Defragmentation

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jim
  • Start date Start date
Now that's an interesting question.

The length of time you use your computer has no bearing on how often you
should defrag. That depends on how many files you create, edit and/or
delete. The more files you create/edit/delete, the sooner you'll want to
defrag.

Having said that, it's easy to know when you should defrag: Windows will
tell you. You'll get this little postcard in the mail...ok, seriously: When
you call up Windows' defrag program you can choose to analyze your hard
drive. If you select this option, Windows will analyze your drive for
fragmentation and come back with a recommendation as to whether you should
defrag. Just follow the recommendation. Always works for me, and my computer
runs real fast.

Rocky
 
I am trying to set up Windows Scheduler to automate this task. I do know to
defrag after installing any new programs. What I don't know is, since I want
to set this up on a "set and forget" basis, what an educated guess might be
as to the frequency. Is once a month about as good as any? Thanks.
 
I am trying to set up Windows Scheduler to automate this task. I do know to
defrag after installing any new programs. What I don't know is, since I want
to set this up on a "set and forget" basis, what an educated guess might be
as to the frequency. Is once a month about as good as any? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Jim,

Try it once a month. Observe the performance difference before and after. If
the performance before defragging is noticeably worse than after, increase the
frequency to twice a month. If you can't notice the difference, then leave it
at once a month.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
 
Thanks Chuck.
Chuck said:
Jim,

Try it once a month. Observe the performance difference before and after. If
the performance before defragging is noticeably worse than after, increase the
frequency to twice a month. If you can't notice the difference, then leave it
at once a month.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
Click to expand...
 
I use my machine for abour 6 hours daily. How often should I defrag?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

I have been a keen defragger since 1998 - I liked to see those blocks of
white get moved around, I felt as if things must be getting faster as the
various coloured squares got lumped together.

I guess for a geek like me that in reality it was therapy - a time to
take my fingers off of the keyboard/mouse and relax - do my breathing
exercises, etc. In short, I firmly believe that defragging my hard disc
weekly did me more good than it did for any of the computers I subjected
to this process.

There again, as I did it religiously each week I have no idea what
happens if you leave it longer!

And, being a geek, although I now a new fast machine, you can bet your
sweet wotzit I will be defragging once a week :)

Charlie.
www.peartreegreen.org
 
Jim,

You should defrag as often as necessary. Just like you put gas in your car
as often as necessary :)

It really depends on how quickly the drive re-fragments.

- 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.
 
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