When you run defrag.exe from the command promt in Windows
XP Pro does it defrag free space?

>-----Original Message-----
>When you run defrag.exe from the command promt in
Windows
>XP Pro does it defrag free space?
>.
>
Perhaps you could explain to me how to defrag free space?
Free space, by definition, doesn't have anything in it --
sooooo how to defrag?

Hi there,

I think what he means is does the Windows defragger move
all your files so that you have one large contiguous
block of free space after all your files. Short answer:
NO.

Free space can get fragmented. When I started working at
my new job, I was given a workstation with Win2K on it.
The previous user had never (and I mean, never) defragged
the hard drive. I analyzed it with PerfectDisk and found
that the largest contiguous block of free space was 75
MB... on a disk that had about 4 gigs free... now that's
pretty harsh free space fragmentation. What it basically
meant was that any file that I tried to write to the disk
that was larger (or close to) 75 MB would definately be
fragmented.

Anyways, the Windows defragger does NOT deal with
defragmenting free space. If you want this done, you'll
need to find a third party defragging program. I use
Raxco's PerfectDisk (it's Microsoft certified too =D).
It's an amazing defragging program since it does exactly
what you were asking about. I used to run the windows
defragger about once a week to keep fragmentation down
below 5%, and with PerfectDisk, I only have to run it
once every... 1-2 months!

Another great thing about defragging with PerfectDisk, it
can do an offline defrag, meaning that it will defagment
even your system files. You know that kind of faint
tapping/clicking noise that you sometimes hear when your
hard drive is going nuts either loading windows or a big
program or searching for files? Windows loads almost
completely silently now... my comp purrs like a kitten.

It's a great buy if you're willing to put down the money.
www.raxco.com

Hope this helps,

Nick
(E-Mail Removed)

P.S. PerfectDisk will handle just about any sized hard
drive that you throw at it... even over a terabyte (yes a
terabyte, it's been tested).
>-----Original Message-----
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>When you run defrag.exe from the command promt in
>Windows
>>XP Pro does it defrag free space?
>>.
>>
>Perhaps you could explain to me how to defrag free space?
>Free space, by definition, doesn't have anything in it --

>sooooo how to defrag?
>
>.
>

You might find it more convenient to run Disk Defragmenter from the
interface (Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter). You'll see a
cool analysis and a defragmentation report.

The objective of defragmenting is to consolidate files. Since free space
contains no files, there is nothing to defragment.

Is there a particular goal you have in mind? Let us know, and we'll try to
get you there.

Rocky

"Joe" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:11db401c410e3$30e32670$(E-Mail Removed)...
> When you run defrag.exe from the command promt in Windows
> XP Pro does it defrag free space?

Like I said in my other post... free space can get
fragmented... All the little white lines that you see in
the defragger between the red, green, and blue are
fragmented free space.

Nick
(E-Mail Removed)


>-----Original Message-----
>You might find it more convenient to run Disk
Defragmenter from the
>interface (Accessories > System Tools > Disk
Defragmenter). You'll see a
>cool analysis and a defragmentation report.
>
>The objective of defragmenting is to consolidate files.
Since free space
>contains no files, there is nothing to defragment.
>
>Is there a particular goal you have in mind? Let us
know, and we'll try to
>get you there.
>
>Rocky
>
>"Joe" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message
>news:11db401c410e3$30e32670$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> When you run defrag.exe from the command promt in
Windows
>> XP Pro does it defrag free space?
>
>
>.
>