Defrag

lemontree

What is this and do I need to do it, if so how often?

bat999

Hi
Here's a simple description.

When Windows uses files it doesn't always put them away tidy.
This is then 'fragmented', fragments of files are stored in different places.
So next time it needs the file it takes a little longer to find it.
This can slow your computer down.
When you 'de-fragment' you put all the files away in the correct places again so they are easy to locate next time they're needed.

Defragmenting isn't so important these days because computers are high-powered.
You can de-frag as often as you like, but maybe do it regularly such as once a month. It's up to you. Everybody is different.
:cool:

CHR15

Depends on the OS you are running but TBH it is personal choice.

Run the Analysis and see what figure it comes up with, if it is less than 5% fragmented, don't bother. If it says 20%, then run the defrag.

It is always worth running CCleaner or similar first to clear out all the junk before defragging.

These posts tend to rumble on for pages with different opinions....

jimbms

Vista onwards it is hardly worth the effort.

Sowilo_2

jimbms wrote: »

Vista onwards it is hardly worth the effort.

Sorry, must disagree with that opinion. Have Vista on one and Windows 7 on another and do quite a lot of browsing and download some stuff. I run Smart Defrag now so don't need to set it going but if turned off I get a lot of defragmentation quickly.
In the past had Windows 98 and I can't say I see much difference in fragmentation.
Curious though why you think that.

[Deleted User]

Sowilo wrote: »

Sorry, must disagree with that opinion.

Curious though why you think that.

Because defragmenting volumes is something that Vista and Windows 7 do automatically perhaps?

John_Gray

This Microsoft blog entry Disk Defragmentation – Background and Engineering the Windows 7 Improvements is worth a read for Microsoft's view of their NTFS file system...

jimbms

anewhope wrote: »

Because defragmenting volumes is something that Vista and Windows 7 do automatically perhaps?

Correct, so you don't have to bother with doing it yourself as it is done automatically when needed and in the background.

Sowilo_2

Enlightenment. One needs to check the Disk Defragmenter in Control Panel is set to run on a schedule then I see. I confess I have never looked as stopped using Windows Disk Defrag' back in the dark days of Windows 98 as it took days to complete if at all.

bat999

Sowilo wrote: »

... stopped using Windows Disk Defrag' back in the dark days of Windows 98 as it took days to complete if at all.

That's because you should have been running Windows 98 in Safe Mode while you defragged.