Solved Confused about defrag

[grits]

One person says "Windows 7 does a fine job of defrag on it's own so don't manually defrag", then someone else says "manually run the defrag in 7", someone else recommends 3rd party defrag.

How does a dummy know which way to turn?

 

[silents429]

Okay, if you leave your computer on windows 7 will auto defrag on its own, but I turn my computer off at night so it never happens. I recommend if you aren't going to use it manually run it. Regardless of how its done, defrag does the same thing even with 3rd party programs. The windows 7 defrag is fine.

 

[grits]

Oh, Thanks, I didn't realize that it makes a difference as to whether PC is left on overnight or turned off, I've done both. So in other words, if I've been turning off for several days or more then it might be a good idea to manually defrag especially after something like running CCleaner?

 

[AddRAM]

Why would you think you would have to do it after running Ccleaner ? It has no bearing on a defrag.

Defraging should be done until it`s virtually instantaneous.

 

[grits]

just seems like I read something referring to defragging after CC.

not sure I understand your 2nd line.

 

[silents429]

Alright, I do ccleaner defrag since i guess it removes junk files, that the defragger doesn't need to defrag.

 

[Layback Bear]

Hi grits.
Ccleaner and defraging are two different things. One has nothing to do with the other.

When you use Ccleaner to remove junk like I and many others that is just what it does nothing more.

When you defrag things are arranged in a proper order on your hard drive. I doesn't remove anything. It just arranges thing so they can be found easier.
Simply put; if things are arrange properly on your hard drive the hard drive inner working don't have to jump all over looking for things. If (A) always come before (B) when you defrag it makes sure (A) and (B) are next to each other on the hard drive.
It is very unlikely that you would ever remove enough junk using Ccleaner to cause the need for a defrag.
Windows 7 for what ever reason doesn't get fragment like older system. I would use the built in Windows 7 defrag to analyze your fragmentation about once a month. You might not need to defrag. 10% or less fragmentation I don't defrag. When I check fragmentation is usually 2 to 3 %.

 

[Britton30]

w7 does have a built-in defragging schedule which you can change to suit your schedule better. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11733-disk-defragmenter-open-use.html

The only other I would recommend or use is Puran Free Defrag. http://www.sevenforums.com/software/60135-puran-defrag-free.html#post542064

 

[AddRAM]

What I mean is... The 1st time you run a defrag it takes a bit, the 2nd time you do it, it takes less time because it`s been defraged, the 3rd time you do it it takes even less time. You want to run it until it`s done in just a few seconds. After that, if you want you can put it on a schedule.

I have always run a defrag manually on hard disk drives.

 

[fuzzychicken]

The only other I would recommend or use is Puran Free Defrag. http://www.sevenforums.com/software/60135-puran-defrag-free.html#post542064

I have been using defraggler for years and pretty much content with its performance. I wonder how Puran is better than say, defraggler?

 

[AddRAM]

There is no point or need in running another defragmenter with Windows 7

 

[Anak]

Au Contraire AddRAM mon ami! here's my story........

I remember a time, I believe it was the win98 days, that when you went to defrag, a request would pop-up now and then asking you to please run CHKDSK first because the 98defragger found problems with the HDD. This usually happened if you didn't defrag regularly.

Okaaay......So I ran the CHKDSK, then the defragger would run and all was good with 98.

Fast forward to win7, I was doing routine maintenance on my machine last week and the windows defragger analyzer said everything was okay, but it doesn't tell you much, so I ran the puran analyzer and there was quite a bit of fragmentation.

I made two passes with puran, one was even a "boot time" but the fragmentation remained, then I thought back to the "good 'ol days" and ran a CHKDSK, then re-ran puran once and that HDD was packed tighter than a New York City subway train on Friday evening rush hour.

The moral of my story is if you're not seeing any improvement with your defragging try running a CHKDSK first.

I also used this for XP: JkDefrag v I just saw there is a newer version for win7 x64 here: JkDefrag v3.36 , and a more direct link here: MyDefrag v4.3.1. I put the JkDefrag v3.36 link up because it has a highlighted explanation at the top.
I'm going to give JK 4.3.1 a try on my next scheduled maintenance.

Also:
http://www.sevenforums.com/software/60135-puran-defrag-free.html#post542064

Comment from member: http://www.sevenforums.com/software/156094-puran-defrag-free-edition-7-3-released.html#post1383951

Puran now up to 01 February 2013 Version 7.6 Minor Fixes and Changes: Puran Defrag - Automatically Defrag your Hard Disk Drives

 

[AddRAM]

I think any 3rd party defragger is gonna tell you your drive is fragmented and needs to be defragged, it`s written into the program so you think you need to use it.

You could run 5 different defrag programs and they will all give you different results.

 

[Britton30]

The only other I would recommend or use is Puran Free Defrag. http://www.sevenforums.com/software/60135-puran-defrag-free.html#post542064

I have been using defraggler for years and pretty much content with its performance. I wonder how Puran is better than say, defraggler?

I used to use Defraggler with 98 and XP. It analyses the drive and puts files back in a contiguous (next to each other) fashion. w7 likes file is a predetermined order to run more efficiently. Defraggler doesn't "know" that whereas Puran does. This is my understanding of it at least. Puran arranges the files in a way similar to the built in w7 defragger.

 

[Layback Bear]

A long time ago I did some research on Windows 7 defragger and found that Microsoft had Diskeeper make the program for them.
Keeping in mind what a defragging does; arranging things on a hard drive so the hard drive and Windows 7 finds them quicker.

To me it matter very little how a 3rd part program want things on the hard drive. What matter to me is Windows 7 defragger put things where Windows 7 wants them.

A little over a year ago I tested 4 or 5 defrag programs on my grandpa computer. All defrag programs disagreed with each other. Some have nicer little jumping squares than the others. Some have different options but their is no way to tell if these options do anything but make little squares change colors and mover around.
So what did I end up with?
1. Using Windows 7 built in defragger
2. A well tested hard drive.

 

[Anak]

I think any 3rd party defragger is gonna tell you your drive is fragmented and needs to be defragged, it`s written into the program so you think you need to use it.

You could run 5 different defrag programs and they will all give you different results.

AddRAM, mon ami. To live is to have choices, your last several replies indicate you have made yours, but life is filled with endless possibilities. Just as the way you handle the maintenance of your machine can be entirely different than how I handle mine.

You seem to have missed the point of my telling:

"The moral of my story is if you're not seeing any improvement with your defragging try running a CHKDSK first".

If you are content with the Windows defragger that is fine and good, but users would like and need to explore alternatives, and we are here to help guide them.

The only other I would recommend or use is Puran Free Defrag. http://www.sevenforums.com/software/60135-puran-defrag-free.html#post542064

I have been using defraggler for years and pretty much content with its performance. I wonder how Puran is better than say, defraggler?

I used to use Defraggler with 98 and XP. It analyses the drive and puts files back in a contiguous (next to each other) fashion. w7 likes file is a predetermined order to run more efficiently. Defraggler doesn't "know" that whereas Puran does. This is my understanding of it at least. Puran arranges the files in a way similar to the built in w7 defragger.

A long time ago I did some research on Windows 7 defragger and found that Microsoft had Diskeeper make the program for them.
Keeping in mind what a defragging does; arranging things on a hard drive so the hard drive and Windows 7 finds them quicker.

To me it matter very little how a 3rd part program want things on the hard drive. What matter to me is Windows 7 defragger put things where Windows 7 wants them.

A little over a year ago I tested 4 or 5 defrag programs on my grandpa computer. All defrag programs disagreed with each other. Some have nicer little jumping squares than the others. Some have different options but their is no way to tell if these options do anything but make little squares change colors and mover around.
So what did I end up with?
1. Using Windows 7 built in defragger
2. A well tested hard drive.

Thank you LaybackBear for jogging my memory, I also remember when Microsoft asked for help in designing a defragger for them.

Britton, I used to use jv16 tools, defraggler, JK, ultradefrag, speed disk, O&O, Disk Keeper, Amigabit Disk Defrag and a host of others but I always seemed to come back to the Windows defrag, JK, jv16. and now Puran.

For the "newbies" out there, don't take that as a testimonial. What you do to your own system is on you, so have proper backup.

Like Layback I'm in testing mode, earlier I downloaded the new JK, ran the defrag, and do not notice any degradation in performance, but time will tell. Life is a bowl of cherries, why stay in the pits?

There are many alternatives out there, and again, what you do to your own system is on you, so have proper backup.


To become complacent, is to become careless.
Anak (1951 - ????)

 

[silents429]

Meh. I think I will just stick with the Windows 7 defragger now. I mean there really is only one way to do it, and if not, from what I read some defraggers reposition things differently so I really would rather windows be in charge of that anyway. Only advantage of a 3rd party one is maybe speed, and boot time defrag.

 

[Britton30]

O & O, there's one I hadn't thought of Steve, I used it with XP but didn't seem to "like" w7.
I actually let the w7 defragger do it automatically my self too although I run Puran occasionally for the boot time defrag.

 

[madcratebuilder]

I think any 3rd party defragger is gonna tell you your drive is fragmented and needs to be defragged, it`s written into the program so you think you need to use it.

You could run 5 different defrag programs and they will all give you different results.

Not Puran, it gives you a detailed report of the scan. It tells you what files are defragmented. Puran Defrag is included in Puran Utilities, great maintenance program.

 

[Creer]

Diskeeper also has a two nice features:

• Run Your PC At Peak Performance 24/7
  Diskeeper 12 includes the Instant Defrag™ engine to instantly eliminate any fragmentation that wasn’t prevented.
  
  With IntelliWrite and Instant Defrag combined, your PC will run at peak performance every minute of every day – no matter how busy your system is. Now you never have to access slow, fragmented files ever again.
  
• Cures and Prevents Performance-Robbing Fragmentation Before it Happens.
  Historically, fragmentation has been addressed after it has already occurred through a defragmentation process. While this provides great performance benefits, clearly the best strategy is to prevent the problem from happening in the first place and always work with clean, fast PC
  
  Diskeeper with IntelliWrite® is the first solution that will prevent up to 85% of the fragmentation that causes PC slows, hangs and crashes. It intelligently writes files all lined up side-by-side so system resources are not wasted by creating fragmentation. The results? Optimum PC speed and reliability.

[FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]And it's called in their therminology as: [/FONT]IntelliWrite® fragmentation prevention technology and Instant Defrag™ technology.


[FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]I use trial version to test how it works and I'm amazed how light and without noticeable slowdowns it run with both instant defrag and IntelliWrite features enabled.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]See printscreen from my system after 2 days usage:[/FONT]