Posted: 11/15/2007 4:11:34 PM EDT
| Is defragging your hard drive really necessary? Does it make a difference? How regularly should it be done? |
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eeek. when using xp i defraged my harddrive once every 8 months or so. now that i run vista it automatically degrags the first of every month. i've not noticed much of a difference either way what i can tell you don't defrag your computer EVERY week if you don't install or remove programs your just wasting your time |
| I've seen programs fail to load because the drive was too fragmented. There are better programs available than the Windows built-in defragger. Here's a good write-up on the available programs (very long, you can just skip to the Winner link at the bottom of the first page if you want). |
In all of my years working on computers I have yet to see a program fail to load because of being fragmented. The data still gets read, just takes longer. -d |
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I have seen programs fail to install because of drive fragmentation, it is rare but happens. The most serious thing I have seen because of fragmentation was a system get hosed doing a service pack install… it is best practice to defrag before service pack installs and a must if you upgrade a Windows OS. Other than that once a few months will do UNLESS you are moving large files or large numbers of files on a routine basis then more frequent defragging is needed. |
Yea it can become fragmented but if you are not instaling and removing programs or cerating and moving large files or lots of files fragmentation occurs very slowly. If all you are doing on a computer is surfing the internet and doing the bills and a few letters you do not need to defrag more than a few times a year. |
The difference between what you said and what he said was cerating(sic) or moving large files or lots of files, your statement is more valid than his, as he neglects to mention any sort of data. |
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I'd just download the trial version of Diskeeper, run several full defrags, uninstall it and then forget about it for a while! It takes a long time for a 'normal' PC (e-mails, internet, word docs) to get defragmented enough to worry about it. ETA You'll also see how defragmented it was (or wasn't) in the first place. |
I just downloaded a FREEware disk defragger called Auslogic Disk Defrag. Yes, FREE and not a "15 day I'll expire on your ass if you don't pay up" version. It's on my 2 systems and have had no issues. In my experience defragging about 2 or 3 times a week is good practice in keeping a system running well. The old school thought of defragging before installing a program is still sound and solid. Just some things I've learned along the way.  Misc |