About speeding up your computer and using defrag

sebbe · 11-05-2005, 14:15

How often do you defrag?

Chances are you do it on an ad-hoc basis or a couple of times a year.
If you are downloading (like most of us) quite a lot these days, you will be adding to the problem of a defragmented with files such as torrents.
Defragging, I found recently, seems to solve alot of the problems of a slowed computer and increases stability. I never used to defrag up to a couple of months ago, when I tried to run it twice a week for a month. The difference is massive! I think I've reduced my blue screen errors alone by 50%!

I can strongly recommend that everyone does this on a regular basis.

Of course the windows defrag is pretty poor... so I wanted to check what everyone is using for automatic defragmentation (apparently that is the best way of running it)?

Could you give me some pointers on the best defraggers out there?

Thanks you!

Stuart · 11-05-2005, 14:19

At work: Windows defrag (the boss can't see the point, and we would have to spend thousands on a corporate solution). Usually once or twice a week.

At home: Executive Software's Diskkeeper V. 9. I don't have a set amount of defrags a week, as I have it set up to run when the computer is not busy.

philip.j.fry · 11-05-2005, 14:23

Never, my partitions get checked approx. every 30 mounts but that's slightly different from defragging.

Jon M · 11-05-2005, 14:23

Diskeeper 9 (not free mind you)

The best way to prevent fragmentation affecting performance is to make sure you keep your temporary internet files (browser cache and downloads) on a seperate partition to your operating system.

McGraw · 11-05-2005, 14:29

I'm trialling PerfectDisk and using Diskkeeper 9.

DK 9 is good but I believe PD is better.

Apparently there are even better ones out there too.

No-one seems to have a definitive answer.

nffc · 11-05-2005, 14:30

O&O Defrag is pretty good... fast and you can use Windows normally as well.

Halcyon · 11-05-2005, 19:04

I use the Windows XP one.... If it works then why use another one ?

I normally run it every two weeks, together with Scan disk too.

sprite · 07-07-2005, 06:07

Yes its very important to defrag regularly, with size of files becoming so huge and the number of updates, hotfixes, patces that we keep downloading into the system getting larger by the day, NTFS is under more pressure to store files contiguously. Tne HD gets fragmented sooner than we realise...and i personally prefer the third party tools, for speed, smart automatic features.

jonifen · 07-07-2005, 08:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

I use the Windows XP one.... If it works then why use another one ?

I also use the Windows XP one. Especially as it was actually made with the help of Diskeeper

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sebbe: if defragging your computer has only cut down on blue screen errors by 50%, it would appear you have other problems on your system... you shouldn't be getting ANY blue screen errors really.

dilli-theclaw · 07-07-2005, 08:46

I only defrag my main windows drive once a month. My other partitions I don't. I copy all the stuff off, reformat, copy it all back on again.

Wicked_and_Crazy · 07-07-2005, 09:05

I never defrag. Takes too long and makes very little difference

07-07-2005, 09:06

I use Diskeeper v9 on set it and forget it...

Jules · 07-07-2005, 09:33

I do mine about once a month

Nemesis · 07-07-2005, 09:34

In addition, to speed up the boot process of Windows XP, a utility called Bootvis (google it) helps a lot if rub on a monthly basis.

07-07-2005, 10:03

You watch where your rubbing your viz nemmy

I use diskeeper 9 ,benefits for me is it can defrag 4 partitions at the same time and ive got loads of disks running.Unfortunatly it does not run on 64 bit xp so its a pain now as I have to switch to 32 bit to run it