Defragmentation software for Windows XP?

[Guest Ken]

I am aware that there has been lots of debate as to whether defragging

is necessary, but if one chooses to use such software, what is the

latest and greatest in the defrag software wars?

 

Thanks

Ken K

[Guest Unknown]

Re: Defragmentation software for Windows XP?

 

Best and most trouble free is included with XP.

"Ken" <noreply@charter.net> wrote in message

news:Emgwk.37511$4s1.26842@newsfe06.iad...

>I am aware that there has been lots of debate as to whether defragging is

>necessary, but if one chooses to use such software, what is the latest and

>greatest in the defrag software wars?

>

> Thanks

> Ken K

[Guest db.·.. >]

Re: Defragmentation software for Windows XP?

 

there is no debate

on the benefits of

defraging the disk:

 

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/article/defraghd.htm

 

here is more tools

offered by microsoft:

 

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/tips/defrag.mspx

 

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx

 

--

 

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

 

"Ken" <noreply@charter.net> wrote in message news:Emgwk.37511$4s1.26842@newsfe06.iad...

>I am aware that there has been lots of debate as to whether defragging is necessary, but if one chooses to use such software, what

>is the latest and greatest in the defrag software wars?

>

> Thanks

> Ken K

[Guest JS]

Re: Defragmentation software for Windows XP?

 

The defrag wars have pretty much come to an end. Most defragmentation

software use an API named Movefile. Which limits what a defrag tool running

in Windows XP is allowed to do.

 

"The MoveFile API implements a set of rules for moving files while the OS is

active. By nature, the MoveFile API presents challenges because it requires

that the OS move data 16 clusters at a time. Therefore, even for online

de-fragmentation, utilities that use the MoveFile API must do extra work to

arrange files contiguously. A more serious problem, however, is that the

MoveFile API contains no provisions for moving system files. The inability

to manipulate these system files decreases the effectiveness of

de-fragmentation utilities. A highly fragmented page file, for example,

becomes a huge obstacle because it fragments available free space, and a

de-fragmentation utility cannot find contiguous space to place data files.

To completely understand this problem, you need to look at the

characteristics of specific system files."

Full article:

http://www.vista-xp.co.uk/forums/technical-reference-library/2169-cluster-size-exposed.html

 

Diskeeper: http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp

This is the full version of what is built into Windows XP and can defrag

system files which XP built-in defrag utility can not.

 

Free: PageDefrag:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx

 

JS

http://www.pagestart.com

 

 

 

"Ken" <noreply@charter.net> wrote in message

news:Emgwk.37511$4s1.26842@newsfe06.iad...

>I am aware that there has been lots of debate as to whether defragging is

>necessary, but if one chooses to use such software, what is the latest and

>greatest in the defrag software wars?

>

> Thanks

> Ken K

[Guest Alec S.]

Re: Defragmentation software for Windows XP?

 

"JS" <@> wrote in message news:OFpOjm5DJHA.5316@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> Full article:

>

http://www.vista-xp.co.uk/forums/technical-reference-library/2169-cluster-size-exposed.html

 

 

 

That was an interesting read. I still use FAT32 and DOS, so I can fully defrag

(at most it takes a few manual steps). Unfortunately, since most people are

moving to Windows-only-with-NTFS, and the increasing size of hard drives, it’s

going to become more of an issue.

 

The most important factor in keeping drives unfragmented is partitioning.

Keeping the OS and data separate, and using a dedicated drive for the pagefile

(either physical or logical) will immensely help defragging be faster and more

effective; it will even help avoid needing to defrag at all.

 

--

Alec S.

news/alec->synetech/cjb/net

[Guest Bob Willard]

Re: Defragmentation software for Windows XP?

 

Ken wrote:

> I am aware that there has been lots of debate as to whether defragging

> is necessary, but if one chooses to use such software, what is the

> latest and greatest in the defrag software wars?

>

> Thanks

> Ken K

 

Since defragging matters little on most SOHO PCs, I recommend using the

cheapest defragger available -- the one that is included with the OS.

 

--

Cheers, Bob

[Guest Lil' Dave]

Re: Defragmentation software for Windows XP?

 

 

Well, let's see here. Active system files not able to be defragmented,

pretty much the norm if the defragmenter operated within that same MS

operating system and came with the MS operating system. Some pay for 3rd

party defragmenters can though. The vast majority of help provided here

suggests or even says NTFS is best. So, such can't be defragmented by msdos

type of boot disk with defragmenter. Yes, I know. Its one of those

freebies that someone can put together. Can't have that. Same story,

different day (SSDD)

--

Dave

news:OFpOjm5DJHA.5316@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> The defrag wars have pretty much come to an end. Most defragmentation

> software use an API named Movefile. Which limits what a defrag tool

> running in Windows XP is allowed to do.

>

> "The MoveFile API implements a set of rules for moving files while the OS

> is active. By nature, the MoveFile API presents challenges because it

> requires that the OS move data 16 clusters at a time. Therefore, even for

> online de-fragmentation, utilities that use the MoveFile API must do extra

> work to arrange files contiguously. A more serious problem, however, is

> that the MoveFile API contains no provisions for moving system files. The

> inability to manipulate these system files decreases the effectiveness of

> de-fragmentation utilities. A highly fragmented page file, for example,

> becomes a huge obstacle because it fragments available free space, and a

> de-fragmentation utility cannot find contiguous space to place data files.

> To completely understand this problem, you need to look at the

> characteristics of specific system files."

> Full article:

> http://www.vista-xp.co.uk/forums/technical-reference-library/2169-cluster-size-exposed.html

>

> Diskeeper: http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp

> This is the full version of what is built into Windows XP and can defrag

> system files which XP built-in defrag utility can not.

>

> Free: PageDefrag:

> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx

>

> JS

> http://www.pagestart.com

>

>

>

> "Ken" <noreply@charter.net> wrote in message

> news:Emgwk.37511$4s1.26842@newsfe06.iad...

>>I am aware that there has been lots of debate as to whether defragging is

>>necessary, but if one chooses to use such software, what is the latest and

>>greatest in the defrag software wars?

>>

>> Thanks

>> Ken K

>

>

[Guest Gerry]

Re: Defragmentation software for Windows XP?

 

JS

 

I found this link an interesting read.

http://www.vista-xp.co.uk/forums/technical-reference-library/2169-cluster-size-exposed.html

 

 

--

Regards.

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

JS wrote:

> The defrag wars have pretty much come to an end. Most defragmentation

> software use an API named Movefile. Which limits what a defrag tool

> running in Windows XP is allowed to do.

>

> "The MoveFile API implements a set of rules for moving files while

> the OS is active. By nature, the MoveFile API presents challenges

> because it requires that the OS move data 16 clusters at a time.

> Therefore, even for online de-fragmentation, utilities that use the

> MoveFile API must do extra work to arrange files contiguously. A more

> serious problem, however, is that the MoveFile API contains no

> provisions for moving system files. The inability to manipulate these

> system files decreases the effectiveness of de-fragmentation

> utilities. A highly fragmented page file, for example, becomes a huge

> obstacle because it fragments available free space, and a

> de-fragmentation utility cannot find contiguous space to place data

> files. To completely understand this problem, you need to look at the

> characteristics of specific system files." Full article:

> http://www.vista-xp.co.uk/forums/technical-reference-library/2169-cluster-size-exposed.html

>

> Diskeeper: http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp

> This is the full version of what is built into Windows XP and can

> defrag system files which XP built-in defrag utility can not.

>

> Free: PageDefrag:

> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx

>

> JS

> http://www.pagestart.com

>

>

>

> "Ken" <noreply@charter.net> wrote in message

> news:Emgwk.37511$4s1.26842@newsfe06.iad...

>> I am aware that there has been lots of debate as to whether

>> defragging is necessary, but if one chooses to use such software,

>> what is the latest and greatest in the defrag software wars?

>>

>> Thanks

>> Ken K

[Guest JS]

Re: Defragmentation software for Windows XP?

 

Thanks but that is the same link I included in my post.

 

JS

 

"Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:%23rIRPJ7DJHA.5032@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> JS

>

> I found this link an interesting read.

> http://www.vista-xp.co.uk/forums/technical-reference-library/2169-cluster-size-exposed.html

>

>

> --

> Regards.

>

> Gerry

> ~~~~

> FCA

> Stourport, England

> Enquire, plan and execute

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

> JS wrote:

>> The defrag wars have pretty much come to an end. Most defragmentation

>> software use an API named Movefile. Which limits what a defrag tool

>> running in Windows XP is allowed to do.

>>

>> "The MoveFile API implements a set of rules for moving files while

>> the OS is active. By nature, the MoveFile API presents challenges

>> because it requires that the OS move data 16 clusters at a time.

>> Therefore, even for online de-fragmentation, utilities that use the

>> MoveFile API must do extra work to arrange files contiguously. A more

>> serious problem, however, is that the MoveFile API contains no

>> provisions for moving system files. The inability to manipulate these

>> system files decreases the effectiveness of de-fragmentation

>> utilities. A highly fragmented page file, for example, becomes a huge

>> obstacle because it fragments available free space, and a

>> de-fragmentation utility cannot find contiguous space to place data

>> files. To completely understand this problem, you need to look at the

>> characteristics of specific system files." Full article:

>> http://www.vista-xp.co.uk/forums/technical-reference-library/2169-cluster-size-exposed.html

>>

>> Diskeeper: http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp

>> This is the full version of what is built into Windows XP and can

>> defrag system files which XP built-in defrag utility can not.

>>

>> Free: PageDefrag:

>> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx

>>

>> JS

>> http://www.pagestart.com

>>

>>

>>

>> "Ken" <noreply@charter.net> wrote in message

>> news:Emgwk.37511$4s1.26842@newsfe06.iad...

>>> I am aware that there has been lots of debate as to whether

>>> defragging is necessary, but if one chooses to use such software,

>>> what is the latest and greatest in the defrag software wars?

>>>

>>> Thanks

>>> Ken K

>

>

[Guest Arno Wagner]

Re: Defragmentation software for Windows XP?

 

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage Ken <noreply@charter.net> wrote:

> I am aware that there has been lots of debate as to whether defragging

> is necessary, but if one chooses to use such software, what is the

> latest and greatest in the defrag software wars?

 

The included defragger is not very good, but should do in

most situations. It also seems it only rarely trashed the disk.

Woth other solutions the riosk may be higher and less reported,

because they see less use.

 

Arno

[Guest beamish]

RE: Defragmentation software for Windows XP?

 

 

 

"Ken" wrote:

> I am aware that there has been lots of debate as to whether defragging

> is necessary, but if one chooses to use such software, what is the

> latest and greatest in the defrag software wars?

>

> Thanks

> Ken K

>

Hello,

 

Pagdfrg,Microsoft sysinternals and http://Http://www.kessels.com

for JKDefrag, free defrag tool.

Two tools that are free and useful.

 

take care.

beamish.

[Guest CJT]

Re: Defragmentation software for Windows XP?

 

Arno Wagner wrote:

> In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage Ken <noreply@charter.net> wrote:

>

>>I am aware that there has been lots of debate as to whether defragging

>>is necessary, but if one chooses to use such software, what is the

>>latest and greatest in the defrag software wars?

>

>

> The included defragger is not very good, but should do in

> most situations. It also seems it only rarely trashed the disk.

> Woth other solutions the riosk may be higher and less reported,

> because they see less use.

>

> Arno

 

I use Samba to serve up files. That way I never have to defrag.

 

--

The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to

minimize spam. Our true address is of the form che...@prodigy.net.

[Guest Gerry]

Re: Defragmentation software for Windows XP?

 

JS

 

I was just making clear which of the links you posted I found

interesting, not offering you another. I was surprised that I had not

come across the link before given that it dates from 2004. It is in tune

with my thinking on defragmenting but goes further adding a number of

practical suggestions for ways to work around problems one can

encounter. Thanks again.

 

 

~~~~

 

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

JS wrote:

> Thanks but that is the same link I included in my post.

>

> JS

>

> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

> news:%23rIRPJ7DJHA.5032@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>> JS

>>

>> I found this link an interesting read.

>> http://www.vista-xp.co.uk/forums/technical-reference-library/2169-cluster-size-exposed.html

>>

>>

>> --

>> Regards.

>>

>> Gerry

>> ~~~~

>> FCA

>> Stourport, England

>> Enquire, plan and execute

>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>>

>> JS wrote:

>>> The defrag wars have pretty much come to an end. Most

>>> defragmentation software use an API named Movefile. Which limits

>>> what a defrag tool running in Windows XP is allowed to do.

>>>

>>> "The MoveFile API implements a set of rules for moving files while

>>> the OS is active. By nature, the MoveFile API presents challenges

>>> because it requires that the OS move data 16 clusters at a time.

>>> Therefore, even for online de-fragmentation, utilities that use the

>>> MoveFile API must do extra work to arrange files contiguously. A

>>> more serious problem, however, is that the MoveFile API contains no

>>> provisions for moving system files. The inability to manipulate

>>> these system files decreases the effectiveness of de-fragmentation

>>> utilities. A highly fragmented page file, for example, becomes a

>>> huge obstacle because it fragments available free space, and a

>>> de-fragmentation utility cannot find contiguous space to place data

>>> files. To completely understand this problem, you need to look at

>>> the characteristics of specific system files." Full article:

>>> http://www.vista-xp.co.uk/forums/technical-reference-library/2169-cluster-size-exposed.html

>>>

>>> Diskeeper: http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp

>>> This is the full version of what is built into Windows XP and can

>>> defrag system files which XP built-in defrag utility can not.

>>>

>>> Free: PageDefrag:

>>> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx

>>>

>>> JS

>>> http://www.pagestart.com

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> "Ken" <noreply@charter.net> wrote in message

>>> news:Emgwk.37511$4s1.26842@newsfe06.iad...

>>>> I am aware that there has been lots of debate as to whether

>>>> defragging is necessary, but if one chooses to use such software,

>>>> what is the latest and greatest in the defrag software wars?

>>>>

>>>> Thanks

>>>> Ken K

[Guest JS]

Re: Defragmentation software for Windows XP?

 

Sorry, I misunderstood.

 

As an FYI

It was about 2004 than Norton's Speed Disk defragmenter changed the way it

performed (lost a lot of what I liked). It took some 6 months before

Symantec finally owned up to the fact that they dropped there method of

moving files and started using the Microsoft API named Movefile.

 

JS

 

"Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:%23MlKPGAEJHA.5004@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> JS

>

> I was just making clear which of the links you posted I found interesting,

> not offering you another. I was surprised that I had not come across the

> link before given that it dates from 2004. It is in tune with my thinking

> on defragmenting but goes further adding a number of practical suggestions

> for ways to work around problems one can encounter. Thanks again.

>

>

> ~~~~

>

>

> Gerry

> ~~~~

> FCA

> Stourport, England

> Enquire, plan and execute

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

> JS wrote:

>> Thanks but that is the same link I included in my post.

>>

>> JS

>>

>> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

>> news:%23rIRPJ7DJHA.5032@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>>> JS

>>>

>>> I found this link an interesting read.

>>> http://www.vista-xp.co.uk/forums/technical-reference-library/2169-cluster-size-exposed.html

>>>

>>>

>>> --

>>> Regards.

>>>

>>> Gerry

>>> ~~~~

>>> FCA

>>> Stourport, England

>>> Enquire, plan and execute

>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>>>

>>> JS wrote:

>>>> The defrag wars have pretty much come to an end. Most

>>>> defragmentation software use an API named Movefile. Which limits

>>>> what a defrag tool running in Windows XP is allowed to do.

>>>>

>>>> "The MoveFile API implements a set of rules for moving files while

>>>> the OS is active. By nature, the MoveFile API presents challenges

>>>> because it requires that the OS move data 16 clusters at a time.

>>>> Therefore, even for online de-fragmentation, utilities that use the

>>>> MoveFile API must do extra work to arrange files contiguously. A

>>>> more serious problem, however, is that the MoveFile API contains no

>>>> provisions for moving system files. The inability to manipulate

>>>> these system files decreases the effectiveness of de-fragmentation

>>>> utilities. A highly fragmented page file, for example, becomes a

>>>> huge obstacle because it fragments available free space, and a

>>>> de-fragmentation utility cannot find contiguous space to place data

>>>> files. To completely understand this problem, you need to look at

>>>> the characteristics of specific system files." Full article:

>>>> http://www.vista-xp.co.uk/forums/technical-reference-library/2169-cluster-size-exposed.html

>>>>

>>>> Diskeeper: http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp

>>>> This is the full version of what is built into Windows XP and can

>>>> defrag system files which XP built-in defrag utility can not.

>>>>

>>>> Free: PageDefrag:

>>>> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx

>>>>

>>>> JS

>>>> http://www.pagestart.com

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>> "Ken" <noreply@charter.net> wrote in message

>>>> news:Emgwk.37511$4s1.26842@newsfe06.iad...

>>>>> I am aware that there has been lots of debate as to whether

>>>>> defragging is necessary, but if one chooses to use such software,

>>>>> what is the latest and greatest in the defrag software wars?

>>>>>

>>>>> Thanks

>>>>> Ken K

>

>

[Guest Galen Somerville]

Re: Defragmentation software for Windows XP?

 

 

"beamish" <beamish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:BF4EA4D6-184D-4509-9134-F7E6EF46EE50@microsoft.com...

>

>

> "Ken" wrote:

>

>> I am aware that there has been lots of debate as to whether defragging

>> is necessary, but if one chooses to use such software, what is the

>> latest and greatest in the defrag software wars?

>>

>> Thanks

>> Ken K

>>

> Hello,

>

> Pagdfrg,Microsoft sysinternals and http://Http://www.kessels.com

> for JKDefrag, free defrag tool.

> Two tools that are free and useful.

>

> take care.

> beamish.

>

>

>

I use Vopt from goldenbow

 

Galen