Defrag/scandisk registry settings

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I read a Lockergnome tip (12/24/01, I believe) that gave some registry fixes to keep defrag and scandisk from hanging and continuously restarting. HKCU Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Applets Defrag (or Scandisk) supposedly has some subkeys that would allow loadwc.exe, loadqm.exe, wkdetect.exe, and screensaver to be disabled automatically while the program is running, thus preventing the constant restarting. I checked my registry and found nothing even closely resembling these subkeys. Does anyone have any additional information on these keys?

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I see an entry for Defrag under HKEY_Local_MachineSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionApplets. There’s a key in that registry directory that specifies some files to exclude it looks like, such as Win.ini, system.ini, etc. Perhaps that was where they were trying to point to, instead of the current user section of the registry?

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My preferred way to do this is to merge a registry file that schedules Defrag to RunOnce on the next boot. This way it runs before any other programs are started.

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Can you provide details on this registry file? I’d be very interested in trying this method.

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Attached is the .reg file I use with .txt postfixed to the name. This file is courtesy of Xteq Xsetup’s record option. It actually invokes Norton Speed Disk but the details can be changed to almost any program.

I leave this file on my Desktop. When I want to use it, I right-click the desktop icon and select Merge from the context menu.

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I’ve grabbed your attached file, but it is a TXT file, and I have no “Merge” context menu option. Does the file need to be renamed to REG for it to work (and then, what about the extra documentation; strip it out and just leave the registry key data)? I take it that the modifications would work for ScanDisk or Defrag by changing the program name in the keys?

I’m intrigued, but just a little boggled.

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Correct. I renamed it to .txt so that it could be uploaded to the lounge and to make sure that it was not accidentaly executed.

The documentation can stay.

And yes, change the command to whatever you want. Recommend that you get a copy of Xteq Xsetup and check out its other options. Real handy program.

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I have a similar approach to Ian’s, but instead of a registry file, I use an INF file instead. The INF file that I have came straight from the Windows 98 CD, and can be found in the toolsmtsutil folder. You can set defrag for the next reboot by right clicking and selecting install.

This will not create the registry keys that you are referring to but accomplishes what you want: defrag will run as a system service, before anything else loads, and when it’s done your desktop will appear.

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Both suggestions – registry and INF – look like they could be quite useful, however wouldn’t they cause Scandisk to run at each and every reboot? Windows takes long enough as it is, and I sometimes have to reboot multiple times per day. (Could always be a good excuse to grab another cup of coffee though.)

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Hi David,

To answer your question, what will happen is that Scandisk will run only at the next reboot. Subsequent reboots will not launch scandisk unless you re-apply the reg or inf file. What each of them does is to add an entry to the RunServicesOnce key in the registry, and anything that is added to that key (or to RunOnce) is deleted upon execution.

If you don’t tell the boss that, you’re free to grab that cup of java anytime you choose.

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