i dont defragment my hardrive,"

Scanning the disk for errors isn't nearly as important as defragmenting your hard drive. It gives you faster access to your data without deleting any, just moving. And if you don't trust M$, use a retail program.

[ShuMO]

Use of the MMC

in XP's control panel, under 'administrator tools' you can open the Computer management with MMC. here you'll find nifty way to review all about your drives, there fragmentation (via the Analyze function) as well as the abilty to Defrag. Just an FYI, Microsloth bought the code from Norton for the defragment program back in 1997 and has been using it ever since.
Defragmenting a drive is a common thing and shouldn't be feared. Thats why we backup our machines occassionally right?

I'd like to add that given the file sizes that occur in video work, its common to push our drives to near capacity. When this occurs, smaller files have much more tendancy to fragment as they get re-written. Clear out your cache's, temp folders and anything else that you are 100% sure you dont need and fire away with either the defrag that came with XP or as was suggested a 3rd party app.
One more note - forgive me- defraggin has an ancillary use as well as it pushes data thats used on a regular basis to the edge of the Drive where the access time is fastest, thus giving a small performance boost there as well.

[ShuMO]

Drive Space

It also occurred to me to share one more thought. I found that XP has a terrible default of using a percentage of my hard disk for 'system restore points'. I believe the default setting is a whooping 10% of your hard disk (for each disk in the box!)
For me, thats an outrageous 12 GB of storage allocated to this. When I looked, I found restore points from 7 months ago. I doubt I'll ever want/need to restore that far back. Prior to defragging, and if your comfortable and agree with me, I suggest a bout 1 GB per drive. Restore points take about 160MB on my machine. Once you adjust this, your machine will be busy for a moment as it deletes the oldest points.
THEN you can defrag ... and should find your drive space a bit more available.

[SKD_Tech]

ok thanks guys but my computer was way beyond Defraging and Scaning for errors. I succesfully formated my computer to get rid of all crap reinstalled all codecs and programs and I am running faster than ever!

[gd_nimrod]

That always happens when you format your computer's windows drive. It seems like you just got a new CPU

Too bad in about 6 months you'll be in the same position as you were before

[SKD_Tech]

lol more than likely I got Mcafee and Ad aware now and they work nicely I am going to start defraging weekly weather it is needed or not.. Thanks for all the help guys

SKD_Tech

[gd_nimrod]

Make sure you schedual the defrags weekly if you want to keep your HD in top shape, formatting is really bitch when you have your OS on it. And depending on the size of your HD (i see you got an 80gig) it does take a while to defrag, i usually do it over night

[SKD_Tech]

I am about to be running a home network with 3 computers. Mine and 2 others and I will have a server.... I hope I don't have any big problems. I will be investing in a BIG firewall for my network...

Is it illeagal to say get broadband internet share with 5 of your friends make them pay 10 dollars monthly to you then pay your bill?

[khp]

Originally posted by SKD_Tech
Is it illeagal to say get broadband internet share with 5 of your friends make them pay 10 dollars monthly to you then pay your bill?

Yes I'am pretty sure that violates your user agreement with you ISP. Not to mention the fact that you would have to set up a company and pay taxes, if you wish to charge money for it.

AFAIK there are one or two ISP's that allow you to share your internet connection, with others. But even if you are lucky enough to have an ISP that allows this, I'am pretty sure you have to do it for free.

[SKD_Tech]

ok I was just wondering.....