Windows 7: Write Caching and Defragging External HDD

Hello all! I have two concerns...



1. My external HDD has 64mb of cache and is connected via Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) 1200va along with my entire computer. Should I enable write caching, and how will enabling it benefit me?

2. I have been using ShadowProtect to backup my data and OS; is it okay to defrag this external drive? Will it negatively affect my backup data?

Thanks everyone!

Question 2. If the back up is on the external drive do not defrag, you can lose all of your data and then you have to start over.

Write caching allows the data to be "cached" and written to the drive at a later time. The OS tells the application that everything is saved and the app can move on again. That's why batteries are important, because if you were to immediately lose power...the data in the cache wouldn't actually get written. But with a battery, that system stays operational and the data is written.

Defrag on external drive. Probably unnecessary. Any slow down from fragmentation is far and away less than accessing the drive through external standards like USB 2.0.

So you mean that even after the computer is turned off.... the data is still being written?

I think pparks means that when the system is shut off abruptly all unsaved data is lost.
Temp caches etc.

When Windows shuts down normally I'm sure you noticed the main screen drops the icons and it says closing Windows and then off.
Sometimes it tells you at normal shut down "Saving your settings" which is saving things not saved yet or that will be needed on next start.

If you have no back up battery and you have an abrupt power loss all the info that would have been saved at normal shutdown of Windows is lost.

My explanation might not be technical or exact but it is "generally" how I understand it.

I'm sure someone will come up with the technical part.
Mike