Is Defragging a Waste of Time?

Keith Wilby;4456499 Wrote:
If you read up on defragging on another NG
(comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage) you'll find that the general
consensus is
that defragging is risky and a waste of time. That sentiment doesn't
appear
to be reflected on here.

Can I invite comments from this group on this please? I'm no PC
"boffin"
and neither am I a numpty but I'd like to know whether or not I should
defrag periodically.

Thanks.

I personally find defragging to be very useful, especially on my 1.5
year old XP pro laptop which has only a 5400 rpm drive. I use Diskeeper
2009 pro on it and a nicely defragged system simply runs
smoother....bootup is quick, files open up without the irritating
pauses, saves are quick, virus scans are fast etc. Even on the more
powerful desktop which I use for gaming and photoediting,
defragmentation helps to load games quickly and smoothly, dealing with
large amounts of tiff files (from the digital camera) is faster, copying
between different drives is quicker etc.

YMMV when it comes to this, depending on system specs, usage etc, but
it sure helps me, and I'll continue to defrag.


--
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On Jun 10, 10:01*am, "Keith Wilby" wrote:
If you read up on defragging on another NG
(comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage) you'll find that the general consensus is
that defragging is risky and a waste of time. *That sentiment doesn't appear
to be reflected on here.

Can I invite comments from this group on this please? *I'm no PC "boffin"
and neither am I a numpty but I'd like to know whether or not I should
defrag periodically.

Thanks.

Bun fight! Bun fight!

These new vocabularies make this all the more worthwhile.

Boffinly yours...

I believe YOU to be the tiny noisy misinformed minority.
Your ' routine' is reckless.
"Gerry" wrote in message
...
Unknown

Your views are noted but they are I strongly suspect the views of a tiny
noisy misinformed minority. Whilst I do have controversial views on some
topics you have not picked on any where I hold a minority viewpoint.

If you want a detailed explanation on any one of the 4 points you take
issue with I would be happy to respond. However, I am not prepared to
respond on all four. I am also not interested in a protracted exchange
which benefits no one.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Unknown wrote:
There are many different thoughts to your 'routine'.
1. Compact OE---No! leave it alone.
2. Run cCleaner----absolutely not----never.
3. To reduce system restore points----Very bad mistake. Save the
restore points. You
may need them to correct the damage done by your cCleaner.
4. Run disc cleanup before defrag.


"Gerry" wrote in message
...
Keith

Defragmenting should not be done in isolation. My routine comprises
compact Outlook Express, run cCleaner, run Disk CleanUp to reduce
System Restore restore points and finally run Disk Defragmenter. The
frequency depends on the extent of files changes. The "you do not
need to defragment message is meaningless" as the fragmented files
are invariably those you use most often. You can take measures to slow
down the impact of fragmentation notably by not letting Windows
manage the pagefile. A contiguous pagefile is desirable but many
users do not ensure this is so. Housekeeping, which includes
defragmentation, is
helpful after a significant system change.

Housekeeping can noticeably help before routine malware scans. The
fewer files to check the shoter the time taken to scan.

The risk factor is red herring. As another has commented the risk is
that there might be a power failure whilst Disk Defragmenter is
running. If that is a worry install an uninteruptible power supply.
I have never lost files from the interuption of Disk Defragmenter.
There are other reasons why files get lost or corrupted. That is why
a backup strategy needs to be in place.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Keith Wilby wrote:
If you read up on defragging on another NG
(comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage) you'll find that the general
consensus is that defragging is risky and a waste of time. That
sentiment doesn't appear to be reflected on here.

Can I invite comments from this group on this please? I'm no PC
"boffin" and neither am I a numpty but I'd like to know whether or
not I should defrag periodically.

Thanks.

....sigh...
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Unknown wrote:
I believe YOU to be the tiny noisy misinformed minority.
Your ' routine' is reckless.
"Gerry" wrote in message
...
Unknown

Your views are noted but they are I strongly suspect the views of a tiny
noisy misinformed minority. Whilst I do have controversial views on some
topics you have not picked on any where I hold a minority viewpoint.

If you want a detailed explanation on any one of the 4 points you take
issue with I would be happy to respond. However, I am not prepared to
respond on all four. I am also not interested in a protracted exchange
which benefits no one.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Unknown wrote:
There are many different thoughts to your 'routine'.
1. Compact OE---No! leave it alone.
2. Run cCleaner----absolutely not----never.
3. To reduce system restore points----Very bad mistake. Save the
restore points. You
may need them to correct the damage done by your cCleaner.
4. Run disc cleanup before defrag.


"Gerry" wrote in message
...
Keith

Defragmenting should not be done in isolation. My routine comprises
compact Outlook Express, run cCleaner, run Disk CleanUp to reduce
System Restore restore points and finally run Disk Defragmenter. The
frequency depends on the extent of files changes. The "you do not
need to defragment message is meaningless" as the fragmented files
are invariably those you use most often. You can take measures to slow
down the impact of fragmentation notably by not letting Windows
manage the pagefile. A contiguous pagefile is desirable but many
users do not ensure this is so. Housekeeping, which includes
defragmentation, is
helpful after a significant system change.

Housekeeping can noticeably help before routine malware scans. The
fewer files to check the shoter the time taken to scan.

The risk factor is red herring. As another has commented the risk is
that there might be a power failure whilst Disk Defragmenter is
running. If that is a worry install an uninteruptible power supply.
I have never lost files from the interuption of Disk Defragmenter.
There are other reasons why files get lost or corrupted. That is why
a backup strategy needs to be in place.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Keith Wilby wrote:
If you read up on defragging on another NG
(comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage) you'll find that the general
consensus is that defragging is risky and a waste of time. That
sentiment doesn't appear to be reflected on here.

Can I invite comments from this group on this please? I'm no PC
"boffin" and neither am I a numpty but I'd like to know whether or
not I should defrag periodically.

Thanks.

"Keith Wilby" wrote in message
...
If you read up on defragging on another NG
(comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage) you'll find that the general consensus
is that defragging is risky and a waste of time. That sentiment doesn't
appear to be reflected on here.

Can I invite comments from this group on this please? I'm no PC "boffin"
and neither am I a numpty but I'd like to know whether or not I should
defrag periodically.

Thanks.

I defrag as the last step in my periodic cleanup routine. Check for
updates - clear browser caches - Disk Cleanup & delete temp files - Clear
documents - Compact OE - empty recycle bin - defrag.

The system always boots and runs faster afterwards. Must be the defrag ;-P

"Unknown" wrote in message
...
There are many different thoughts to your 'routine'.
1. Compact OE---No! leave it alone.

I know that people who save all their email in OE have had bad experiences
with compacting. But I teach my kids to either save the email (File Save
As Folder on the hard disk) or delete it, but don't leave hundreds of
emails in the mail prog.
When you do this you can compact the folders without any problem.

" db" wrote:

all computer configurations
are different.

if your particular machine
seems to gain performance
improvements, then it is not
a waste of time.

the older the machine or
if the machine is newer but
has low resources, you will
be able to see an improvement.
but if your machine is powerful
with lots of cpu power, lots of
hard disk space and lots of ram,
then defragging won't make
any difference.

I was wondering about this. In the late '90s, I was working at a small
business on an IBM PC where it would take minutes for office type
applications to open. Defragging cut it down to normal size. Now,
with an Athlon 64 machine, I defrag (JTDefra) periodically, but
don't notice much difference.

Gene

yeah,

another method to keep
the disk as orderly as possible

is to simply make multiple
partitions.

the fallacy is that having one
giant partition is ok.

but in fact having only one giant
partition provides convenience.

on the other hand smaller partitions
are beneficial because multiple
partitions provide:

improved system performance,

better file management and
data organization and

an assurance against overall
data loss.

for example by storing user data in
an alternate partition instead of the
main system partition,

the os can be reinstalled if it
crashes or attacked by an
infection, without fear of loosing
user data.


--

db·´¯`·...¸)))º
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen




wrote in message ...
" db" wrote:

all computer configurations
are different.

if your particular machine
seems to gain performance
improvements, then it is not
a waste of time.

the older the machine or
if the machine is newer but
has low resources, you will
be able to see an improvement.
but if your machine is powerful
with lots of cpu power, lots of
hard disk space and lots of ram,
then defragging won't make
any difference.

I was wondering about this. In the late '90s, I was working at a small
business on an IBM PC where it would take minutes for office type
applications to open. Defragging cut it down to normal size. Now,
with an Athlon 64 machine, I defrag (JTDefra) periodically, but
don't notice much difference.

Gene

Very intelligent.
"TVeblen" wrote in message
...

"Unknown" wrote in message
...
There are many different thoughts to your 'routine'.
1. Compact OE---No! leave it alone.

I know that people who save all their email in OE have had bad experiences
with compacting. But I teach my kids to either save the email (File Save
As Folder on the hard disk) or delete it, but don't leave hundreds of
emails in the mail prog.
When you do this you can compact the folders without any problem.

Don't merely judge defrag by time saved opening an application.
wrote in message
...
" db" wrote:

all computer configurations
are different.

if your particular machine
seems to gain performance
improvements, then it is not
a waste of time.

the older the machine or
if the machine is newer but
has low resources, you will
be able to see an improvement.
but if your machine is powerful
with lots of cpu power, lots of
hard disk space and lots of ram,
then defragging won't make
any difference.

I was wondering about this. In the late '90s, I was working at a small
business on an IBM PC where it would take minutes for office type
applications to open. Defragging cut it down to normal size. Now,
with an Athlon 64 machine, I defrag (JTDefra) periodically, but
don't notice much difference.

Gene

Very wise! But, what specifically do you mean by Compact OE?
"TVeblen" wrote in message
...

"Keith Wilby" wrote in message
...
If you read up on defragging on another NG
(comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage) you'll find that the general consensus
is that defragging is risky and a waste of time. That sentiment doesn't
appear to be reflected on here.

Can I invite comments from this group on this please? I'm no PC "boffin"
and neither am I a numpty but I'd like to know whether or not I should
defrag periodically.

Thanks.

I defrag as the last step in my periodic cleanup routine. Check for
updates - clear browser caches - Disk Cleanup & delete temp files - Clear
documents - Compact OE - empty recycle bin - defrag.

The system always boots and runs faster afterwards. Must be the defrag ;-P

sigh
"Leonard Grey" wrote in message
...
...sigh...
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Unknown wrote:
I believe YOU to be the tiny noisy misinformed minority.
Your ' routine' is reckless.
"Gerry" wrote in message
...
Unknown

Your views are noted but they are I strongly suspect the views of a tiny
noisy misinformed minority. Whilst I do have controversial views on some
topics you have not picked on any where I hold a minority viewpoint.

If you want a detailed explanation on any one of the 4 points you take
issue with I would be happy to respond. However, I am not prepared to
respond on all four. I am also not interested in a protracted exchange
which benefits no one.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Unknown wrote:
There are many different thoughts to your 'routine'.
1. Compact OE---No! leave it alone.
2. Run cCleaner----absolutely not----never.
3. To reduce system restore points----Very bad mistake. Save the
restore points. You
may need them to correct the damage done by your cCleaner.
4. Run disc cleanup before defrag.


"Gerry" wrote in message
...
Keith

Defragmenting should not be done in isolation. My routine comprises
compact Outlook Express, run cCleaner, run Disk CleanUp to reduce
System Restore restore points and finally run Disk Defragmenter. The
frequency depends on the extent of files changes. The "you do not
need to defragment message is meaningless" as the fragmented files
are invariably those you use most often. You can take measures to slow
down the impact of fragmentation notably by not letting Windows
manage the pagefile. A contiguous pagefile is desirable but many
users do not ensure this is so. Housekeeping, which includes
defragmentation, is
helpful after a significant system change.

Housekeeping can noticeably help before routine malware scans. The
fewer files to check the shoter the time taken to scan.

The risk factor is red herring. As another has commented the risk is
that there might be a power failure whilst Disk Defragmenter is
running. If that is a worry install an uninteruptible power supply.
I have never lost files from the interuption of Disk Defragmenter.
There are other reasons why files get lost or corrupted. That is why
a backup strategy needs to be in place.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Keith Wilby wrote:
If you read up on defragging on another NG
(comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage) you'll find that the general
consensus is that defragging is risky and a waste of time. That
sentiment doesn't appear to be reflected on here.

Can I invite comments from this group on this please? I'm no PC
"boffin" and neither am I a numpty but I'd like to know whether or
not I should defrag periodically.

Thanks.

In article , says...
If you read up on defragging on another NG
(comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage) you'll find that the general consensus is
that defragging is risky and a waste of time. That sentiment doesn't appear
to be reflected on here.


Having worked with MS based computers since the early DOS days, working
with massive server farms....

Defrag, properly done, maintains performance of all Windows based
systems, it can also restore lost performance to systems that have not
been defragged in a long time.

Defrag is only risky of you have flaky hardware or have a OS that
doesn't run in a stable manner.

--
You can't trust your best friends, your five senses, only the little
voice inside you that most civilians don't even hear -- Listen to that.
Trust yourself.
(remove 999 for proper email address)

TVeblen

Unfortunate experiences are easily avoided. You need to follow a strict
routine. Do that and you do not get problems. It's sloppy housekeeping
that leads to grief.

Do not leave messages overlong in the Inbox or Sent Items folder. Move
them to user created folders. You can do this automatically using
Message Rules. Do not interrupt the compacting process once it starts.

In Outlook Express place the cursor on Local Folders and select File,
Work Offline followed by File, Folder, Compact All. Do not attempt to
interrupt or stop the process until it has completed. Close Outlook
Express when it has completed.

Of course backing up mail folders is no less important than backing any
other data files.

I have been using Outlook Express for over 10 years and have never had a
significant loss of mail in that time.

--


Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TVeblen wrote:
"Unknown" wrote in message
...
There are many different thoughts to your 'routine'.
1. Compact OE---No! leave it alone.

I know that people who save all their email in OE have had bad
experiences with compacting. But I teach my kids to either save the
email (File Save As Folder on the hard disk) or delete it, but
don't leave hundreds of emails in the mail prog.
When you do this you can compact the folders without any problem.

Compact the dbx files of OE, which otherwise become quite large. Check out
the insideoe page by Tomsterdam.

Unknown wrote:
Very wise! But, what specifically do you mean by Compact OE?
"TVeblen" wrote in message
...

"Keith Wilby" wrote in message
...
If you read up on defragging on another NG
(comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage) you'll find that the general
consensus
is that defragging is risky and a waste of time. That sentiment doesn't
appear to be reflected on here.

Can I invite comments from this group on this please? I'm no PC
"boffin"
and neither am I a numpty but I'd like to know whether or not I should
defrag periodically.

Thanks.

I defrag as the last step in my periodic cleanup routine. Check for
updates - clear browser caches - Disk Cleanup & delete temp files - Clear
documents - Compact OE - empty recycle bin - defrag.

The system always boots and runs faster afterwards. Must be the defrag
;-P