W98 - "Windows cannot finish deframenting this drive..." - help please

[muddler]

I have just recently been in touch with the Hijack This section of this forum, because I thought my defragging problems were related to an invading nasty. There, they checked my HJT log and found no problems, but told me to defrag in Safe Mode!

This I did, but....

the computer is divided into three virtual drives. Drives C: and D: have defragged with no problem. However, drive E: has problems, only 10% was defragged. Then appeared this message:

"Error defragmenting Drive E
Windows cannot finish defragmenting this drive because it has encountered a problem. Click Help and carry out the instructions for running ScanDisk, and then try defragmenting again.
ID NoEFRAG00205"

I did a thorough ScanDisk run of the drive and the message was "Scandisk didn't find any errors on this drive". However, there were "700,416 bytes in bad sectors".

I then restarted the defrag, and again only 10% was able to be defragged.

For your information, the machine details are Mesh 500Mhz processor, 512mb ram,14gb hard drive, running on W98se.

I look forward to your help, from a Muddler admiring of real techies.

TM

[greysts]

If you've got 700kb in bad sectors on the disk then it's time to think about getting a new hard disk. You should get all your important stuff backed up before it fails completely.

On the other hand it might be time to move on and get yourself a more up-to-date machine!

[muddler]

Thanks for replying - yes, my worst fears are creeping up - the old dear is close to her final gasp!

And the reason for keep flogging her is the dreaded ... lack of cash.

Maybe Spring will improve that side.

Thanks anyway

TM