What is the best/safest way to DEFRAG a Mirrored Drive?

THese fols have had a horrible time when they have made any alterations to thyis mirror. THe last tech they hired tried to uninstall an old version of Norton AV to update and it took 3 days to get the system back up and running. I just wanted to see if there were any known issues out there with defrag and the mirror.

I am running the Defrag right now. Thanks. I'll post and close when it's done.

Defragging a mirrored drive should have no problems.    

Alternate:   *IF* the fact that the mirroring is slowing down things a whole lot (possible, if the fragmentation is *BAD*) - then you COULD do this:

1) Split mirror.
2) Defrag/etc the primary active drive
3) Re-add the mirrored drive back in.

Note-   you're a bit vulnerable while you're doing this........................

< "Note-   you're a bit vulnerable while you're doing this........................" >

Please explain.

I tried the normal DEFRAG and it looked as though it might take 8 hours. I would, however, like to be able to train a user to run it on a weekend.

I think breaking the mirror is out of the question then.

Also, I ran in on the C: drive and it finished quickly but left most of the fragmentataion - most of the non system files are still in red.

Any light on this?

Don't use the Windows defrag... use defrag.exe from a dos prompt. This runs a LOT faster, it's pretty darned safe, and you can use it to set scheduled defrags nightly or whatever you like. I have most of my machines run a nightly defrag this way.

Optionally.... you can opt to use Diskeeper. It's an excellent product and is optimized for server setups -- ie, RAIDed setups. It's relatively cheap, lightweight, and can be set to do a continual defrag -- working when the system is not being taxed.

Anyways, best of luck to you... if you have a RAID setup, I'd go with Diskeeper as it's pretty bulletproof and they have 'server' versions available. It too can be scheduled or run contantly, whatever you like.

"defrag.exe" won't run from the DOS window. It doesn't recognize the command.

How would you schedual?

That's because you're running Windows 2000 - 2003 has the defrag command, 2000 doesn't.

You can't* schedule the 2000 built in defrag tool.  You'd have to buy a third party product.

*There is a way with VBscript to, in essence, record a maco, the problem is I don't consider this a reliable solution and would recommend purchasing instead of scripting this particular function.

I don't know that it would be different on a Windows 2000 box, but there should be a "defrag.exe" in your system32 folder. Do a search for it on your system -- odds are it is there.

To schedule it, go to Accessories -> System Tools -> Scheduled Tasks

Browse for c:\<windir>\system32\defrag.exe

Set the options for the schedule as you'd want, and give the task a name.. say "Defrag C Nightly" or whatever you like.

When you finish, go to the advanced options and add the drive letter to the path of defrag.exe -- you'll be set after that.

The task should be
C:\<windir>\system32\defrag.exe c:

And it will run according to your schedule.

Thanks leew, my apologies then. I don't run any 2000 boxes so I admit I'm a bit fuzzy.

In which case, my other recommendation works -- get Diskeeper. :)

Actualy, that's what I thought (with 2000)

Thanks everyone.

I am going to get the 3rd part app and for now let the user run the plain old Defrag when I am off site.

Sincxe this is a 'akahms razor' solution and he was first with the simplest solution the points go to Leew.

Thanks LBACIS for keeping up and for all of the suggestions.

Hehe don't sweat it.. I subscribe so I don't really care about the points. I just like to spend time helping when I have a few moments :)