Windows XP: POLL - How Often Do You Defragment and Why??
to defrag or not?--and when and why ?
by themanstan - 8/11/06 7:43 AM In reply to: POLL - How Often Do You Defragment and Why?? by Trance_ZacMy PC is an HP a250n.
I click on START, ALL PROGRAMS,ACCESSORIES,SYSTEM TOOLS and DISK DEFRAGMENTER.
When it opens,I click on ANALYZE.
My PC tells me if a DEFRAG is needed.
When?--Every 40 hours.
Why?--Program files that have "lost" their place in the order of things during startup will be put back where they belong..Some redundant files will be eliminated and in general, a solid cleanup will be preformed...It's necessary--------DO IT !
I'm glad someone agrees
by Brianstech - 8/11/06 1:16 PM In reply to: to defrag or not?--and when and why ? by themanstanI stated earlier how I let Defrag "Analyze" every few weeks. When it says it's time to defrag, I do. Simple. I have no desire to spend even more money on outside programs.
How do you get all of that
by Daviddude - 8/11/06 6:05 PM In reply to: to defrag or not?--and when and why ? by themanstanfrom the Windows installed/supplied Defrag program??
Easy
by Brianstech - 8/11/06 7:39 PM In reply to: How do you get all of that by DaviddudeGo to Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools> Disk Defragmenter. Select your hard drive, and click Analyze.
A smaller box will pop up stating whether you should or should not defrag.
Works great for me.
This might help answer your question...
by Edward ODaniel - 8/12/06 5:26 PM In reply to: How do you get all of that by Daviddudehttp://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/c28621675.mspx
Just scroll on down the page to the section on defragging and start reading.
As a hint, you will discover where defragging comes into its own with the prefetch features and MFT defragmentation.
2 Questions about this...
by bestsealer - 8/13/06 2:05 AM In reply to: This might help answer your question... by Edward ODaniel1. This seems to only apply to the Windows XP "PROFESSIONAL" version - is that correct, or does it also apply to the HOME version?
2. What is a SNAP-IN? Is this something like a plug-in that must be installed separately from the original XP installation, and if so, where do we get them?
It applies to all versions...
by Edward ODaniel - 8/13/06 2:00 PM In reply to: 2 Questions about this... by bestsealerincluding NT and Win 2K.
Snap-ins are used with the Management Console -- they are the files with a .msc extension.
defrag frequency
by Antone Miles - 8/11/06 9:28 AM In reply to: POLL - How Often Do You Defragment and Why?? by Trance_ZacMake it a part of your "routine (every two weeks, every month, etc.)" maitenance (defrag, Scan Disk, SFC, SpyWare, anti-virus, back-ups, etc.). Because some of these apps can take a lot of time schedule them to run at night or while you are sleep.
Some feel (esp. XP users) this is unnecessary. Some also feel that changing the oil in your car every 3-4,000 miles is unnecessary especially when most of today's oils will allow you to change them every 5-7,000 miles. All I can tell you is that if you have never had to replace an engine (or unbacked-up data) you may not realize that it cannot hurt.
Defrag weekly for space/monthly for performance enhancement.
by fos_maj947 - 8/11/06 11:45 AM In reply to: POLL - How Often Do You Defragment and Why?? by Trance_ZacThe use of third party software (O & O Defrag 8.5) makes the process simple and painless without unusual use of system resources.
A complete off-line defrag monthly keeps Raid 5 HD's happy.
Yes, there are some heat issues with the process--use abundant fan air flow for cooling. I feel this is less harmful (long-term) than the useless "head-searching" all over the place on large hard drives for crumbs of programs.
I am assumimg that one is using the computer for something other than email amd forum posts.
Also, that one tries different software for productivity and does some "gaming".
No, I do not work for a software or internet company.
Defrag yes
by jaflady - 8/11/06 12:12 PM In reply to: POLL - How Often Do You Defragment and Why?? by Trance_ZacIf you download and change programs frequently as I do then defraging periodically does seem to make the computer faster and smoother. There is not a fixed schedule but if stuff appears scattered about then the computers I use function better if they are clustered closer. Of course daily getting rid of all the junk that accumulates is even more important for smooth running.
I must admit that I am a beta junky and like to try new stuff so my poor systems suffer a lot. I'm always upgrading, downloading, changing etc. But I try to keep the garbage under control and degrag is just another tool in the box for that.
Question...
by ckherring - 8/11/06 12:13 PM In reply to: POLL - How Often Do You Defragment and Why?? by Trance_ZacI don't want to come off sounding like a simpleton about this subject (although I really am a simpleton when it comes to computers) but why was a defrag program created in the first place if it had no use? One can say money but they are provided as a free utility and not even promoted as a selling feature.
It's a good question
by MarkFlax
- 8/11/06 1:14 PM
In reply to: Question... by ckherring
Although I think you mean, ''Why was a defragmenter included with Windows XP, (and 95/98/ME/2000), by Microsoft''.
I make that small amendment, because many utilities that Microsoft supply with their Operating Systems are often improved upon by outside software companies, eg Diskeeper for defragging and other disk maintenance tasks.
But why was it created in the first place if it has no use? I bet you will get as many answers as their are grains of sand on a beach, but my own opinion is that Microsoft realised that installing, changing and deleting files from a hard disk caused fragmentation of the file structure and so, over time, file access whether it be for programs, or just for individual files like documents, images, music, etc, would begin to suffer. it would take longer for the Operating System, (OS), to find each part of a file before it could be opened or used.
So a disk defragmenter was supplied to help regain some semblance of order to the filing structure.
Personally I am not of the opinion that Microsoft's defragmenter is useless. I should say at this point that I don't know if it was originally Microsoft's utility. Microsoft have a history of buying out software utilities where they fit in with Microsoft's needs, so that may have happened way back with their defragmenter. But I have been using their defragmenter ever since I brought my first Windows OS, (Windows 95), back in 1996, and I have never seen the need to change to a 3rd party one.
I don't think it's to do with money, although we do pay for the OS, and of course that includes everything in it, so we may be paying for the defragmenter in that sense.
I believe that Microsoft do a lot of things well, but many of those individual things have been improved upon by others; eg;
Internet Browser. IE is inbuilt into the OS, but there are Opera, Netscape, Firefox, all of which can be said are better browsers.
Windows Media Player, inbuilt into the OS, (although it can be disabled), but there are many flavors of different media players available.
Disk Defragmenter, inbuilt into the OS, but Diskeeper is just one of the 3rd party disk utility options available.
Firewall, Windows has its own, but many say it is limited and that there are better, 3rd party, firewalls available.
The list is endless.
I hope this helps.
Mark
Thanks
by ckherring - 8/11/06 3:18 PM In reply to: It's a good question by MarkFlax
You gave a wealth of information! I really appreciate it. I guess then your point would go against all who argue that defragging is "not necessary". I think it's necessary to do it strictly for performance sake. I should be more conscientous about defragging.
Ahhh,
by MarkFlax - 8/12/06 3:07 AM
In reply to: Thanks by ckherring
Yes and no, 
I don't believe in over-defragging. On my own computer I had not defragged within the last 6 months because I didn't feel that it was necessary.
However, reading all these posts my conscience got the better of me so yesterday I carried out both a CHKDSK, and a Defrag. It took over 3 hours!!
But even then the defrag analysis told me the hard disk did not need defragging.
I feel weak and ineffective for giving in so easily! ![]:)](http://www.cnet.com/i/mb/emoticons/devil.gif)
You're welcome with the information. Glad I could help.
Mark
Poll: Freguency of Defraging
by cfawley - 8/11/06 2:19 PM In reply to: POLL - How Often Do You Defragment and Why?? by Trance_ZacTwo times a week WHY: increase speed
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