Simviation Forum - O&O v8.5 x64; Nick, Serious offline defrag problem

Mar 23^rd, 2008 at 3:12am

raptorx Offline
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There's too much confusion...
San Diego, CA

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Nick, I got my XP 64bit SP2c dialed in according to your new tweak list. I got the 64bit version of O&O 8.5 and ran 2 space defrags and all was well. But when I tried to do an offline defrag, my computer crashed with a memory dump. I tried to reboot and couldn't-got that same memory dump error telling me something was corrupted in the registry. I've run the offline many times w/version 10 and XP 32bit, no issues ever. I had to reinstall the OS and, well, here I am.

Can I get by without the offline defrag? I know I need O&O and I don't want to give up XP x64.

Thanks for your help. -JIm

Rampage II Gene, i7 965 4GHz
Mushkin Redline DDR3 1600
XP x64 SP2
ASUS Matrix GTX285

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Reply #1 - Mar 23^rd, 2008 at 12:00pm

NickN Offline
Colonel
FSX runs fine... the problem
is you or your system

Posts: 6317

Are you sure that x64 Windows CD is fully SP2?

The reason I ask is this is the first time this type of error has ever been reported using a genuine SP2 install disk if that is the case.

I would like to have seen the exact error message too

I would prefer you not skip the offline however yes, you can skip it and there is a way to manually defrag the MFT/Page files without using the software.

The page file is easy. All you have to do is set it to zero, reboot.. delete the file 'pagefile.sys' on the root of "C" and when you restore it by turning it back on, its automatically written defragmented.

The page file should always be at the end of the data which means if it shows in O&O anywhere other than the end (before or after the MFT zone) the way you move it to there is the same process except after shutting it off, reboot and remove you then run a NAME defrag and after that, turn the page file back on. It will land at the end of the data

As for the MFT... that one is a bit tricky but here is how it is done... Create a folder on the C root named TEMP. Using PARTITION software such as Acronis Disk Director, REDUCE the free space of the Windows partition down to about 5%, then, using the unallocated space left over, create a NEW partition (its only temporary). After that operation is complete, reverse the process. MERGE the new partition back into the Windows partition using the TEMP folder as the target. (you will understand when you use the software, the wizard will guide you) as soon as the operation is complete and you boot back into Windows, immediately run a NAME defrag.

The above will move the MFT to the end of the data and also defragment it, just like the page file is defragmented by remove and restore.

I use that method all the time because even though O&O will defragment the MFT, O&O will not move the MFT area and many times that area ends up in the data zone instead of at the end.

I am not sure what happened or why however if you were overclocked when that happened, I can see how. You had problems with the huge GEX/decompress/ install too as I recall which was indicative of something wrong in a clock area, OR, something wrong with voltages, OR defective memory at play.

The same type of issue could cause a registry corruption however O&O having any issues with a genuine SP2 disk does not sound right, at all.

Are you sure your memory voltage is correct? And have you tested your memory using Memtest in DOS... That’s another thing that can cause corruption issues clocked, or not.

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Reply #2 - Mar 23^rd, 2008 at 1:16pm

NickN Offline
Colonel
FSX runs fine... the problem
is you or your system

Posts: 6317

Antother thing too... if you are running more than 2GB of memory, make sure you know what you are doing when it comes to setting that up in the BIOS and the slots the stick populate. Typically, more than 2 slots filled and you will have timing issues to deal with

and a FYI: Someone reported corruption with a nET update from MS

http://www.simforums.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=25718

Not sure how that happened however without the exact error message you got I can not say at this point it was in fact an O&O problem. If that install disk was SP2 and given the history around corrupt large file installs (GEX) I would question other areas before pointing the finger at O&O.

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Reply #3 - Mar 23^rd, 2008 at 9:27pm

raptorx Offline
Colonel
There's too much confusion...
San Diego, CA

Gender:
Posts: 434

NickN wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2008 at 12:00pm:

Are you sure that x64 Windows CD is fully SP2?

The reason I ask is this is the first time this type of error has ever been reported using a genuine SP2 install disk if that is the case.

I would like to have seen the exact error message too

I would prefer you not skip the offline however yes, you can skip it and there is a way to manually defrag the MFT/Page files without using the software.

The page file is easy. All you have to do is set it to zero, reboot.. delete the file 'pagefile.sys' on the root of "C" and when you restore it by turning it back on, its automatically written defragmented.

The page file should always be at the end of the data which means if it shows in O&O anywhere other than the end (before or after the MFT zone) the way you move it to there is the same process except after shutting it off, reboot and remove you then run a NAME defrag and after that, turn the page file back on. It will land at the end of the data

As for the MFT... that one is a bit tricky but here is how it is done... Create a folder on the C root named TEMP. Using PARTITION software such as Acronis Disk Director, REDUCE the free space of the Windows partition down to about 5%, then, using the unallocated space left over, create a NEW partition (its only temporary). After that operation is complete, reverse the process. MERGE the new partition back into the Windows partition using the TEMP folder as the target. (you will understand when you use the software, the wizard will guide you) as soon as the operation is complete and you boot back into Windows, immediately run a NAME defrag.

The above will move the MFT to the end of the data and also defragment it, just like the page file is defragmented by remove and restore.

I use that method all the time because even though O&O will defragment the MFT, O&O will not move the MFT area and many times that area ends up in the data zone instead of at the end.

I am not sure what happened or why however if you were overclocked when that happened, I can see how. You had problems with the huge GEX/decompress/ install too as I recall which was indicative of something wrong in a clock area, OR, something wrong with voltages, OR defective memory at play.

The same type of issue could cause a registry corruption however O&O having any issues with a genuine SP2 disk does not sound right, at all.

Are you sure your memory voltage is correct? And have you tested your memory using Memtest in DOS... That’s another thing that can cause corruption issues clocked, or not.

It is a Newegg copy I just got. It has the "official CD holder", says SP2, and when I right click on my computer, it shows up as XP Pro x64/SP2.

I have a 4Gb Kingston HyperX kit; 1066 (when you set it in BIOS) running at the specified timings (5-5-5-15) and 2.2v. The voltage shows up in both BIOS and Everest as 2.2v. I ran a memtest86+ pass with no errors-that took an hour. XP installed fine. I know I need to run the test longer.

I am overclocked @ 3.2GHz so once again guilty. I'll go back down to optimized defaults and try again. Worst thing-another install.

Thanks a lot Nick for spending time here on Easter Sunday.

-Jim

Rampage II Gene, i7 965 4GHz
Mushkin Redline DDR3 1600
XP x64 SP2
ASUS Matrix GTX285

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Reply #4 - Mar 23^rd, 2008 at 9:30pm

raptorx Offline
Colonel
There's too much confusion...
San Diego, CA

Gender:
Posts: 434

Oh, and the GEX issue was bad memory (Crucial-not what it used to be). When I checked it in memtest it failed immediately and profusely. I replaced it with 2Gb Transcend DDR2 1200 that's been pretty stable. But I had to get the 64bit/4Gb and try that out.

-Jim

Rampage II Gene, i7 965 4GHz
Mushkin Redline DDR3 1600
XP x64 SP2
ASUS Matrix GTX285

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Reply #5 - Mar 24^th, 2008 at 11:14am

raptorx Offline
Colonel
There's too much confusion...
San Diego, CA

Gender:
Posts: 434

OK, it worked this time. That's a relief!

-Jim

Rampage II Gene, i7 965 4GHz
Mushkin Redline DDR3 1600
XP x64 SP2
ASUS Matrix GTX285

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Reply #6 - Mar 24^th, 2008 at 12:11pm

NickN Offline
Colonel
FSX runs fine... the problem
is you or your system

Posts: 6317

What that meas is you ARE OVERCLOCKING TOO HIGH Grin

Its not O&O and thats what I thought

You can not overclock a system and assume because it runs FSX without crashing, it is not throwing errors, which means you performance may be in the trash due to a improper and unstable clock or Vcore/Vdimm to keep it stable.

NEVER OVERCLOCK A SYSTEM UNTIL IT IS LOADED, OPTIMIZED AND SET UP.. CLOCKING IS NEVER DONE DURING THAT PHASE.

And if you cant run a defrag pass while overclocked... your seriously OFF in either voltage, settings or both

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Reply #7 - Mar 24^th, 2008 at 7:52pm

raptorx Offline
Colonel
There's too much confusion...
San Diego, CA

Gender:
Posts: 434

OK. No overclocking until EVERYTHINGS installed and optimized, including FSX.

Once that's done, how long would you suggest running stability tests? Are Prime95 and Memtest86+ sufficient?

Don't laugh at me too hard-karma will get you! Wink

Rampage II Gene, i7 965 4GHz
Mushkin Redline DDR3 1600
XP x64 SP2
ASUS Matrix GTX285

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