Is this how defrag is supposed to work?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Vance McAlister
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Vance McAlister

I have an 80 GB drive with 50 GB full (audiobooks on mp3), so I thought I
should defragment. It got to 30% or so and then said it was done all of the
sudden. It did show a large "blue" segment, but there is still a lot of red
lines in there. I ran it again, and it got up to 8% and then said it was
done. Did it again, and it got to 3%. Is this the way it is supposed to
work? Should there still be a lot of red lines scattered fairly evenly
over the whole drive (if the visual is to be believed)?

Thanks!
 
If you are using the default Microsoft defragger, then, yes, that is normal.
If you want a better and/or more complete defrag, get a full version of
Diskeeper by Executive software. Note that the MS defragger is really a
lite version of Diskeeper.
 
Bob Harris said:
If you are using the default Microsoft defragger, then, yes, that is normal.
If you want a better and/or more complete defrag, get a full version of
Diskeeper by Executive software. Note that the MS defragger is really a
lite version of Diskeeper.
Click to expand...

I use the Microsoft defrag program that came with my Dell 8200. It works
fine and not the way the OP detailed his does.

Hound Dog
 
Defrag is entirely dependent upon the type/size of files you have on your
computer. The supplied version is a cut down version of the full retail
program which you can purchase. Of course, the full program is better.

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)
 
No, it shouldn't work like that.
No, the red lines are fragmented files.

Have a look at using Diskeeper instead, which is the full version of the one
Diskeeper made under contract to MS for XP.
 
it usually helps if you clean up your system before the defrag.
delete cookies, cache and history.
then use the system tool Disk Cleanup. and clean up the restore points.

I usually boot into safe mode as administrator to run defrag.
works a lot better.



(e-mail address removed)



I have an 80 GB drive with 50 GB full (audiobooks on mp3), so I thought I
should defragment. It got to 30% or so and then said it was done all of the
sudden. It did show a large "blue" segment, but there is still a lot of red
lines in there. I ran it again, and it got up to 8% and then said it was
done. Did it again, and it got to 3%. Is this the way it is supposed to
work? Should there still be a lot of red lines scattered fairly evenly
over the whole drive (if the visual is to be believed)?

Thanks!
 
Bob said:
If you are using the default Microsoft defragger, then, yes, that is normal.
If you want a better and/or more complete defrag, get a full version of
Diskeeper by Executive software. Note that the MS defragger is really a
lite version of Diskeeper.
Click to expand...


Or another suggestion - Perfect Disk by www.raxco.com

I have tried (and paid for) both it and Diskeeper, but it is the one I
prefer because it consolidates free space, which Diskeeper does not (by
design)
 
Thanks to all who responded. It looks like I need to get one of the
programs suggested!
 
Following up on this issue: I got Diskeeper and have run it a few times.
The first time, there was a10% improvement or so, but there was still 28%
"available for defragmentation" and it suggested running it again. I did
and that time it was only a 3% improvement, and each subsequent time it is
only an additional 3% improvement (although it still showed 28% "available
for degragmentation"). It said it may need to run more than once, but is
this how it is supposed to work?
 
What files does it say are fragmented? Some can only be touched by a boot
time defrag. You've got to investigate fella (-:

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)
 
Hi Vance -

The "28% available for defragmentation" figure is referring to the
amount of free space you have available for the defragger to use. It
really has nothing to do with the amount of fragmentation on the disk.

After running an analysis, click the "Fragmentation" tab to see how
many files are still fragmented. Then click the link at the bottom of
the display to see a list of the most fragmented files. If you post
the results of that list, those of us here can likely advise you on
whether they are of any concern, and if they are, how to handle them.

Also, keep in mind that you can always call or e-mail the Diskeeper
Tech Support folks (818-771-1600 or (e-mail address removed)) if you
have any questions at all about using Diskeeper.

I hope this helps -

Vaughn McMillan
Executive Software
 
Hi Vance -

On other thing . . .

The various "percentage" figures displayed by Diskeeper (or any other
defragger) are really only useful for getting a general feel for the
disk's condition. What *really* matters is what files are fragmented,
and how fragmented they are. For example, if you have a temporary
internet file in a bazillion pieces, it's not really going to cause
you performance problems. On the other hand, if Word.exe is in a few
hundred pieces, and you use Word often, you'll likely see some
slowness when opening and using Word.

The same advice applies to the graphic display, as well. You might
have a large system restore point file in two or three pieces
(technically fragmented, but just barely) that makes the Drive Map
display look horrible, but it won't degrade your computer's
performance at all. (And in the case of a system restore point,
restoring from a fragmented restore point *might* take a few
milliseconds longer than if the file is completely contiguous, but you
probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference performance-wise.)

Just another couple cents worth -

Vaughn McMillan
Executive Software
 
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