Defragging....questions?

[Guttboy]

Hi everyone!

Ok this has been bugging me for a long time and I would like your expertise. The IT guys at work give me conflicting advice and searching has proved to be overwhelming.

Here are my questions:

1. When using the defrag in Win XP Pro...can I surf the net and download things or does this screw up the defrag?

2. Is there a free program that does a faster/better job?

3. Do you need to do defrags...especially after deleting a bunch of stuff? -- I have read that defragging does nothing really but I would think that a more "organized HDD" would be better

Regards

:)

[Kursah]

I like to use Diskeeper Defrag or O&O, both do a better job compared to windows' defrag program.

It helps to let the defrag do it's thing and leave the PC alone till it's done, but it doesn't "hurt" anything to be using your PC (i.e. websurfing) while it's defraging, it will probably take longer though.

And after deleting a bunch of stuff, uninstalling big games, etc, you should consider doing a defrag on that drive. Diskeeper does a performance analysis to show you whether you'll have a noticable gain from doing a defrag, it's very quick and efficient. I don't think it's free, but I got my copy for free from my buddy who decided to go with O&O (which I find less efficient than Diskeeper, but everyone has their preferences).

Hope that helps! :toast:

[kwchang007]

Hi everyone!

Ok this has been bugging me for a long time and I would like your expertise. The IT guys at work give me conflicting advice and searching has proved to be overwhelming.

Here are my questions:

1. When using the defrag in Win XP Pro...can I surf the net and download things or does this screw up the defrag?

2. Is there a free program that does a faster/better job?

3. Do you need to do defrags...especially after deleting a bunch of stuff? -- I have read that defragging does nothing really but I would think that a more "organized HDD" would be better

Regards

:)

ehhh defrag xp is ok. and you can do stuff while doing it, it just won't be as effective, and defragging actually does do alot, especially after deleting and stuff (yes that was very precise wording)

[keakar]

short and to the point, internet surfing is fine but will be slower due to the resources used to defrag.

downloading or gaming should never be done during defragging.

the defragging is rearanging and sorting your computer files so if you try to download something it usually interupts or interferes with this process. when this happens there is a chance it can corrupt your computer data that is being transfered as well as the data you are downloading so it will most likely have errors in it.

also due to heavy use of resources, if you try to play a game while defragging it will most likely cause the system to crash during the defrag which may cause the exact same problems as power outages explained below.

if you have a power outage or blown fuse while defragging it can cause errors with windows (this has happened to me personally) that may require reinstalling the OS so avoid defragging in bad weather.

[psyko12]

Auslogics disk defrag does a good job too, and it's free :D

[Mussels]

when defragging, files in use cant be defragged. so if you're browsing the web, your web browser cannot be defragmented.

Its best to just leave it defragging and go away for a few hours, watch a movie or something.

[spud107]

just found this . .
http://www.oo-software.com/en/special/defrag4/

[Tatty_One]

Agree with everyone's comments but suggest against even running explorer and surfing net, yes it can be done but whilst you are doing it you are going to be storing temp internet files and moving data into and out of IE cache etc etc so disk activity whilst I program is trying to defrag that very disk.....you dont want to be moving or changing things whilst defragging as you are preventing some of the processes taking place, I do not even think it will defrag a directory that is in use, certainly not a file in any case and there are probably hundreds of files associated with IE, you should also be closing as many background proggies as possible.

I use iolo System Mechanic 7 free trial from their website, it has defrag as part of the programe, it is supposed to be 30% quicker than XP defrag, just my thoughts.

You can get the free trial here:

http://www.iolo.com/sm/7/std/download.aspx