Defrag

[MethodMan]

I was wondering after what period of time should I defrag. I guess it will depend on the amount of files I delete and save, but is there a recommended period of time?

Also, does it greatly improve the performance, or just slightly?

Thanks

[Hammer]

I've defragged a few times before, but can't say I've ever noticed any performance change. As it takes sooo long to defrag my HD's nowadays, I don't bother that often....

[Waldo2k2]

When i've done it i've noticed DEFINITE performance changes.

When you write to a hard drive it writes in a circle, when you delete it removes small chunks. The next time you write it will write part of the data to that open chunk, and the other part at the end (if it doesn't fit of course). After much deleting and rewriting this sort of thing makes stuff very jumbled. This can dramatically increase hd seek time. Defrag rearranges it all. So, if you feel the hd lagging, and you think it's because of serious write/rewriting you've done then defrag. I recommend going into safe mode first to decrease the amount of time it takes. If you really want power get a third party defragger, they're ALWAYS faster than the crap windows one (don't know why).

[RoD]

Based off a fresh windows install you should defragment once every two weeks at most, regardless of what you do on the pc, and consistently.

[beely]

defrag depend on the space of the HD, not the ramaining of the space or the space that have been used. the less space on certain drive, the faster of time to defrag the drive.

[adamviper]

I defrag about every 30 days beacuse i need speed.

[Waldo2k2]

yeah speed is the kicker, keeps seek time down.
You get a freshly defragged 7200rpm drive and boy i tell you it just hums.

[beely]

Originally posted by Waldo2k2
yeah speed is the kicker, keeps seek time down.
You get a freshly defragged 7200rpm drive and boy i tell you it just hums.

if you got the drive speed very lower than this value. i recommend you to make partition in small value (about 5-10GB), depend how much on your HD space you buy

[beely]

or why not try speed disk utility prog to defrag your HD more faster than the windows app component. you may get speed disk from NORTON UTILITIES.

[ygfperson]

a quick way to bypass all that is to copy your hard drive onto another medium, format, then copy all files back. everything gets laid sequentally, and it takes much less time than a full defrag. i haven't defragged in a year or so... i'm too scared to do it now... probably get 73% done, and then see it lock up and start over again. ;)

[beely]

huh...? this procedure is lack of time anyway.

[Fountain]

Originally posted by beely
or why not try speed disk utility prog to defrag your HD more faster than the windows app component. you may get speed disk from NORTON UTILITIES.


This is true. Nortons speed disk does my 60GB in about 40mins. And there is a lot on there.

I run it roughly every two weeks.

[adamviper]

i use a power defrager that i got off the net those are verry good to use

[windoze victim]

what are good 3rd party defragers?

the windows one is slow, and keeps restarting.

[Tommaso]

With WindowsXP you do not have to defrag as this is done automatically as files are saved or transfered. An excellent third party defrag is the one from Ontrack, System Suite 4. This is one of the best all purpose packages I have ever purchased.

[Waldo2k2]

XP defrags automatically??
seriously??
wheres the tech sheets on that?

[RoD]

Originally posted by Tommaso
With WindowsXP you do not have to defrag as this is done automatically as files are saved or transfered.

No they aren't. I'm not calling u an idiot, but there is not an auto defragment of this kind in Windows XP. There is a better "record keeping" method to xp, but in no way is it automatic defragment. There is, however, a "sort of" auto defrag in windows. It sees what dlls and other files programs use in the first 10 seconds and moves them all on the same spot of the hard drive. Always link your files in the beginning of the program.

[Waldo2k2]

thanks for clearing that up ROD.
it did sound too good to be true....almost impossible, your computer would constantly be grinding on the HD.

[RoD]

no prob. I wouldn't know if a background all the time defrag is impossible, but i'd say its pointless.

[windoze victim]

I meant, what are some good defragers that are free dl?

[RoD]

www.download.com

type in defrag or defrag utility