Best Practices and apps for defrag?

Dorfdad · 24 Jul 2009

Now that im coming back to windows from using Mac OS X for the last few years I would like to get some information about defraging on Windows 7.

I assume its still needed and we should be using it, is setting the default windows 7 defrag tool to run each night good enough? Or do I need to look into getting a real commercial solution for the machine?

I am primarily using this machine for gaming, and graphics editing.

Im running x64 as well if that matters.

swarfega · 24 Jul 2009

Sadly there is still need for regular defrag. Dont set it for nightly defrag, that is shear overkill and will wear out your drives sooner. Once a week is the bare minimum and is the default period MS sets.

I recently purchased Raxco PerfectDisk 10 after testing out several programs (both commerical and free) and found it gave the best results. However for the non power user the new improved windows 7 defrag should be adequate.

Hope this helps.

Victek · 24 Jul 2009

Dorfdad said:

Now that im coming back to windows from using Mac OS X for the last few years I would like to get some information about defraging on Windows 7.

I assume its still needed and we should be using it, is setting the default windows 7 defrag tool to run each night good enough? Or do I need to look into getting a real commercial solution for the machine?

I am primarily using this machine for gaming, and graphics editing.

Im running x64 as well if that matters.

.
There's a long thread about defraggers here if you dig back a little. There is no consensus which is to be expected. FWIW I really like PerfectDisk which is now Windows 7 compatible. It offers the classic disk map which provides useful information. It also has a boot-time option which can defrag files that are locked when the GUI is running, such as the pagefile. It is available as 30 day trial-ware so if you're interested just try it out.

zigzag3143 · 24 Jul 2009

Dorfdad said:

Now that im coming back to windows from using Mac OS X for the last few years I would like to get some information about defraging on Windows 7.

I assume its still needed and we should be using it, is setting the default windows 7 defrag tool to run each night good enough? Or do I need to look into getting a real commercial solution for the machine?

I am primarily using this machine for gaming, and graphics editing.

Im running x64 as well if that matters.

hey dorfdad

Glad you came over to the dark side. I lean toeards a 3rd party app called perfect disk 10. while any disk needs defragging in win 7 its less critical. It does a good job on running scheduled defrags and uses smart defrag'ing.

Ken

ten · 24 Jul 2009

I wouldn't bother with any 3rd party defrag programs. While they may be faster at getting the job done, I have yet to see any benchmarks that show it makes any difference. I think selling them is a con.

Save your money and just use the built in one whenever you feel the need. I don't defrag for months at a time and don't notice didly squat before and after.

zigzag3143 · 24 Jul 2009

Ten I just went to take a look at your system specs to see what kind of system you have and guess what they haven't been filled in

ten · 24 Jul 2009

Curiosity killed the cat

If I wanted you to see my system specs don't you think I would have filled them out?

Antman · 24 Jul 2009

ten said:

If I wanted you to see my system specs don't you think I would have filled them out?

I found them.

zigzag3143 · 24 Jul 2009

ten said:

Curiosity killed the cat

If I wanted you to see my system specs don't you think I would have filled them out?

true just looking to see the hard drive specs.

Ken

ten · 24 Jul 2009

If you must know it's a raid 0 array with 2 500 gig 7200 rpm 16mb cache