Defragmentation Tools and Methods

[AdvancedSetup]

Defragmentation - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

For Vista and XP there is a built-in DEFRAG.EXE utility which can be manually run, or create a schedule and run it from a batch file.

 

XP usage example, Vista has a couple more options.

• Usage:
  
• DEFRAG <volume> [-a] [-f] [-v] [-?]
  
• volume drive letter or mount point (d: or d:\vol\mountpoint)
  
• -a Analyze only
  
• -f Force defragmentation even if free space is low
  
• -v Verbose output
  
• -? Display this help text

 

Simple batch file example:

@echo off
DEFRAG C: 

Create a schedule to run the batch file once a month or whenever you want to to keep your system defragmented.

 

 

FREE Defrag Utilities

 

The last free version of the commercial Diskeeper program

Diskeeper Lite V7

 

Diskeeper[R] Lite 9.0 (Build 528) - no documentation found to prevent downloading or using from the Intel Desktop Utilities

Need to download the FULL version and unpack the Intel Desktop Utilities and find DK Lite under the 3rdparty folder. Also appears to contain a 64Bit version

Intel Desktop Utilities v2.1.9.66 (full version including Diskeeper[R] Lite 9.0 (Build 528) * 88.9MB

 

JkDefrag

 

WinContig

 

Ultra Defragmenter

 

Auslogics Disk Defrag

 

Contig v1.54 By Mark Russinovich

 

PageDefrag v2.32 By Mark Russinovich

 

DefragMentor Lite CL

 

From everyone here at Piriform, the company that brought you CCleaner and Recuva... we now bring you a file defragmentation tool... Defraggler!

Defraggler

 

iObit Smart Defrag

 

UltimateDefrag

 

 

 

Commercial Defrag Utilities

 

Diskeeper

 

Raxco PerfectDisk

 

O&O Defrag

 

Paragon Partition Manager

[Dalo Harkin]

I would still recommend that people stay away from these programs unless they know what they are doing - they can cause some serious issues

[AdvancedSetup]

Well that is being a bit too overly cautious I'd think.

I've been doing Windows support from Desktop to Server for 20 years now and for very large companies and have used defragmenting tools on thousands of systems in that time (I used to remotely defrag systems over the network even) and in that time and all those systems I've not had a single system failure due to defragmenting it. Now I have had systems with Hard Drive issues and that's another story. Basically one should run a disk check first and verify that the drive is working properly before attempting a Defrag. If the drive can not run a disk check then obviously one would not try to defrag it. Some of the commercial defragmenting tools actually have disk checking built-in, though most of the free ones do not. Almost all of them use the Microsoft Windows API for doing the defragmentation and then they add little features to their program, but the underlying main code makes the same calls.

 

You may need to disable your Antivirus (should not need to as it should be aware and not interfere with a defrag) to complete a defrag.

 

Can you please provide links to documented discussions where a defragmentation program is 100% the cause of an issue and not just the user thinking it was the cause when in fact the root cause was something else.

 

Now if you're speaking of Windows 95/98/ME then yes I would agree that there were many potential issues with defraging. 2000/XP/Vista do not have those same issues.

[Dalo Harkin]

Yep - http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/hard-drives-pen-flash-and-usb/3528-oops-my-hard-drive-red.html#post24320

 

They are extremely useful programs - but running them too often or when not needed is what causes the problems!

[RandyL]

I fail to see the benefits of a third party defrag program with Vista or XP when the Windows one will work fine and is safe for all users regardless of their skills. Defrag is not as essential these days. In the 98 days it was but like mentioned so was the problems of other defrag programs.

 

Of course disk checking should always be done first. What's the point of writing files to a bad sector?

 

For the average user Windows works rather well in my opinion.

 

Remember this thread on defragmenting?

[AdvancedSetup]

Yes I agree the built-in is just fine, especially since most users don't need to run it very often. But, some users want other tools or methods that's why I posted this post. Then I can also use it for reference for links ;)

 

Well O&O has tools to check the drive before running, the JkDefrag does not. It could very well have been that the drive did need repair before a defrag, who knows at this point but good to bring it up I suppose since the built-in tool for Windows XP does not have a checker either, and doubt Vista does either.

So, best thing to do is run a disk check before doing any defrag with any utility.

Thanks for bringing up the issue Dalo.

[Dalo Harkin]

No problem Ron,

 

we just have to point out that there are dangers to running software like this as well as benefits -

[Seth]

Good call on running a chkdsk before a defrag. I always used to do that. I say "always', as I haven't defragged a drive in years because I haven't seen it make any difference.

[Goku]

I fail to see the benefits of a third party defrag program with Vista or XP when the Windows one will work fine and is safe for all users regardless of their skills. Defrag is not as essential these days. In the 98 days it was but like mentioned so was the problems of other defrag programs.

Exactly Randy. And Windows 98 was not as bad too. But the Windows 98 in-built defragmenting utility was more of an annoyance especially if you forgot to turn off the screensaver before attempting to defragment. :D

 

Again, I have used a number of defragging applications but have yet to experience any performance differences. Perhaps, the differences are more noticeable in CPU intensive processes. However, like Seth, I have stopped defragmenting my hard drive. Once a year is fine but including it in the regular maintenance procedure is not worth the effort, in my opinion.

 

-- Goku

[Dalo Harkin]

As I originally posted in I think Mara's thread - I really only defrag my GAMES drive and thats becuase the files are big.

[Goku]

As I originally posted in I think Mara's thread - I really only defrag my GAMES drive and thats becuase the files are big.

Precisely what I mean Dalo. Is the performance difference noticeable that is to say do the games launch one or two seconds quicker after you have defragmented the drive?

 

-- Goku

[Seth]

One benefit of a defragged drive is data recovery is more successful when using using a data recovery program.

[Dalo Harkin]

Precisely what I mean Dalo. Is the performance difference noticeable that is to say do the games launch one or two seconds quicker after you have defragmented the drive?

 

-- Goku

 

YES by a huge margin - I think it was 30 seconds when not defragged on say a BIG game like Command and Conquer 3 or Supreme Commander, and 15 seconds when defragged - these are loading times BTW.

Huge difference

[Seth]

Vista auto defrags every 4 boots.

 

That's ludicrous:mad:

[Goku]

Vista auto defrags every 4 boots.

Is it real? I have a friend who uses Vista but he never mentioned about it. Do you have to disable a setting to stop it from doing so?

 

-- Goku

[Dalo Harkin]

Vista auto defrags every 4 boots.

 

That's ludicrous:mad:

 

I question that - mine doesn't so unless I turned it off somewhere

[Seth]

Right click on the drive>properties>tools. You'll see it from there.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

I guess your eyes are better than mine Seth, care to point out where mate please.

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/defrag.png

[Dalo Harkin]

LMAO :D

Wolfey it's not your eyes mate

[Seth]

Do you see anything on the screen that refers to defragmenting?

 

Well, click on it. It's probably the one;)

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Refers to Defragmentation?

 

Mmmmm let me see, oh yes it's in the middle of the Properties screen.

 

Can't you see it? Do you have Malware? :p

 

Wolfey consults The Practical Book of Old Wives Tales.

[Seth]

Refers to Defragmentation?

 

Mmmmm let me see, oh yes it's in the middle of the Properties screen.

 

Can't you see it? Do you have Malware? :p

 

Wolfey consults The Practical Book of Old Wives Tales.

 

Me no understand:rolleyes:

 

...as that's what I said:

 

Right click on the drive>properties>tools. You'll see it from there.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Well it's not there Seth is it?

 

If I click defrag now it will go straight to defrag where I can analyse the partition.

 

You tell me where it says that it will auto defrag every 4 boots.

[Goku]

I think Seth is referring to this Wolfey. :)

 

-- Goku

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Ok but mine was set to run once a week not every 4 boot ups, all I'm saying is that a clearer explanation would have been better.