Defragmentation

[anonymousX]

Hello, there's a problem with defragmenting my 120GB partition (28% free
space); it leaves too many files fragmented, in thousands of fragments. And,
after the defragment operation, whenever I do an analysis on the partition,
it tells me to defragment the volume. And whenever I defragment the volume,
it tells me that it can not be defragmented anymore.

Are there any ways to get the partition defragmented perfectly, without
deleting any data/programs, or purchasing third party software?

 

[Big_Al]

Hello, there's a problem with defragmenting my 120GB partition (28% free
space); it leaves too many files fragmented, in thousands of fragments. And,
after the defragment operation, whenever I do an analysis on the partition,
it tells me to defragment the volume. And whenever I defragment the volume,
it tells me that it can not be defragmented anymore.

Are there any ways to get the partition defragmented perfectly, without
deleting any data/programs, or purchasing third party software?

Are any of the files reallllly large. If you had a 20 gig file, with
only 30 gigs of free space I can see how it might not want to move them.
Also if they are protected hidden/system / readonly files it might be
an issue.
Can you look at the report and tell if that's the case.?

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

Hello, there's a problem with defragmenting my 120GB partition (28% free
space); it leaves too many files fragmented, in thousands of fragments.
And,
after the defragment operation, whenever I do an analysis on the
partition,
it tells me to defragment the volume. And whenever I defragment the
volume,
it tells me that it can not be defragmented anymore.

Are there any ways to get the partition defragmented perfectly, without
deleting any data/programs, or purchasing third party software?

The Windows defragmenter (a cut-down version of a Diskeeper) wants to move
far more files than is (arguably) strictly necessary. I suggest you install
Defraggler http://www.defraggler.com/. This allows defragmenting selected
files (including all defragmented files). As its doing less it also doesn't
take as much time as Windows Defragmenter. Defraggler may need to run
several times to complete on a heavily fragmented hard disk but it will even
work when Windows defragmenter stops to complain about insufficient disk
space to complete.

Bill Ridgeway

 

[anonymousX]

thanks, i will try that app out.

The Windows defragmenter (a cut-down version of a Diskeeper) wants to move
far more files than is (arguably) strictly necessary. I suggest you install
Defraggler http://www.defraggler.com/. This allows defragmenting selected
files (including all defragmented files). As its doing less it also doesn't
take as much time as Windows Defragmenter. Defraggler may need to run
several times to complete on a heavily fragmented hard disk but it will even
work when Windows defragmenter stops to complain about insufficient disk
space to complete.

Bill Ridgeway

 

[anonymousX]

None of the files are in the range of GBs.

36.21GB free space
largest file 543MB with 15444 fragments

From the disk usage before defragmentation bar, I can see that the whole
disk is full of blue, red, and green lines, there are no clear blocks of red,
green or blue. So, the whole disk is in a mess.

 

[anonymousX]

thanks for recommending Defraggler. that app is awesome.

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

thanks for recommending Defraggler. that app is awesome.

If you liked that one so much why not also try Ccleaner?
http://www.ccleaner.com/. In its default state it identifies and deletes
more redundant files than Windows Disk Cleanup. It can be easily (but
carefully) re-configured to take out even more. Cleaning out the clutter
before defragging makes sense and gives the defragging software a bit more
hard disk space to work in.

It's worth doing a cleanup and defrag on a regular basis - depending on
usage of the computer. Little and often is better than waiting until it's
too late to do the defrag!

Bill Ridgeway

 

[Guest]

If you liked that one so much why not also try Ccleaner?
http://www.ccleaner.com/. In its default state it identifies and deletes
more redundant files than Windows Disk Cleanup. It can be easily (but
carefully) re-configured to take out even more. Cleaning out the clutter
before defragging makes sense and gives the defragging software a bit more
hard disk space to work in.

It's worth doing a cleanup and defrag on a regular basis - depending on
usage of the computer. Little and often is better than waiting until it's
too late to do the defrag!

Bill Ridgeway

But too much defragging may just reduce the life of the hard drive. No?

 

[Dragomir Kollaric]

But too much defragging may just reduce the life of the hard drive. No?

I think there is a "urban myth" to that effect.

"http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=84&pgno=1#myth-4"

Defragmenting the hard drive will stress the needle (head
actuator).

Truth :


This myth has some truth in it, albeit misplaced.
Defragmenting the hard drive may involve a lot of seeking as
the hard drive rearranges its data in a contiguous fashion.
This allows the read/write heads to read large amounts of
data without seeking all over the platters.

However, after defragmentation, the hard drive no longer
needs to seek all over the platters for your data. This
reduces the amount of head actuator movements as well as
greatly increase the hard drive's performance.

Therefore, while it may be technically correct to say
that defragmenting your hard drive will stress the head
actuators, the truth is defragmenting your hard drive will
reduce the amount of seeking from then on and thus reduce
the head actuators' workload.

--- end

HTH

[/QUOTE]

 

[SoCalCommie]

But too much defragging may just reduce the life of the hard drive. No?

Define 'too much'. Think of it this way, when the disk is highly fragmented
the heads are jumping all over the surface of the disk to read/write each
fragmented file every time the file is accessed. With a defragmented file,
head movement is minimal. During the defrag process there is a lot of head
movement, but it's a one-time-only occurence. The longer the interval
between defrags, the more defragmented the drive becomes and the longer it
takes to defrag. I do it once per month myself and have had no problems on 5
drives (2 SATA Raid0 arrays and an IDE backup drive) that have been running
24/7 for nearly 3 years. YMMV

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

--

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions

But too much defragging may just reduce the life of the hard drive. No?

This is a question answers to which can run and run and run ad nauseum.

The basics: When the computer needs to read or write a file the head needs
to go in and out (parallel to the hard disk drive magnetic surface). The
files on all (99%) of hard disks are fragmented - and become progressively
so. Therefore, reading (especially on boot-up) and writing becomes
progressively slower as time goes on. The rate of slowing down is
imperceptible but is more noticeable in computers with limited resources.
Contrary to popular belief defragging does not, in itself, speed up a
computer just the time it takes to read and write files to the hard disk.

In terms of time it is arguable that if defragging is done at times when the
computer is 'idle' (which is a misnomer as it is always doing something)
then a saving in time can be made when you actually want to read or write.

In terms of 'wear and tear' it is arguable that although defragging adds to
wear and tear it also detracts from wear and tear when reading and writing
to the hard disk.

In reality the answer to the question "What is the optimum frequency of
defragging" is the same as "What's the length of a piece of string?" The
practical answer is something like once a week if the computer is used a
for, say, business and once a month otherwise. As with most questions for
which there is not a definitive wrong or right answer if it feels right
there's a good chance that it is right.

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway

 

[Gerry]

Bill

Defragmenting is only one component of housekeeping. Running Disk
CleanUp, and compacting Outlook Express are other components. Together
they make for better performance.


--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Phisherman]

Hello, there's a problem with defragmenting my 120GB partition (28% free
space); it leaves too many files fragmented, in thousands of fragments. And,
after the defragment operation, whenever I do an analysis on the partition,
it tells me to defragment the volume. And whenever I defragment the volume,
it tells me that it can not be defragmented anymore.

Are there any ways to get the partition defragmented perfectly, without
deleting any data/programs, or purchasing third party software?

Some files are better left fragmented. Don't sweat about it. If your
drive is slow, upgrade to one with a faster speed or more buffer.

 

[Dragomir Kollaric]

On 2008-11-23, Bill Ridgeway hit the keyboard and wrote:

first a misplaced Sig delimiter |-- |
Bill do yourself a favor and remove the "Sig delimiter" at the
beginning of your replies. "Properly" configured newsreader will cut
everything below it, mine did this right now.
This could also be the reason that so many post have no quoted
material because some misplaced Sig delimiter are used.




Dragomir Kollaric[/QUOTE]

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

reduce the life of the hard drive. No?>>

This is a question answers to which can run and run and run ad nauseum.

The basics: When the computer needs to read or write a file the head needs
to go in and out (parallel to the hard disk drive magnetic surface). The
files on all (99%) of hard disks are fragmented - and become progressively
so. Therefore, reading (especially on boot-up) and writing becomes
progressively slower as time goes on. The rate of slowing down is
imperceptible but is more noticeable in computers with limited resources.
Contrary to popular belief defragging does not, in itself, speed up a
computer just the time it takes to read and write files to the hard disk.

In terms of time it is arguable that if defragging is done at times when the
computer is 'idle' (which is a misnomer as it is always doing something)
then a saving in time can be made when you actually want to read or write.

In terms of 'wear and tear' it is arguable that although defragging adds to
wear and tear it also detracts from wear and tear when reading and writing
to the hard disk.

In reality the answer to the question "What is the optimum frequency of
defragging" is the same as "What's the length of a piece of string?" The
practical answer is something like once a week if the computer is used a
for, say, business and once a month otherwise. As with most questions for
which there is not a definitive wrong or right answer if it feels right
there's a good chance that it is right.

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway

 

[Gerry]

Bill

As I said earlier defragmenting is only one component of housekeeping.
Running Disk
CleanUp, and compacting Outlook Express are other components. Together
they make for better performance.


--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~