Solved Disk Defragmenter Schedule Not Working

I have recently learned about the Disk Defrag utility, and wanted to set it to a schedule. On Vista Home Premium, I saw that there is an option to do so, but I am having some difficulty using it. I scheduled it for every day at 4:00 am, and it says in "Next Scheduled Run" that it will start the next morning. The "Run on a Schedule" box was checked, I had all of my disks checked, and it says "Scheduled defragmentation is enabled. Your disks will be defragmented at the scheduled time" at the bottom. However, if I click "OK" and it closes, when I open it back up, it says "Next Scheduled Run: Never." Everything else stays the same. It saved my schedule times, and it still says that the schedule is enabled. But, it doesn't run it ever. If I check it later, after it should have run, it says next to "Last Run" the date that was the last time I manually ran it. I have to open it and click "Defragment Now..." to do it. I always have my laptop on, logged in, and not in sleep mode, but I keep it locked. How do I make it run on the schedule?

Welcome
Try the schedule in clean boot and see what happens
It is probably some of your software that prevents the defrag.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Many times AV packages include maintenance, which may override your selection.

I have also tried going into the Task Scheduler, but I am not sure if it works. Rich, will I have to use Clean Boot every time I want it to run on the schedule?

No,
Clean boot, if it works, will give us the cause, which we will fix together.

Like your name
Merry Christmas to you.

Thank you! Merry Christmas to you, too!

I tried Clean Boot, but the scheduler still says "Next Scheduled Run: Never."
I don't think I understand this correctly, though. Is Clean Boot supposed to fix it, or tell me why it isn't working?

This is what you do
This is for testing only. Once we get this solved, you will be able to schedule in a normal fashion
Set defrag to work in one hour from now
Set up clean boot
Then go watch some of the Christmas specials on TV (Its on Wonderful Life is my favorite)
Then after the show see if defrag worked.

I have to leave in about 20 minutes, so could I set it for 5 or 10 minutes and see if it's working?

I just used an hour as an example. 20 minutes should be fine.

Oh, I can't. It only lets me set it by the hour. I set it for 1:00 EST (it's 12:25 now), but I won't be back until around 7:30. I guess I'll just get back to you then, and you can reply whenever you can.

We may not be on the same schedule, but I will not forget about you. Even if its to say I dont know.
Take care.

Okay, good-bye.

Listen I am not going to disappoint SamTClaus during Christmas time.

I just checked it, and it did not run. What should I do, now? Does this mean it's not a program interfering with it?

I will not mislead SamTClaus ( I love that)
Defrafrag is not meant to be run too often, you are better off doing it manually on rare ocassions.
It is needeed when you install or uninstall programs frequently. If that is not done, you can defrag twice a year
I have windows 7 and the software allows you to test how much defrag is needed. If you are only 10% fragged or less defrag is not required or suggested. Since Oct of last year I did not have the need to defrag.
You may have something similar in Vista.
You did not tell me how you scheduled, It should be done from the task scheduler.
Features of the Windows Vista hard disk defragmentation utility

This will tell you how to configue Vista to wake for a task
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/166809-task-scheduler-wake-up-computer.html

I think that these steps will solve the problem.
That being said, I stick by my statement to do it manually infrequently.

I changed it to monthly, but it still doesn't work. I want it to be automatic, because I will most likely forget to ever run it.

Vista doesn't let you test to see how often you should use it.

My computer is always awake. I set it to never sleep, so this can't be the problem. There is something else.

Did you see my article how to set scheduler?

Yes, but they do not help. If I follow those instructions, I run into the same problem.

OK

dont look at the link that I sent
Tell me how you set up the schedule.

Do you boot the computer after you make the task?