# An easy computer fix? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 25, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-easy-computer-fix/215116 "2003-11-25T03:58:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Craneop2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Craneop2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Craneop2)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-easy-computer-fix/215116/1 "2003-11-25T03:58:21Z")
My machine has decided to take on a mind of it’s own. Every time I try to do a de-frag the thing says “NO SIREE!!” and promptly freezes up. I am ready to throw it into the yard and let the dogs chew on it for a while!! I am thinking nothing short of a reformat might be in order. It’s an older Gateway G6-333c and I DO like it although the celuron processor IS kinda slow. Plenty hard drive space and I know I need more memory. I just want to do a defrag without a complete reformat… Any help would be appreciated ---
**Author:** ![Toddly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@Toddly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toddly)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-easy-computer-fix/215116/2 "2003-11-25T04:57:04Z")
Try running defrag under Safe Mode. I have had much better success that way. ---
**Author:** ![peterW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bb73d2/32.png) [@peterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peterW)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-easy-computer-fix/215116/3 "2003-11-25T06:10:24Z")
If it refuses to defrag or even format, you may want to check the condition of your hard drive. Download a boot utility disk to run some tests on your hard drive. I recently had to replace one after it refused to format. Something to keep in mind if nothing else works. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-easy-computer-fix/215116/4 "2003-11-25T06:16:57Z")
If Windows, use the boot disk and run from it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-easy-computer-fix/215116/5 "2003-11-25T08:58:42Z")
Which OS are we talking about here? (I’m guessing Win ME, as the disk-handling utilities in ME are rather poor). Hold down \ while the system boots Choose safe mode Run Scandisk Run Defrag ---
**Author:** ![CorBlimeyGuvnor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@CorBlimeyGuvnor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorBlimeyGuvnor)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-easy-computer-fix/215116/6 "2003-11-25T12:18:16Z")
buy a new one! ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-easy-computer-fix/215116/7 "2003-11-25T13:05:06Z")
You might want to look at this thread. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=207885](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=207885) ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-easy-computer-fix/215116/8 "2003-11-25T15:38:36Z")
I check the HD with certain PC windows versions from the DOS prompt with: CHKDSK/F It’s pretty fast.