Furious disk thrashing in Win98

[Queequeg]

At regular intervals, the hard disk on my p2 400 starts to thrash furiously. It can go on for several minutes. When this happens in-game, it gives me massive lag and jerkovision and can cost me several frags http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/frown.gif.

I didn't have this problem on my old machine under Win95.

I've looked on the MS Win98 tech board and seen this reported as a problem. It was suggested there that it's the vcache refreshing itself and the solution was to reduce it's size (i.e. make it a small permanent cache). I've tried this but it hasn't worked.

Dr. Solomon keeps my machine clear of viruses, so it's not that.

Has anybody else come across this and found a solution? I would be grateful for any suggestions.

Cheers,

Quee.

[Sweetie Pie]

How much RAM have u got? If u have 32MB of ram or less u need to upgrade. If u have enough ram just make sure you haven't gott a program which isn't running scan disk or something. If that aint it then try reinstalling again or reinstall from another CD.

Make sure u have the usage of the machine set to server and not desktop PC

Hope it helps

Sweetie Pie http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

[K FLINT]

Yeah, make sure that you havn't got that bloody Windows 98 Task Scheduler running, it might well be that Win 98 is doing a defrag or scandisk etc, just when you don't want it.

As for me i've turned Task Scheduler off entirly... I decide when my PC needs a spring clean, not the machine http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

K FLINT

[Queequeg]

Thanks guys http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

I've got 128Mb of Ram, and I did turn off Task Scheduler shortly after I got the machine - the flipping thing cut in and crashed a web download connection in my first week!.

Win98 was reinstalled after a crash a while ago - made no difference.

The machine is set to server.

So I'm still looking for an answer http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/frown.gif. Thanks again for trying.

Quee

[NVJonny]

set the swapfile on ur machine to a permanent 250 megs

that way windows wont try to readjust the size of the swapfile when unreal loads or quits

defrag ur hard disk b4 u do this for optimum efficiency etc etc

[Wolfe]

Or just do the sensible thing...

Put Win95 back on and wait for the bug fixed release of 98 http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

[Eviiil One]

hi cross.

i want to play you at Jedi Knight some time. Ask the ginger skooby for the disk.

[This message has been edited by Eviiil One (edited 18-01-99).]

[PP]

-----------Disk thrashing, eh?

Have you got MSOffice installed? Makes all the difference in the world...

Tell me, then http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

PP

[Queequeg]

Thanx again guys http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

I've got a permanent swap file and its only 150 as advised on the MS Win98 webby - made no difference http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/frown.gif

Yes, I've got MSOffice installed and in regular use.

? - tell me!

Cheers,

Quee

[Naked]

Hi queequeg

Hehe i thought it was just my p2 400 and win 98 this happened to but i guess not i don't worry about it to much because it only happens once in a blue moon i get terrible jerkovision like you said and the hard disc bumbles away by itself but it stops after about 30 secs. I thought about putting win 95 back on but can't be bothered with the hassle. I know this don't help but at least your not alone.

Cy m8

Naked

[NVJonny]

try these:
defragmenting ur hard drive
disabling doublebuffer in msdos.sys
seting ur machine to desktop
lowering the memory used for the cd chache
reducing the memory windows uses for caching (this can be up to half of ur memory)

i have a prog that limits the amount of memory windows can use but i cant remember what its called (i'm at uni just now) i'll get back to u on this 1.

[PP]

-------------Hur hur. Ner ner, not gonna tell ya http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

Alrite...

Firstly, try to End Task "FindFast." That's the ******* which is raping your HDD.

Secondly, remove FindFast fromt eh StartUp Program menu... right click no your task bar, choose properties, click on Start Menu Programs... Remove.

Should fix it.

PP

[Eviiil One]

queequeg! i know whre you live! well, sort of.


anyway......the first thing i'd try is defragging. my comp did that to me every now and then. doesnt win98 have a special feature which puts things in order on the hard drive by how much use it gets?
i also used to get this problem when i'd left the comp switched on for a long time; try a simple restart.

[Sweetie Pie]

Also make sure you delete all of the indexes made by findfast cos it sometimes tries to remake them even if u aint even started it, turn the office bar off as well

Sweetie Pie http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

[LADYQUAKE]

I put on the Win98 Upgrade yesterday, perhaps using the 'Maintenance Wizard' in the system tools to check hard drive for errors.

I've had no problems 'so far'. The upgrade says 'new version' so perhaps any bugs have been fixed.

[Queequeg]

OK - Many thanks everybody!

I think it's been cracked with your help http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/biggrin.gif

PP fingered it - it looks like "Findfast" was the culprit. Cheers m8.

For everybody's info, this is what I've done. Findfast did not show up in the Start Menu, StartUp Programs Menu or Office menus, so I fired up Explorer, went to the \Microsoft Office\Office folder and there was the application. I double clicked on it, which opened up a dialogue box that told me it was set to automatically update every 2 hours. I clicked on "index" which opened a menu. In this I clicked on "Update index" which opened up another dialogue box. In this I removed the tick from the "Continue to automatically update" box, and that was it.

Hi Naked. Long time no frag! Hope this helps you too m8. http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

Eviil m8 - where do you think I "sort of" live then? Not including the good ship Pequod (if u know what I mean http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/wink.gif).

NVJonny - I see u know I play Unreal m8. It was a bigger prob in Q2 though - which is my main game.
BTW - Unreal is a completely different game since the 2.20 upgrade and the new official Fusion DM map pack release (free download) is better than the old one. WP have got both - great game last night on the new Fusion server - if any of u peeps were put off by the old Unreal, give it a try now.

Cheers, http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

Quee

[This message has been edited by Queequeg (edited 20-01-99).]

[Eviiil One]

Nh

[Queequeg]

?

[NVJonny]

Glad u got it solved then m8

as for unreal.....i cant patch my pirated copy to 220 http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

[Naked]

yo queequeg yep i've done that to but i won't know if it's worked for a while, hope it has though. Ain't been on unreal for a while haven't got the new patch yet but i'll get it soon, been playing Baldurs Gate and joined <KiL> clan in Q2 so been at busy but i'll Frag you soon.

Cy <KiL>Naked