Defragging unmovable files

[Paxan_1]

Hi,

 

a little question about that. For defrag my computer i use that one from Windows 7. If i have a look on the statistics my disks are really good sorted. The setting for autodefrag is one time a week.

 

So i don't really see the point of using another one... I always try to avoid installing to much of these "system" tools.

 

The only file that is unmoveable (which i know) is the Pagefile. But for this reason i have set it to 6GB on a different harddrive.

 

Do i missed something important?

[ell46]

I'm using WinXP, so I don't think I have that option I can't even remember where the windows defrag option is, as I have smart defrag which keeps things tidy when the PC is idle and I just check it now and again depending on what I've been doing.

 

I did download Puran Defrag and now I only have 1 MFT section and all the immovable sections are neatly together not scattered all over the disc, with files in between them. It's been a couple of days since I did it and everything is running smoothly, plus sorting out the rubbish in start up my desktop loads instantly, that used to be such a drag sitting here waiting not being able to do anything.

[LHammonds]

I forgot to mention this, but as part of a standard setup, I always go into advanced settings and configure the page file from automatic to manual and set the minimum and maximum sizes to the same size. This prevents the page file from growing and contracting...causing even more fragmentation on the drive.

 

I also configure my drive into at least 3 partitions:

 

C: --> My Operating System

D: --> Applications/Games, swap file, temp folder

E: --> Data drive

 

I configure my OS setting so that nothing writes to C: drive. Once defragged, it stays that way.

Applications and games usually do not change much so once D: is defragged, it usually performs well for a very long time.

 

a little question about that. For defrag my computer i use that one from Windows 7. If i have a look on the statistics my disks are really good sorted. The setting for autodefrag is one time a week.

 

So i don't really see the point of using another one... I always try to avoid installing to much of these "system" tools.

Depends on what you are looking for. A person who knows how to configure and tweak their operating system can do well with the tools that come with the OS.

 

However, there are times when you just need more.

 

Just look at the features on the Puran page to see if you want or need any of them.

 

Examples:

- Low priority defrag which allows you to still use your PC while it defrags in the background. If you are like me, you don't leave your PC running all the time so those schedules that are set for 3am in the morning usually get skipped or I cancel them if the start up while I'm using the computer because they soak up so much performance.

 

- Boot-time defrag which can defrag areas that Windows can't do by itself such as the MFT.

 

- Exclusions...if you are running a database on your PC, you had better not defrag the database files while it is running!

 

- Boot optimization...make the boot process faster.

 

- Application optimization...organize the frequently-used program executables on the hard disk so they load the fastest as possible. NOTE: This only applies to mechanical hard drives...not Solid State Drives (SSD)

 

LHammonds

[ell46]

I tried the partition set up once a long time ago and can't remember the details, but what ever it was that happened I didn't go that route again.

 

My last set up was mirrored and that was a huge disaster, if it wasn't for my 3rd HD which was my back up drive I would have lost everything, so I didn't do that again.

 

My present set up is stripped which I understand, but I really didn't want, needless to say I was pressured into going that route and now I'm coming up for having a new computer built, this stripped set up is causing a few problems, so with the next build I am having it my way.

[LHammonds]

The drive layout I mentioned was only at the logical drive level. I guess I should explain a bit further.

 

Since the OS and the installed applications need each other to function, having them on different "physical" drives won't do anything good for you except cause problems if one of the drives fail. Best to keep both on the same physical drive.

 

I typically have at least 2 physical drives in my system.

 

Drive #1

- C: (OS)

- D: (Apps/Games)

- E: (Data)

 

Drive #2

- F: (Data Backup)

 

I use a program called SyncBack which keeps data replicated and in sync for the source (E:) and destination (F:). I also use the same program to sync this data to external drives (usually two...one onsite and the other offsite @ work).

 

Once I go 100% SSD drives, most of this setup and performance tuning will go out the window except for the separation of the data I want backed up and a job that automates the backup to other devices.

 

LHammonds

[Paxan_1]

 

Depends on what you are looking for. A person who knows how to configure and tweak their operating system can do well with the tools that come with the OS.

 

However, there are times when you just need more.

 

Just look at the features on the Puran page to see if you want or need any of them.

 

Examples:

- Low priority defrag which allows you to still use your PC while it defrags in the background. If you are like me, you don't leave your PC running all the time so those schedules that are set for 3am in the morning usually get skipped or I cancel them if the start up while I'm using the computer because they soak up so much performance.

 

- Boot-time defrag which can defrag areas that Windows can't do by itself such as the MFT.

 

- Exclusions...if you are running a database on your PC, you had better not defrag the database files while it is running!

 

- Boot optimization...make the boot process faster.

 

- Application optimization...organize the frequently-used program executables on the hard disk so they load the fastest as possible. NOTE: This only applies to mechanical hard drives...not Solid State Drives (SSD)

 

LHammonds

 

Hi LHammonds

thanks for the answer.

 

I had a look at the puran defrag and let it do an analyse of my harddrives. I had a defrag level of around 10%, on my system drive a little more. So i have given it a try and let Puran do a defragmentation of my system drive. It has done a little, but i think its the same like the windows one. On my Data-drive it was less than 2%.

 

The part of defrag ond optimization of the boot process and the Application optimization sounds interesting. But to be honest, i don't really think that there will be a significant increase of loading. At the moment i'm using a Raptor as system drive.

Because of i have installed it i will give it a try.

 

@ell46,

Same for me with the backup stuff. I have 4 Harddrives in my computer for different things.

C: -> System with Windows, Office and system tools.

D: -> Games / Apps (the ones i don't need that often like Office)

E: -> my personal stuff

F: -> Data

 

I try to avoid multiple partitions.

 

I'm happy with that because if i have a problem i can easily take out the one i need and connect it to another pc.

 

Paxan

[ell46]

Paxan1 that is exactly what I've done in the past and my 3rd drive usually ends up being the old one. I do a lot of work on the PC and the thought of loosing all my files, is unthinkable.

 

After the near disaster with the mirrored drives, I bought Acronis and an external HD and cloned my working HD on to that, but I think with my next PC if I have to go the Win7 route I won't be able to use it copy everything on to the new set up :sad: but I haven't actually looked into that at the moment, it could be they have changed something to make it possible, at least if the worst came to the worst as it did 2 years ago, until I get this new PC it's there and it's safe and I can be up and running in hours not days.

[evilneko]

I configure my OS setting so that nothing writes to C: drive. Once defragged, it stays that way.

Applications and games usually do not change much so once D: is defragged, it usually performs well for a very long time.

 

There's a lot more going on on the C drive than you think, even if you redirect all the environment variables to other partitions.

 

Personally though I don't worry too much about defrag. The performance gain, if any, is pretty much infinitesimal.

[LHammonds]

I bought Acronis and an external HD and cloned my working HD on to that, but I think with my next PC if I have to go the Win7 route I won't be able to use it copy everything on to the new set up :sad:

You might want to take a look at DriveImage XML. :thumbsup: It can can be configured to run in the background and keep your backup image updated (even with Windows running). Then create a BartPE boot CD and include DriveImage XML on it and you will have a way to boot your system and restore your drive onto a new drive should the current one fail. :biggrin:

 

 

There's a lot more going on on the C drive than you think, even if you redirect all the environment variables to other partitions.

 

Personally though I don't worry too much about defrag. The performance gain, if any, is pretty much infinitesimal.

Regardless of what little is written to the C: drive for logs, registry and app config data, the junk that loads when you boot the system does not get fragmented after the initial defrag and I never have a problem with C: drive "growing" larger over time. Windows and other OS's don't like their root drive getting full and I have never needed to worry about that with my PCs or servers using this setup.

 

Performance is one aspect to defragging, wear-n-tear is the other factor for keep your drives in shape. The less they have to work, the longer they will last.

 

LHammonds

[evilneko]

Such as the wear and tear caused by the defragging itself? :teehee: