Thanks, Owbist. I tried that yesterday, but nothing changed with WMP. However, I thought it might be a good idea to redo the procedure. Some striking changes occurred this time. All of my WAV files now open in Windows Live Movie Maker. I tried to play a music CD and got the box that said Windows couldn't open the file. When I checked the properties of the music, it shows as a CDA File... (I'm not alarmed - I know there has to be a fix.) OK, I thought... I'll just go back to the Media Features and redo the procedure. However, there are now no check marks in the WMP or Media Center boxes! I record 3 church services a week on this laptop. I take the sound from - I believe it's called a preamp - (signal too strong directly from mixer) and am able to record in Audacity. I now have audio in Audacity whereas I lost it after the defrag. However, the wav files I made from the audacity project files now open in window movie maker and are unplayable... I don't think I will ever defrag this laptop again!!! :)

Just poking around in File Manager and the only icon that responds to right/click=properties is "computer". It appears MS has reduced the right click for properties as a use for all tool. I can't figure why. Slight diversion, I have started using my laptop computers as a laptop, not as desk top with remote keyboard and display. I now find that when typing, such as now, the display will suddenly transfer to another site/display. Or, the (just now it happened) I will suddenly find the typing has either stopped, or transfered to some other location on the message field. What's up, am I touching the touch pad with my hands, which are poised just above the pad? Makes me wonder if I can turn the touch pad off, and use a wireless mouse and not have trouble with interrupts springing up while I type.

Two steps backwards, one step forward. While dealing with the impending death of my own pc's hard drive, I had plenty of time to work on her computer. I opened the case. Cleaned out the dust bunnies much more thoroughly than I had in October. I found the fan - and actually took it out and cleaned it thoroughly (mostly compressed air, and a little damp cloth). I did remove the label and add a drop of WD 40. (While I was at it, I searched for replacement fans in case this didn't work - and bookmarked some - it would be so simple to replace if needed.) Put the pieces back together and started it up. Still noisy. I started organizing her files, deleting duplicates and ridiculous things she didn't even know she had on there. I put everything in logical folders - then copied her 16GB of video (Ipod videos and flip share) onto a 32mb flash drive. Deleted 8gb of that video bc. it's also on her ipod. Then I ran auslogics defrag. Defrag was 100% successful - and she now has about 15GB free on a 40GB drive. Now the noise is less. I hear the fan a little - but you have to stop to listen. Not sure if it just took running a little for the oil to do it's thing. From what folks said earlier, it's unlikely that freeing up space and defragging reduced the noise. So far, so good. (I even think I could have turned it on with the case open - but i didn't have to.) Thanks. Lynn.

Dont know what windows version you are running but think I might boot up in safe mode to a command prompt and type in defrag /? which will show you the built in windows defrag options. One of which tries to consolidate space. Command line probably look like;>defrag c: -w you can open a cmd window with admin rights from within windows too ... but safe mode will do your best defrag.