Disk Fragmentation

[Philip K.]

My C drive is 40 Gbytes and only 18 Gbytes are used. Further, I keep all
data, graphics, etc on another hard drive. However, the files on the C
drive are constantly fragmenting. I have two questions.
1. Why is this happening?
2. Is it of any consequence?

 

[Jason Marshall]

Only a small performance loss, if the computer is in use, files will always
get fragmented. There is no way around it.

System Restore also creates files, which do get fragmented.

Best bet would be to schedule a defrag at a time when the computer is not
likely to be in use every two to three weeks.

HTH

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Defragmentation is so central to a healthy system that it is one of the few
functions for which I recommend a third party commercial product. I suggest
you download a trial copy of Diskeeper 9 and use the set and forget function
to schedule background defragmentation (does not affect performance) on an
as needed basis. It is very inexpensive if you like it and want to buy ($20
for Home ed. or $50 for the Pro).

http://consumer.execsoft.com/downloads/downloads.asp?RId=1&SId=2&CId=5

 

[Ad]

My C drive is 40 Gbytes and only 18 Gbytes are used. Further, I keep all
data, graphics, etc on another hard drive. However, the files on the C
drive are constantly fragmenting. I have two questions.
1. Why is this happening?
2. Is it of any consequence?

If you are using Windows XP and NTFS, then it happens, or it do to me
anyway.

One on the reasons I do not use NTFS

 

[Ad]

Defragmentation is so central to a healthy system that it is one of the few
functions for which I recommend a third party commercial product. I suggest
you download a trial copy of Diskeeper 9 and use the set and forget function
to schedule background defragmentation (does not affect performance) on an
as needed basis. It is very inexpensive if you like it and want to buy ($20
for Home ed. or $50 for the Pro).

http://consumer.execsoft.com/downloads/downloads.asp?RId=1&SId=2&CId=5

Diskkeeper is great, I use it myself, but I do not agree with you when
you say it do not affect performance. If you are just browsing the net
or writing a letter, then no, you will notice little diffence. But if
you are doing anything like video conversion or video editing, then yes
it will make a difference. Also editing and recording audio is also not
possible when Diskkeeper is defraging.

 

[Leythos]

If you are using Windows XP and NTFS, then it happens, or it do to me
anyway.

One on the reasons I do not use NTFS

I got news for you, but all Windows file systems fragment files, and NTFS
is a better file system than FAT/FAT32 for anyone that can use it (on
Windows).

Fragmentation is something that happens as a normal part of
adding/deleting/changing files sizes - you can't eliminate it.