Fix Defrag Problems
In the October issue, I explained how to run XP's disk defragmenting utility (defrag) from a command line for easy automation. Unfortunately, as reader James M. Haberman of Sarasota, Florida, points out, on some systems this utility hangs and never finishes the job. If you then open Task Manager (right-click an empty part of the taskbar and choose Task Manager) and click the Processes tab, you'll see in the CPU column that defrag.exe is at 100 percent CPU usage.
Microsoft has a fix for the problem, but it's intended only for machines experiencing these specific symptoms. Rather than making the fix available online, Microsoft suggests that you contact its Product Support Services department if you need the update. Look for more info on Microsoft's contact us page.
If you use your computer to work on multiple projects at once, you may find it hard to track how much time you spent on each for reports and invoices. AllNetic's Working Time Tracker lets you create time counters for multiple tasks. If your PC is inactive for a specified time, the utility asks if you want to deduct that period from the task time. If you resume after a break but forget to restart your time tracking, it will prompt you so that you don't lose those billable hours. Download a 30-day trial version of AllNetic's Working Time Tracker; pay a $30 registration fee for use beyond that.
Send your Windows-related questions and tips to scott_dunn@pcworld.com. We pay $50 for published items. Scott Dunn is a contributing editor for PC World.
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