Disk Defrag doesnt fully defrag in xp!

[Guest]

I noticed that the defrag utility doesnt fully defrag in xp.
You can run the analyze, and it'll show your fragmentation, then you'll run
the defrag part, it'll chunk away for 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on the
fragmentation, but even when its done, there is still fragmentation on the
drive. You can even see it in the little graphic it shows! It tells you no
fragmentation, no free space fragmentation, but i see big spaces between disk
usage, and thats fragmentation.
This needs to be fixed. if my disk isnt fully defraged, i cant record video
smoothly. fragmentation makes my recorded video jittery.
My question is, why doesnt it do its job?! and who is going to fix this?

 

[R. McCarty]

The XP defrag is a basic functionality tool, just like CD-Burning in XP.
For comprehensive Defrag - You'll need a 3rd party tool. I use Raxco's
Perfect Disk 2000 Version 6.0.
They offer a 30-day Fully functional trial. However, to get effective
results you need both a Boot Time and GUI defrag and there are certain
settings to consider. The 1st run will consume a large amount of time,
but subsequent runs should finish quickly. PDisk actually helps to prevent
future fragmentation on the drive.
Download Trial version here:
http://www.raxco.com/products/downloadit/

 

[Rock]

I noticed that the defrag utility doesnt fully defrag in xp.
You can run the analyze, and it'll show your fragmentation, then you'll run
the defrag part, it'll chunk away for 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on the
fragmentation, but even when its done, there is still fragmentation on the
drive. You can even see it in the little graphic it shows! It tells you no
fragmentation, no free space fragmentation, but i see big spaces between disk
usage, and thats fragmentation.
This needs to be fixed. if my disk isnt fully defraged, i cant record video
smoothly. fragmentation makes my recorded video jittery.
My question is, why doesnt it do its job?! and who is going to fix this?

You are misunderstanding things a bit here. Defragmentation means
putting all the clusters for a file in sequence. It does not mean
putting all files together in sequence with no unused space between
them. In other words seeing unused space between stored files in the XP
defrag display does not mean it's not defragmented. So in fact the XP
defrag utility is doing it's job. You might also find that there are
some files that cannot be defragmented by XP's utility. So to answer
your last question, there is nothing to fix - it's working as designed.

As the other poster indicated, Raxco's Perfect Disk does a better job of
consolidating files to minimize the amount of free space between files,
i.e. eliminating the white space.

 

[Kristi]

Agreed! Definitely give PerfectDisk6 a try!
Kristi

 

[Guest]

It IS achievable with a standard Windows defrag…

Clean your box.
Disable Virtual Memory
Disable Hibernation
Defrag several times, with restarts in-between.

Good Luck!
---
How to optimize Windows XP, 2000, ME
for the best performance (Step-by-step Visual Guide):
http://www.fixyourwindows.com

Spyware/Virus Removal and Prevention:
http://www.fixyourwindows.com/windowsxpsolutions.htm
(Links to online virus scans on the same page)

 

[Alex Nichol]

I noticed that the defrag utility doesnt fully defrag in xp.
You can run the analyze, and it'll show your fragmentation, then you'll run
the defrag part, it'll chunk away for 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on the
fragmentation, but even when its done, there is still fragmentation on the
drive. You can even see it in the little graphic it shows! It tells you no
fragmentation, no free space fragmentation, but i see big spaces between disk
usage, and thats fragmentation.

The inbuilt defrag tool explicitly only defrags files. It does not
consolidate (defrag) the free space. I consider this a mistake;
fragmented free space leads to fragmentation of new files all the more
rapidly. To be sure of consolidation I suggest Perfect Disk
(www.raxco.com) instead

 

[Randy Harris]

The inbuilt defrag tool explicitly only defrags files. It does not
consolidate (defrag) the free space. I consider this a mistake;
fragmented free space leads to fragmentation of new files all the more
rapidly. To be sure of consolidation I suggest Perfect Disk
(www.raxco.com) instead

Raxco only provides free updates to their products for 90 days. Perfect
Disk 6 has been out for a very long time. I'd hate to buy it and have them
come out with a new release 4 months later. Anyone know when an update to
PD6 can be expected?

 

[Alex Nichol]

Raxco only provides free updates to their products for 90 days. Perfect
Disk 6 has been out for a very long time. I'd hate to buy it and have them
come out with a new release 4 months later. Anyone know when an update to
PD6 can be expected?

I got PD 6 when it first came out. It provided me with an update on
download yesterday. I think you are confusing 90 days of tech support
with availability of upgrades, where they are AFAIK like other makers
and make upgrades freely available within one major release (ie an
upgrade fee to so to 7.0)

 

[Randy Harris]

I got PD 6 when it first came out. It provided me with an update on
download yesterday. I think you are confusing 90 days of tech support
with availability of upgrades, where they are AFAIK like other makers
and make upgrades freely available within one major release (ie an
upgrade fee to so to 7.0)

If I'm interpreting the Raxco web site correctly, if PD is purchased after
May 2003, there is only 90 days support unless one purchases "Software
Assurance".

 

[R. McCarty]

Perfect Disk is rarity among software programs. Works, has few
issues and gets fairly regular updates, which is done automatically.

And they haven't fallen into the "Yearly" update cycle, as some
other well-known outfits (Roxio, Symantec....) do for their yearly
$40-$60 of your personal IT budget.

 

[Alex Nichol]

If I'm interpreting the Raxco web site correctly, if PD is purchased after
May 2003, there is only 90 days support unless one purchases "Software
Assurance".

You are I think looking at the 'Software re-download' to get a repeat
copy if you bought by electronic download. that is not the same as
getting an update pack to run to update such a copy. It does behove
you to keep the original download safe though


But perhaps Greg Hayes will notice this thread and post a rply to it

 

[Greg Hayes/Raxco Software]

Alex,

Thanks for "stepping in"

Here how things work.

When you purchase PerfectDisk from Raxco US, you are provided the
opportunity to also purchase Software Assurance. Software Assurance
provides the following benefits:

- Media replacement (software redownload) for up to 1 year from date of
purchase
- Any new version of the software that may happen to be released within 1
year from date of purchase
- Access to telephone support for 1 year from date of purchase

If you do NOT elect to include Software Assurance with your purchase, you
get the following:

- Media replacement (software redownload) for 90 days from date of purchase
- Any new version of the software that may happen to be released within 90
days from date of purchase
- Access to telephone support for 90 days from date of purchase

Any minor updates to PerfectDisk are always free for the life of the
product. For example, if Raxco were to release an update to PDV6 tomorrow,
any PDV6 customer can get that minor update for free no matter when you
purchase PDV6.

- Greg/Raxco Software
Microsoft MVP - Windows File System

Disclaimer: I work for Raxco Software, the maker of PerfectDisk - a
commercial defrag utility, as a systems engineer in the support department.

Want to email me? Delete ntloader.

 

[Seth Brundle]

I noticed the same thing.

This morning, I decided to check fragmentation on my notebook just for
giggles, it was at 18% and reccommended, so I did it.

Well, when I came back an hour later I found a dialog which read that
some files could not be defragmented, then I reanalyzed and found that
fragmentation was now at 26%!!!

Windows Defrag FRAGMENTED my hard drive!!???

 

[Randy Harris]

Alex,

Thanks for "stepping in"

Here how things work.

When you purchase PerfectDisk from Raxco US, you are provided the
opportunity to also purchase Software Assurance. Software Assurance
provides the following benefits:

- Media replacement (software redownload) for up to 1 year from date of
purchase
- Any new version of the software that may happen to be released within 1
year from date of purchase
- Access to telephone support for 1 year from date of purchase

If you do NOT elect to include Software Assurance with your purchase, you
get the following:

- Media replacement (software redownload) for 90 days from date of purchase
- Any new version of the software that may happen to be released within 90
days from date of purchase
- Access to telephone support for 90 days from date of purchase

Any minor updates to PerfectDisk are always free for the life of the
product. For example, if Raxco were to release an update to PDV6 tomorrow,
any PDV6 customer can get that minor update for free no matter when you
purchase PDV6.

- Greg/Raxco Software
Microsoft MVP - Windows File System

Greg, I wonder if you can comment on upgrade to PD7, which I understand will
be released shortly. If I were to purchase PD6 now, would I get a free
upgrade to 7 when it becomes available?

If so, I'll buy now, otherwise I'll wait the two weeks until version 7 is
out.

Thanks,
Randy Harris

Disclaimer: I work for Raxco Software, the maker of PerfectDisk - a
commercial defrag utility, as a systems engineer in the support department.

Want to email me? Delete ntloader.