Defragmentation as scheduled task?

I would like to regularly run defragmentation during night hours.
However, when I program it as a scheduled task, the UI window opens
but - since I don't click "Analyze" nor "Defragment" it does nothing and
sits there waiting for my input. What option or flag do I have to pass
so that it actually starts defragmentation (preferably even if the free
space is less than 15%)?

Michael

Michael Moser wrote:
I would like to regularly run defragmentation during night hours.
However, when I program it as a scheduled task, the UI window opens
but - since I don't click "Analyze" nor "Defragment" it does
nothing and sits there waiting for my input. What option or flag do
I have to pass so that it actually starts defragmentation
(preferably even if the free space is less than 15%)?

Start button -- RUN -- type in:

cmd /k defrag /?

-- Click OK.

That should give you the command line optioons you would want to use when
making your scheduled task.

Probably: defrag c: -f

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

How to Automate Disk Defragmenter Using Task Scheduler Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555098/en-us

---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Michael Moser wrote:
I would like to regularly run defragmentation during night hours.
However, when I program it as a scheduled task, the UI window opens but
- since I don't click "Analyze" nor "Defragment" it does nothing and
sits there waiting for my input. What option or flag do I have to pass
so that it actually starts defragmentation (preferably even if the free
space is less than 15%)?

Michael

You can run a batch file or script with the commands:

-go.bat-
start /WAIT %windir%/system32/defrag C: /f
start /WAIT %windir%/system32/defrag D: /f
echo off
echo "defrag done"
pause
--cut here--




System Defrag

Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Defragmenter

Restore Defrag.exe (Line 280)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Add a Scheduled Task:

Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Scheduled Tasks/Add Scheduled Task.
If Defrag is not listed, use Browse: C:\Windows\System32\defrag.exe...

Defrag All Hard Drives as a Scheduled Task (Line 20)
http://www.dougknox.com/utility/scri...defrag_all.htm

Add Defrag to the Context Menu (Right Click) - Line 43
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

There is a command line version that will accept parameters
defrag /f D: (force a defrag of D: drive)

Automating Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q253/5/97.asp


--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

SupportSpace
www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

"Michael Moser" wrote in message
...
I would like to regularly run defragmentation during night hours. However,
when I program it as a scheduled task, the UI window opens but - since I
don't click "Analyze" nor "Defragment" it does nothing and sits there
waiting for my input. What option or flag do I have to pass so that it
actually starts defragmentation (preferably even if the free space is less
than 15%)?

Michael

Michael Moser wrote:
I would like to regularly run defragmentation during night hours.

I would recommend getting JKDefrag. It has a command line version which
is ideal for running as a scheduled task.

The Windows XP built-in defragmenter defragments just the files; you end
up with defragmented files (they are individually contiguous on disk)
but they are spattered all over your disk.

JKDefrag (which is free, and nothing to do with me) defragments the
files, but also moves them as close as possible to location 0, which is
the fastest part of the disk.

After I'd run JKDefrag I though my applications were hanging when I
launched them, until I realised that the disk accesses involved were
almost silent because the files were all clustered together (no pun
intended).

--
Steve Swift
http://www.swiftys.org.uk/swifty.html
http://www.ringers.org.uk

Michael Moser wrote:
I would like to regularly run defragmentation during night hours.

I would recommend getting JKDefrag. It has a command line version
which is ideal for running as a scheduled task.

The Windows XP built-in defragmenter defragments just the files; you
end up with defragmented files (they are individually contiguous on
disk) but they are spattered all over your disk.

JKDefrag (which is free, and nothing to do with me) defragments the
files, but also moves them as close as possible to location 0, which
is the fastest part of the disk.

After I'd run JKDefrag I though my applications were hanging when I
launched them, until I realised that the disk accesses involved were
almost silent because the files were all clustered together (no pun
intended).

But I would recommend using XP's Task Scheduler to simply schedule it to
run with the appropriate flags.

As for "because the files were all clustered together", that simply
creates more need for more defrags than is neccessary. Fragmentation
begins to happen within the first few writes to the disk, where as when
there are spaces between the file sets, the OS can more quickly find a
place to dop a file. Remember, the registry is being read and written
to constantly, so even if you don't create files, fragmentation is going
to start happening.

I never heard of JKDefrag but if it's any good it will have options for
putting things on the beginning, first, mid, last, and the end of the
sector lists. Else it's not much good if it only does what you
describe. In general, IMO, using a 3rd part app to do what XP can do
well natively is just adding more opportunity for problems and
corruption to occur both on disk and in memory and in the registry.
Perhaps you should research the registry and its use a little?

HTH

Swifty wrote:
... JKDefrag ... defragments the
files, but also moves them as close as possible to location 0, ...

Twayne wrote:
I never heard of JKDefrag but if it's any good it will have options for
putting things on the beginning, first, mid, last, and the end of the
sector lists.

By default, JkDefrag maintains a free space of 1% of total disk between zones:
directories (at start of disk), regular files, SpaceHogs

There are many options for optimizing, compacting, size of free space,
sorting, forcing all to start or end of disk, etc.
http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/

DISKEEPER IS THE BEST

"a_nonymous" wrote in message
...
Swifty wrote:
... JKDefrag ... defragments the
files, but also moves them as close as possible to location 0, ...

Twayne wrote:
I never heard of JKDefrag but if it's any good it will have options for
putting things on the beginning, first, mid, last, and the end of the
sector lists.

By default, JkDefrag maintains a free space of 1% of total disk between
zones:
directories (at start of disk), regular files, SpaceHogs

There are many options for optimizing, compacting, size of free space,
sorting, forcing all to start or end of disk, etc.
http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/

No, it isn't. Go do your shouting somewhwere else; preferable outdoors.

DISKEEPER IS THE BEST

"a_nonymous" wrote in message
...
Swifty wrote:
... JKDefrag ... defragments the
files, but also moves them as close as possible to location 0, ...

Twayne wrote:
I never heard of JKDefrag but if it's any good it will have options
for putting things on the beginning, first, mid, last, and the end
of the sector lists.

By default, JkDefrag maintains a free space of 1% of total disk
between zones:
directories (at start of disk), regular files, SpaceHogs

There are many options for optimizing, compacting, size of free
space, sorting, forcing all to start or end of disk, etc.
http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/

well I hate to diagree. And y do you say its not.

"Twayne" wrote in message
...
No, it isn't. Go do your shouting somewhwere else; preferable outdoors.

DISKEEPER IS THE BEST

"a_nonymous" wrote in message
...
Swifty wrote:
... JKDefrag ... defragments the
files, but also moves them as close as possible to location 0, ...

Twayne wrote:
I never heard of JKDefrag but if it's any good it will have options
for putting things on the beginning, first, mid, last, and the end
of the sector lists.

By default, JkDefrag maintains a free space of 1% of total disk
between zones:
directories (at start of disk), regular files, SpaceHogs

There are many options for optimizing, compacting, size of free
space, sorting, forcing all to start or end of disk, etc.
http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/

snipped

THE LORD wrote:
DISKEEPER IS THE BEST

Twayne wrote:
No, it isn't. Go do your shouting somewhwere else; preferable
outdoors.

THE LORD wrote:
well I hate to diagree. And y do you say its not.

Actually - given you claim it is 'the best', and you claimed that first in
this conversation - the need for you to explain your claim would come first.

Admittedly - in Windows XP itself is a cut-down version of Diskeeper.
However - in as many years as I have done this - although I recommend
defragmentation as a means of upkeep - I have found none that do their job
so much better than the rest as to encourage a purchase of a program to do
it.

JKDefrag is actually the first defragmentation product I decided to
recommend above just using the built-in functionality. Not because it does
such a spectacular job above and beyond that of the innate defragmentation
utility, but almost entirely because of its screensaver and price (free.)
;-)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html