Defragging

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

KRK

Hello

I sometimes run a defrag program, tho I'm not sure it helps an awful lot. I
generally use the built-in Windows utility.

There are a lot of other defraggers out there. I am not looking for
recommendations.

My question, - do all defraggers use the same 'logic' or 'policy' about how
& where files are positioned and arranged on the C drive ?

Thanks

KK
 
Hello

I sometimes run a defrag program, tho I'm not sure it helps an awful lot. I
generally use the built-in Windows utility.

There are a lot of other defraggers out there. I am not looking for
recommendations.

My question, - do all defraggers use the same 'logic' or 'policy' about how
& where files are positioned and arranged on the C drive ?
Click to expand...
All are using the same Windows Defrag API ( a kind of library of system
calls), some use their own low level NTFS drivers.

API tells HOW files can be moved.
But similarity ends near here.

WHAT, WHEN and WHERE is fully
within proprietary logic of every defragger.
 
I like Auslogics defragger.
it also has the function to defrag and consolidate.

pretty fast and efficient.

also can be used while windows is running.


(e-mail address removed)



Hello

I sometimes run a defrag program, tho I'm not sure it helps an awful lot. I
generally use the built-in Windows utility.

There are a lot of other defraggers out there. I am not looking for
recommendations.

My question, - do all defraggers use the same 'logic' or 'policy' about how
& where files are positioned and arranged on the C drive ?

Thanks

KK
 
I sometimes run a defrag program, tho I'm not sure it helps an awful lot. I
generally use the built-in Windows utility.

There are a lot of other defraggers out there. I am not looking for
recommendations.

My question, - do all defraggers use the same 'logic' or 'policy' about how
& where files are positioned and arranged on the C drive ?
Click to expand...

As mentioned, there is a common API to do the moves, but each program
uses their own logic.

The built-in defrag is OK for basic use. It doesn't give any details,
but handles the basics. 3rd party defraggers may be able to defrag more
file types, such as the page file, MFT, etc...

I think there are several free ones that may give more details. I don't
know if they are any 'better' than the built-in one.

There are well-known paid ones, such as Diskeeper, Raxco PerfectDisk,
and others.

I personally use Diskeeper, and have been using various versions of it
since NT4. DK2010 has a feature called I-FAAST that, when combined with
background defrag, rearranges sectors to optimize load speed. Every
computer is different, but it did cut the time my login prompt appears
from about 1:30 to around 0:55.

One drawback to any defragging is that it can make a mess of image
backups, mainly when you do an incremental from a base backup. Image
backups store sector locations, so defragging moves things around, and
makes it look like more has changed. A file-based backup wouldn't notice
something like that.

Defragging may also have an effect on drives/partitions where Volume
Shadow Service is active. The sector movements may trigger shadow
copies. Diskeeper has an optional defrag method that reduces that, but
that also disables I-FAAST unless you are running 16K clusters (4K
clusters are most common.)
 
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