defrag c: -b<--??

[Guest]

I found the "tip" below online (search for the first line and you'll find it).

Is -b really a parameter of defrag? I can find no mention of it anywhere else.

The NOTE says, XP will "run this every three days or so." What does this
mean? The "-b" causes XP to run defrag every three days ("or so")? What is
this? The -b parameter schedules defrag to run every 3 days (or so)?

I'm supicious of the "or so." How can that be? Computers don't do things "or
so."

TIP-----------
*Secret - Hidden Command Line Switch*
Instructions - Go to "Start", "Run" and Type defrag c: -b to defragment the
Boot and Application Prefetch information.

Notes - Windows XP will run this automatically every three days or so,
during system idle periods. BootVis will evoke this when you run the
"Optimize System" function. There is no need to manually run this unless you
wish to immediately optimize a newly installed application's load time.

 

[Bob I]

The "or so" is the Authors best guess as to what the time frame is. In
reality, does it matter if it's 3 days, 72 hours, or 7 times a fortnight?

 

[Guest]

Bob I,

My question is does anyone know if the -b option loads defrag in some way
that causes it to run on a scheduled basis?

John

 

[frodo]

Bob I,

My question is does anyone know if the -b option loads defrag in some way
that causes it to run on a scheduled basis?

no, it just tells it to do the "boot time optimize" defrag. and yes the -b
switch is documented.

this same cmd line is kicked off periodically when the machine is idle.
that's the "every day or so" talked about.

this boot optimize function relys upon info in the \windows\prefetch
folder, specifically the layout.ini file. It too is rebuilt by the above
periodic task, and then the defrag is initiated; it takes about 60 secs to
complete, most people never notice it take place since it happens when the
machine is idle (screen saver is up). TweakUI does have a check box where
you can disable this defrag if you wish; some defraggers turn it off too,
as they do the same thing, only better, and disable xp from doing it and
messing up what they already did.

google around, there's info re: this out there...

 

[Bob I]

No, from what I understand the -b option simply allows a user to "force"
the "boot optimization" on command, rather than waiting for the system
to perform it during idle time.