defrag help please

  • Thread starter Thread starter KRK
  • Start date Start date
K

KRK

Hi,

The Vista defrag utility runs at low priority in the background once per
week (default), or I can run it manually via the GUI. It gives no
information about just how fragmented the disk is, or how long it might take
to complete.

I've looked in Google and there are dozens of utilities, command-line
options etc etc.

Can anyone advise me on the best route please. All I really want to do is
see how fragged the disk is ?

Thanks

K
 
KRK said:
Hi,

The Vista defrag utility runs at low priority in the background once per
week (default), or I can run it manually via the GUI.
Click to expand...

You can also schedule it to run daily if you take the time to look
closer.

There are many free defraggers that will tell you what the level of
fragmentation is.

Google "auslogics" and "smart defrag".

Richie Hardwick
 
You might like to try the free third party defragger, Auslogic Disk defrag
(http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/download). I personally
prefer third party defragmenters to Vista's own.


--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
 
John:

You recommended PerfectDisk to me in another thread and I rejected it
because it was not free. I must admit I went to their website and read their
information, especially their white papers on many different subjects and
technologies. I was impressed enough to try the 30 day trial (which by the
way is not a watered down version) and again I must admit I am impressed.

I was using download dot com's best rated free defragger and I thought I was
happy.

The first time I ran PerfectDisk it said my drive was still rather
fragmented. It also asked me if I wanted to reboot when it was finished so it
could defrag files that cannot be defragged when Windows is running. This is
something I was never asked by the free products.

I especially like the screen saver schedule setting.

After running PerfectDisk my computer shuts down and restarts faster. It
also noticeably runs faster. I noticed that my Office 2003 products start
faster which was a complaint after I upgraded to Vista.

So John, in your words, "you get what you pay for". Immediately after
hitting the post button I am going to go to the PerfectDisk website and pay
for the software I have been using for 10 days now.
 
I'm glad you found my recommendation worth acting on. I and many other MVPs
have used PerfectDisk for many years now and have always found it worthy of
its name. There is no way of getting away from the fact that 'you get what
you pay for.' Free versions are fine, and I'm not knocking them. There are
many people who are on low budgets or simply, through no fault of their own,
are unable to afford software such as PerfectDisk, this is why, when asked,
I will recommend free products, but all I can say is, if finances permit
then go for PerfectDisk.

PerfectDisk, of course, isn't the only major player in the defragmentation
market; another alternative is Diskeeper. However, out of the two I much
prefer PerfectDisk.


--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
 
Hi,
Open the Command Prompt at an elevated level (right click on it's icon and
select Run as administrator). Then type Defrag c: -a -v You can change
c: to any drive you want. This will analyse the drive for fragmentation. It
takes a while so be patient. I have used the Vista defag in the background
since the beta days and have never had a fragmented disk.
 
I agree. Works like a charm. When I tried PerfectDisk and DiskKeeper they
usually only showed files rarely used or very new as fragmented.
 
I agree. Works like a charm. When I tried PerfectDisk and DiskKeeper they
usually only showed files rarely used or very new as fragmented.
 
KRK said:
Can anyone advise me on the best route please. All I really want to do is
see how fragged the disk is ?

Thanks

K
Click to expand...

For Vista's defragger, as PaulB suggested, you can use the command line for access to more detailed defrag analysis that what the ahem "GUI" gives you. IIRC, it does not list fragments larger than 64MB as fragmented though, but I could be wrong.

That said, I use, and prefer, Diskeeper 2008 to the vista defragger or even other utilities for that matter. I like Diskeeper's speed which is fast, unlike the vista defragger which takes all of forever even on a small disk. I also prefer Diskeeper's flexible defrag modes, it's final result, clean GUI and it's minimal resource usage. Vista's defrag is a decent low priority process, but Diskeeper 2008 really redefines the phrase 'invisible background process'..you don't even notice it working away in the background.
 
KRK said:
Hi,

The Vista defrag utility runs at low priority in the background once per
week (default), or I can run it manually via the GUI. It gives no
information about just how fragmented the disk is, or how long it might take
to complete.

I've looked in Google and there are dozens of utilities, command-line
options etc etc.

Can anyone advise me on the best route please. All I really want to do is
see how fragged the disk is ?

Thanks

K
Click to expand...

About the Vista defragger, the feeling is mutual.
You could check out trial versions of the third party tools and opt for what works best for you. If I were to cast a vote, it would be for Diskeeper08 without doubt.
 
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