Defragmenting

[Dave Davison]

Lats night I set Defraggler running and ticked the option, "Shut down when complete" but to my amazement when I got up this morning it was still not completed so I just left it running. Now, 20 hours later it is still not finished and only shows 32 percent of the "C" drive as complete with 3 other drives still to go. Should I stop the whole process or let it run forever [it seems]? Dave.

[HansV]

I'd cancel the process and not worry about defragmentation.

[stuck]

Whereas I'd leave it until it finishes

Ken

[Rudi]

...or try a different defragmentation app.

See:
-- http://www.iobit.com/iobitsmartdefrag.html
-- http://www.snapfiles.com/freeware/system/fwdefrag.html
-- http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-fr ... menter.htm

[stuck]

I doubt a different app will be any quicker. Look at the screen dump, where Defraggler says 'Current state ...68% fragmentation'. I rarely defrag my HDD but even my XP box has never got to that level of fragmentation. Any app is going to take a long time to sort it out.

Plus there is only 30.7GB free on a 146.5GB drive. That not exactly a lot of space for any defrag app to work in.

Ken

[Dave Davison]

Varied opinions and most likely all valid to a point but after 22 hours and "C" drive still not anywhere like being finished I've given it up as rather futile and stopped the process. Thanks anyway Dave.

[Rudi]

The next time you will need to do a disk refragmentaion...

[Roderunner]

Hi Dave, it could be because your file system is FAT32.

[Dave Davison]

Response to last two posts.....Rudi; what do you mean "Next Time"? After running Defraggler; for almost 24 hours it had only reached about 35% on "C" drive. I suppose the other three drives are of little consequence as "C" is the engine room of the computer. By the way I have moved a host of files from the "My Documents" folder to an external drive leaving "C" drive with 71 GB of free space so will that speed up the defrag operation? George! (please excuse my ignorance) but what has FAT 32 to do with the issue? YES, I'm clinging on to XP till it becomes a problem. ps Are the defraggers Rudi suggested quicker than Defraggler? Cheers Dave.

[Rudi]

ps Are the defraggers Rudi suggested quicker than Defraggler? Cheers Dave.

A defragger is a defragger...The interface might look different between them, but they all do the same thing, barring the fact that some are better quality and might have better coding behind their operations.
Also consider that some have options for deep defragmentation and others might even offer further optimization on your drives. The deeper your defrag choice, the longer it takes. I simply suggested trying others based on option like quick defrag or based on better coding. I tend to use iObit Smart Defrag but on occasions have also used Defraggler. Both are available on my Portable Apps list. The last time I used iObit, it defragged my C drive in pretty quick time.

[BobH]

Uh! Pardon me, but I have a related question that might help Dave.

Would it help at all if Dave were to install and run PrivaZer to clear out detritus? Would this, perhaps, free up some disk space that might speed up the defrag process? It is unclear to me what, exactly, PrivaZer does with its cleanup. It is my understanding that it releases sectors back to the file allocation process but does not defrag, as in co-locating related sectors.

Dave, FAT32 is the file system that allocates disk space. It was replaced some time back by Microsoft with the NTFS (New Technology File System) for purposes of operating efficiency and disk space management. You can read more here.

NTFS is compatible with WinXP. I ran it with XP before upgrading to Win7. Here is more information about NTFS from Microsoft and information about converting your data. If you decide to do this, please back up your drive as FAT32 before proceeding.

HTH

[DaveA]

"PrivaZer", is a registry cleaner, which in most cases is a waste of money, and most of time, messes up a machine all the more.
If I remember right, Dave's machine is an older XP one.
The money spent on a new machine would be much better spent!

[BobH]

"PrivaZer", is a registry cleaner, which in most cases is a waste of money, and most of time, messes up a machine all the more.
If I remember right, Dave's machine is an older XP one.
The money spent on a new machine would be much better spent!

Maybe I'm misreading it (that has happened before ), but I think PrivaZer is a bit more than just a Registry cleaner.

Read more here

[viking33]

"PrivaZer", is a registry cleaner, which in most cases is a waste of money, and most of time, messes up a machine all the more.
If I remember right, Dave's machine is an older XP one.
The money spent on a new machine would be much better spent!

Maybe I'm misreading it (that has happened before ), but I think PrivaZer is a bit more than just a Registry cleaner.

Read more here

You are certainly right, Bob. A lot more than a Reg Cleaner.

[DaveA]

Can you turn OFF the "Registry" cleaner part of this program?

[Roderunner]

George! (please excuse my ignorance) but what has FAT 32 to do with the issue?

Your excused. I thought it might have something to do with your problem but was unsure as to why.
The post by BobH should be helpful.

[ChrisGreaves]

Lats night I set Defraggler running ...

I generally think that with today's fast disks defragmentation is a means of bringing forward the failure date of the hard drive. [/curmudgeon]

That said, I've used Defraggler and witnessed this behavior (38% complete when I wake in the morning).

Suggestion: Whenever you run Defraggler, choose the File List tab and take a quick look at what is listed.
I have spotted folders with, literally, thousands of temporary files that can be cleaned out before defragmentation-propper is started.

HTH

[BobH]

Can you turn OFF the "Registry" cleaner part of this program?

Here's a screenshot of the options list for running PrivaZer:

PrivaZer.jpg

I usually run a full scan. So far (about 3 weeks) I've had no problems.

FWIW, the software is available without charge.

[silverback]

Dave
I've been a fan of Defraggler for quite a while, but recently it seems to have got bloated and extremely slow IMHO.
I've just installed Auslogics defragmenter (Free version here) and I'm amazed at its speed. That said, I rarely let my disc get more that 7% defragmented, but it's lightning fast compared to the current Defraggler.
Silverback

[John Gray]

Since moving data round a disk is likely to be just as fast whichever defragmenter gets used, since it is dependent on disk grometry and speed, I am a bit surprised by your statement! You may be using the Auslogics default, where 'empty space' is not consolidated towards the end of the disk, and just the fragmented files are defragmented? I've selected the 'Defrag & Optimise' Auslogics option, and it seems no faster than Defraggler... (This does not really surprise me.)