Windows 10: Disk defragmenter running even though it's disabled

I just caught disk defragmenter running when I didn't want it to. Windows seems to love running things without my permission. I just doubled-checked the settings under "defragment and optimize drives" and it is off for all drives:

Drives are not being optimized automatically

Also under task scheduler, defrag is disabled.

Yet when my drive stared grinding away all of a sudden I checked task manager and this was running:

service host: disk defragmenter
optimize drives

Which stopped running shortly after I opened task manager.

So why is this running if it's disabled?

:)

 

Disk Defragmenter runs but when finished it now shows 14% fragmented.

Hi Jim,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

Provide us with the below details for better clarity on the issue.

• 
  Did you perform the defragmentation internally or on an external drive?
  
• 
  Do you face any performance related issues even after the defragmentation?
  

You can ignore the message if you are not facing any performance related issue
after the process is done. It might be due to some error in the reporting. Then it won’t be an issue to worry about. If that is not the case, and you are still facing performance related issues, I suggest you to try the below steps and check if it
helps.

Step 1: Run a Disc Check on the computer.

You can perform a check disk to spot any error in your hard disk. To do so, right- click on the start button>select command prompt (admin)> type “chkdsk” and press enter.

This will display the exact errors occurring in your hard drive. Restart the computer and try Step 2.

Step 2: Perform a Disk Cleanup on your computer.

Refer the link below for steps to perform a Disk Cleanup.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/disk-cleanup-in-windows-10

Now, Run Disk Defragmentation and check if the issue persists.

Hope this information helps and let us know the status of the issue we will be glad to help you further.

 

Defragmentation not working, and new update causing crashes

Hi,

It is possible that Disk Defragmenter service has been disabled or not properly running on your PC, causing defragmentation issues. To troubleshoot this, kindly try these following methods:

Run System File Checker

System File Checker is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files. To do so, follow these steps:

• Right-click the Start Menu and select Command Prompt (Admin).
• Run this command: SFC /scannow
• This may take several minutes to finish. If Command Prompt shows Verification 100% complete, close the command prompt and check if your issue has been fixed.

Check Disk Defragmenter service

Disk Defragmenter service is required to perform disk defragmentation. If Disk Defragmenter service and other services that is required to perform disk defragmentation is disabled, you may encounter issues doing defragmentation. To troubleshoot this, follow
these steps:

• In the search box, search and open Services.
• Find Disk Defragmenter service, right-click it, and select Properties.
• Make sure that Disk Defragmenter service Startup type is set to Manual.
• Go back to the Services window and make sure that the Startup type of these services is set to Automatic:
  • Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
  • DCOM Server Process Launcher
  • RPC Endpoint Mapper

Regarding your issue with the Windows Update, kindly answer these following questions for us to assist:

• What is the update that you are trying to install (KB16XXXX)?
• What are the specifications of your PC?
• Do you receive any error messages when encountering a system crash?

We'll be looking forward for your response.

Regards.

 

defragmentation

Hi Richard,



We have a couple of workarounds for defragmentation issues, try the following:



Method 1: Check your hard disk for errors in Windows 10.

• Press Windows key+X.
• Select Command Prompt (Admin).
• In the window that opens enter chkdsk /f.
  

Method 2:
Run System File Checker (SFC).

Method 3: Check if Disk Defragmenter service is running properly.

This service is required for performing disk defragmentation, and if it’s disable, you won’t be able to run a defragmentation tool.

• Search for services.msc.
• Make sure that Disk Defragmenter service is set to
  manual.
• Also, make sure that following services are set to Automatic:
  
  Remote Procedure Call (RPC).
  
  DCOM Server Process Launcher.
  
  RPC Endpoint Mapper.
  

Let us know how it goes.