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Technical Help & Discussion => General Tech Discussion, News & Q&A => Topic started by: Kaz on May 31, 2009, 21:52

Title: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Kaz on May 31, 2009, 21:52
I have defraged my pc and after it says defraged successfully, so I do an analysis (straight after defraging) and it says it needs defraging again why is this why isn't it defraging completely?
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Simon on May 31, 2009, 23:14
I'm not one for defragging, but what software are you using to do it, Kaz?
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Reno on June 01, 2009, 03:58
----> Defragmentation Wikipage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defragmentation)

There are some files which are unmoveable while windows is running. These types of files can stand in the way of your computer hard drive being 100% organized. If I were you I wouldn't worry about it.


Defragmentation doesn't do much good these days. Back in the old days when hard drives were relatively small and slow it was necessary to arrange the data in the most efficient way possible. This gives slower machines a small boost in performance. Nowadays though processors aren't measured in hundreds of megahertz, they're measured in thousands of megahertz or... gigahertz. Since computers have all this horse power you won't likely be able to sense a difference when you defrag. What little good defragging does do will not be compounded by consecutive runs of the defrag program. It's like organizing your spice rack. You only need to do it every few years depending on how messy things get.

Most people are trying to get their computers to run a bit quicker when they run windows defrag. Odds are you'll get a larger speed increase by clearing out your cookies and cleaning out old registry keys. Ccleaner does both. It's free and you can get it ------> here (http://www.ccleaner.com/download)
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Rik on June 01, 2009, 09:57
It's quite common to need to do a second pass, Kaz, to 'pick up the bits'. Some software, such as Perfect Disk, will allow a boot-time defrag which will do a more thorough job.
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Kaz on June 01, 2009, 12:01
I'm not one for defragging, but what software are you using to do it, Kaz?

I use Windows own defrag of Tuneup Utilities
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Kaz on June 01, 2009, 12:02
It's quite common to need to do a second pass, Kaz, to 'pick up the bits'. Some software, such as Perfect Disk, will allow a boot-time defrag which will do a more thorough job.
Do you use this Rik?
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Rik on June 01, 2009, 12:37
I do, Kaz, and rate it very highly.
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Kaz on June 01, 2009, 12:55
I do, Kaz, and rate it very highly.
I will try it then, where can I get it from please?
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Rik on June 01, 2009, 15:32
http://www.perfectdisk.com/

Unfortunately, a 25% off offer ended yesterday.
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Kaz on June 01, 2009, 16:34
http://www.perfectdisk.com/

Unfortunately, a 25% off offer ended yesterday.

thanks Rik
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Reno on June 01, 2009, 18:19
 :brickwall:... Have either one of you ever used performance testing software to actually see if your getting a performance change? Don't take my word for it that defragging is a waste of time. Do a system test for yourself. http://download.cnet.com/SiSoftware-Sandra/3000-2086_4-10556571.html

If there is actually a significant change in your hard drive's response time I'll quit my harping and eat my words.
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Kaz on June 01, 2009, 20:10
http://www.perfectdisk.com/

Unfortunately, a 25% off offer ended yesterday.

Have you got any tips on this Rik and can you use it while you are working on your PC?
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Kaz on June 01, 2009, 20:12
:brickwall:... Have either one of you ever used performance testing software to actually see if your getting a performance change? Don't take my word for it that defragging is a waste of time. Do a system test for yourself. http://download.cnet.com/SiSoftware-Sandra/3000-2086_4-10556571.html

If there is actually a significant change in your hard drive's response time I'll quit my harping and eat my words.


Have you use this Reno?
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Simon on June 01, 2009, 21:19
If it's called Sandra, there can't possibly be anything wrong with it.  ;)
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Kaz on June 01, 2009, 21:36
If it's called Sandra, there can't possibly be anything wrong with it.  ;)

Well That sure is right Simon :gogogo: GIRL POWER :gogogo:
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Reno on June 01, 2009, 22:05

Have you use this Reno?

Yes, sisoft sandra is a good little program for testing your computer out. It's mostly used with overclocking your processor, but you can test all sorts of things with it.
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Rik on June 02, 2009, 10:25
Have you got any tips on this Rik and can you use it while you are working on your PC?

No tips, Kaz, it just does the job, and it will work in the background, though that's not a good idea if the foreground task is making a lot of disk writes.

I've defragged since my first PC, and I believe it helps, but each to their own.
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Baz on June 02, 2009, 15:40
I use perfectdisk and it is ok for me. seems quicker than the windows one.

question for you Rik......whats the PDEngine that runs all the time, on mine  anyhow.Is it needed.I only noticed recently when looking at the logs and there were entries for it every day.whats it doing  :dunno:
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Reno on June 02, 2009, 17:19
 :blush: Yeah, I was "debating" the need for defragging a year or two with someone around here. Yes, each to their own.  :thumbs:
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Rik on June 02, 2009, 19:38
question for you Rik......whats the PDEngine that runs all the time, on mine  anyhow.Is it needed.I only noticed recently when looking at the logs and there were entries for it every day.whats it doing  :dunno:

It's the background task for scheduled defrags, Baz.
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Baz on June 03, 2009, 14:46
if I dont have any scheduled do I need it running  :dunno:. would be just another pointless program running for nothing if I leave it
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Rik on June 03, 2009, 19:42
You should be able to disable it via MSConfig with no problems, Baz.
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Kaz on June 10, 2009, 09:47
Hi Rik,
Question for you
I have got PerfectDisk 10 and I put it on when I went away week ago and it was still working when I came back it was on Pause why does it keep pausing?
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Rik on June 10, 2009, 10:43
No idea, Kaz, I've never seen it pause. What else is running on the machine?
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Kaz on June 10, 2009, 11:12
I have not got anything running as far as I know I closed everything down while I was away
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Rik on June 10, 2009, 13:23
How long were you away?
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Kaz on June 10, 2009, 14:10
7 days and I'm still defraging !!!!
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Rik on June 10, 2009, 15:05
That's not right, Kaz, it only usually takes a few minutes on my drives. Is there any more specific message?
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Kaz on June 10, 2009, 17:59
No Rik
it's doing a smartplacement if that helps and now it says it's going to be till tomorrow now est completion 11/6/09 00.17.00
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Rik on June 10, 2009, 18:26
How big is the drive?
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Kaz on June 10, 2009, 19:45
Hi Rik
This is really weired it has just finish  :dunno: and everything is OK fragmented OK results are excellent  :thumbs: but it is still very strange oh well the joys of computing  :crazy:

Drive by the way is 500
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Clive on June 10, 2009, 20:45
I am convinced that Rik has magical powers Kaz.  :laugh: 
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Kaz on June 10, 2009, 21:12
 :)x
Title: Re: Defraging again & again?
Post by: Rik on June 11, 2009, 11:18
I just talk firmly but quietly to the computer, Clive. :)

I can only think that your drive was in a real mess, Kaz, or that it's very full, or you have little free memory.