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Gear / Technical Help => Post-Processing, Computer / Streaming / Internet Devices & Related Activity => Topic started by: dave on February 09, 2004, 01:16:20 PM

Title: defragmenting your computer
Post by: dave on February 09, 2004, 01:16:20 PM
hi, if i download a lot of shows and videos and delete them, how often should i defragment my computer? and if i have not defragmented my computer, could this be the reason why my os needs to be reinstalled? thanks,
 dave
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: nickgregory on February 09, 2004, 01:18:50 PM
I had a hard drive fail on me about a year ago...according to Western Digital it looked like it had gotten extremely hot and malfunctioned.  Since then, I have added fans to my case, and they also told me that defragging very regularly when you add/delete lots of files helps, because then the hard drive is more efficient when it searches for data.

I have mine set to auto defrag, once a week in the middle of the night...
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: mirth on February 09, 2004, 01:20:09 PM
No to your second question. #1 is purely up to you & your tolerance for waiting for your drive(s) to seek for all the portions of files.

If you're regularly adding & deleting large files, say multiple times/week, then weekly should be sufficient.
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: jpschust on February 09, 2004, 01:24:45 PM
jsut set a regular defrag to like 4 am once or twice a week- you dont have to be there for it to do its job
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: dave on February 09, 2004, 02:22:05 PM
ok, thanks everyone. i would +t if i could.  :)
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: mirth on February 09, 2004, 02:51:26 PM
4 more posts & you can!
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: seethreepo on February 09, 2004, 03:07:48 PM
I have heard  on a computer show & elsewhere   to defrag anything above a 10% fragmented drive.  
YMMV
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: mirth on February 09, 2004, 03:08:57 PM
Defrag even when Windows says its not necessary.
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: kkaye on February 09, 2004, 08:14:25 PM
I have win ME, and when I try to defrag it takes forever.

I tried using safe mode, and it made a HUGE difference,
finished in half the time
are you supposed to do it in safe mode?
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: BobW on February 09, 2004, 09:28:55 PM
Norton's SpeedDisk is a bit better, and cheap if you buy "last year's model" of Norton Utilities from software discounters
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: mirth on February 10, 2004, 12:06:16 AM
I have win ME, and when I try to defrag it takes forever.

I tried using safe mode, and it made a HUGE difference,
finished in half the time
are you supposed to do it in safe mode?

Supposed to? No. Defragging while in safe mode allows for almost the entire windows swapfile to get defragmented as well in addition to all the little apps that run down in the systray. Neither can be defragmented while in normal mode because they're in use.
Having your swapfile defragged can mean a huge performace boost depending on how large it typically is & how fragged it was to begin with.

+T for finding the secret.
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: F.O.Bean on February 10, 2004, 06:21:59 AM
i also have the norton utilities one from systemworks 2004, and i must say, it is DA BOMB 8)
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: zowie on February 10, 2004, 12:59:08 PM
My unverified feeling is that defragging more than necessary puts unnecessary wear and stress on the drive from the defragging process.
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: timP on February 10, 2004, 07:23:23 PM
wellll, I  have had my compuer for  to long  now, and when I looked at de fragin' it, damn! it seems it is almost all fragmented files...
this will take forever right?
should I prolly just let it go all night?
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: mirth on February 10, 2004, 11:32:39 PM
yes
Title: Re: defragmenting your computer
Post by: Swampy on December 01, 2004, 06:54:34 PM
I know this thread is old, but can anyone tell me how I can set my computer to autodefrag regularly? Thanks.
Title: Re: defragmenting your computer
Post by: F.O.Bean on December 01, 2004, 08:33:12 PM
i think that involves a 3rd party program, ie not windows, because i used to have norton systemworks alex, and i could easily set the time/date of the defrag, but i just took a look at windows normal one and i saw nowhere to set a time/date
Title: Re: defragmenting your computer
Post by: caymanreview on December 01, 2004, 08:45:40 PM
anyone know what software to get to get the uato defrag?? i def need that so i can set it, and forget it!
Title: Re: defragmenting your computer
Post by: F.O.Bean on December 01, 2004, 08:53:58 PM
i bought a copy of system works last november, and my comp kept screwing up, needless to say, i loaded systemworks onto my comp too many times and it said, session over, youve used it too many times, call a rep, well, theyre reps suck and havent helped out yet

so if you can find a password or keygen for systemworks 2004 NOT pro 2004 i will send ya the disc w/ info dustin

i desperately need systemworks back, it was sooo nice, but itdoes weigh your comp down :P
Title: Re: defragmenting your computer
Post by: caymanreview on December 01, 2004, 08:56:14 PM
lemme see what i can dig up. maybe i can help you out on a serial for it
Title: Re: defragmenting your computer
Post by: caymanreview on December 01, 2004, 08:57:56 PM
the only thing i could turn up at the usual BT sires was the spanish version :(

you happen to need a clean full norton antivirus 2005?
Title: Re: defragmenting your computer
Post by: F.O.Bean on December 01, 2004, 09:16:11 PM
yep :)
Title: Re: defragmenting your computer
Post by: caymanreview on December 01, 2004, 09:54:25 PM
jump on aim beaner
Title: Re: defragmenting your computer
Post by: Brian Skalinder on December 02, 2004, 12:50:46 AM
I know this thread is old, but can anyone tell me how I can set my computer to autodefrag regularly? Thanks.

What OS / version?
Title: Re: defragmenting your computer
Post by: Swampy on December 02, 2004, 01:04:48 AM
xp
Title: Re: defragmenting your computer
Post by: Brian Skalinder on December 02, 2004, 01:43:02 AM
No need for 3rd party apps, WinXP has a command line defrag utility included.  Assuming you performed a standard install of WinXP, confirm you have a file called DEFRAG.EXE in your C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 directory.  If you don't, we'll need to edit the BAT file, but DEFRAG.EXE *should* exist in the directory noted above.

So...

[1] Save the attached file (DEFRAGME.BAT.TXT) to a directory.  For the sake of example, save to the C:\WINDOWS directory.
[2] Rename the file from DEFRAGME.BAT.TXT to DEFRAGME.BAT

Then, add the BAT file to your Scheduled Tasks:

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Scheduled Tasks | Add Scheduled Task

Following the Scheduled Task Wizard:

[1] Next
[2] Click the program you want Windows to run.  Browse to C:\WINDOWS and select DEFRAGME.BAT
[3] Set the top-level recurrence:  daily, weekly, etc.
[4] Set the detail-leve recurrence:  Time, day-of-week, etc.
[5] Enter Username and Password you use to log on to the PC
[6] Finish

P.S.  If you want to defrag a drive other than the C: drive, just edit the BAT file accordingly.  PM/IM me if you need help.  :)
Title: Re: defragmenting your computer
Post by: caymanreview on December 02, 2004, 12:18:46 PM
nice brian, il try that later. big ole +T
Title: Re: defragmenting your computer
Post by: BJ on December 03, 2004, 07:13:26 PM
+t for that one!  thanx  man life just got easier on me
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: todd e on December 04, 2004, 01:51:36 PM
I have win ME, and when I try to defrag it takes forever.
 
I tried using safe mode, and it made a HUGE difference,
finished in half the time
are you supposed to do it in safe mode?

i've been told (b/c I was in the same boat) that it is unneccesary for ME, and it won't actually really do anything unless you either use safe mode or disable the virus protection.  plus it only gives you a few megs back of possibly lost space, i know it 'reorganizes' but i am just passing along what a Dell techie said.
Title: Re:defragmenting your computer
Post by: nic on December 04, 2004, 08:19:54 PM
I have win ME, and when I try to defrag it takes forever.
 
I tried using safe mode, and it made a HUGE difference,
finished in half the time
are you supposed to do it in safe mode?

i've been told (b/c I was in the same boat) that it is unneccesary for ME, and it won't actually really do anything unless you either use safe mode or disable the virus protection.  plus it only gives you a few megs back of possibly lost space, i know it 'reorganizes' but i am just passing along what a Dell techie said.

that Dell techie was a worthless POS   :)