Defrag -vs- Speed disk

[Richard]

I try to clean up dead space consistently, and to defrag my hard drive weekly.

I used to use defrag only, until I got my Norton which comes bundled with "speed disk".

I'm not a techie, but my gut tells me I can defrag, then immediately run speed disk and SD, will rearrainge that which defrag just "organized", and vice versa.

Is one demonstrably better than the other? does it matter? I like the concept that in SD, you can move certain files to front of disk so to say, for quicker access. I"M not sure I"m smart enough to know which ones I might do that with, so tend to let it just default.

Any thoughts of pros/cons on which one is better?

Richard

 

[DocHeb]

I use the Norton System Works extensively, and use Speed Disk on a weekly basis, and never use the Microsoft Defrag utility. Speed Disk does it all, and I use their default values. Before I use Speed Disk, I use CleanSweep to get rid of all unnecessary files, delete the contents of C:\Windows\Temp, and then use Ctrl/Alt/Del (I'm running Windows 98SE) to close all active programs except Explorer and Systray. This makes for fewer "unmovable" files.

 

[Richard]

didn't know it did stuff like that.. guess I'll have to dig further into it's capabilitites

thanks

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MikePA]

The Defrag function that is built into WindowsXP and Windows2000 is a stripped down version of Diskeeper from Executive Software. Both SpeedDisk from Norton and Diskeeper are good products that perform much of the same functions. With the full version of Diskeeper you can exclude files and folders from being moved, etc., similar to what Speed Disk allows. Six of one, half dozen of the other.

The best thing to do to reduce the need to defrag is to use the NTFS file system that both WindowsXP and Windows2000 offer. NTFS is much less prone to fragmentation when compared to FAT or FAT32.

 

[Wingnut]

Let me ask a really dumb question ... are you doing anything that makes defragging <font color="blue"> this </font> necessary? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Defragging is a helpful tool to reducing file fragmentation caused by a high level of delete and save new files activity. Unless you're doing that, there's no reason to keep performing that on THAT regular a basis. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I'm constantly editing files ... but have no need of defragging more than semi-annually since I do not do large amounts of deleting files in between .... so there's not a great many fragmented files to deal with.
I let systemworks peek at my main machine every Friday night after I go to bed ... but Norton never sees a problem.
Of course, once I burn a great many CD's and move the data to "dead storage", then I will run a quick defrag to move all the files "up front" ... and start over again.

 

[Richard]

This machine was a Windows ME system that locked up more than I care to admit /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif soooooooo I upgraded it to XP professional.

I think it's still a Fat 32 system (don't recall where I saw it, but I think I DID see that) I WANTED to convert to NTFS and quite frankly, do not recall ever seeing a converter..both when I upgraded nor now. If these presumptions are correct (Fat32) is there some way I can currently convert?

Richard

 

[Richard]

I don't knows that it's that necessary. I just hit it sometimes before I leave for home. I try to view it as tuning up a car.... why wait until the car "needs" tuned up (sputtering) to put new plugs etc.. in it..

I probably over "tune up" my car too /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Now.. about backing up religiously.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[thcri]

to find out if you are on Fat 32 just go to explore and right click on your C: drive and left click on properties. It will tell you there. NTFS is much better and you can convert. I believe this is from the command prompt "convert drive_letter: /fs:ntfs" This is the command from a windows 2000 professional machine.

Go to your help section and type in NTFS and you should find a sublink called NTFS Conversion. You can follow the directions from there. Once you convert you can't go back. You will have to format your hard drive to do it.

I take no responsibility for damage to your machine. However I have done this a bunch of times with no trouble.

Murph

 

[Richard]

ty, I understand your disclaimer... I'll not do it until I have an entire backup prior.

Thanks

(it IS Fat32)

 

[MikePA]

On my Windows2000 Pro laptop, it took about an hour to convert a 26 gig logical drive that had 2 gigs of free space. It rebooted the PC a few times during the process.