Is Defragmentation Software Recommended?

Other than Windows defragmentation utility, is separate defragmentation software recommended?

For example, I have the latest edition of Perfect Disk. A friend of mine said to me recently that it "probes and probes, which may slow down the system."

Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks again.

 

Not sure about PD but I have Puran Defrag and without any predefined scheduling there are no processes running in the background. I noticed my boot time is much faster after using the boot defrag a few times. I have Vista.

 

Thanks acr1965.

 

My opinion is that defragmentation is really useful for big enterprise networks and virtual machines. Not for the home users.

Sincerely it happened to me to notice lower disc performance after using various defragmentation tools on Vista and Windows 7. Sometimes it happened the opposite. I didn't manage to understand why.

My experience:
Boot disks: Do a defragmentation after the installation of the OS and then consolidate free space. Then avoid future defragmentations and let the OS "mature" after you have installed all your applications. Use a second HD for storage and avoid altering the contents of the boot disc. Make necessary settings so temp, applications' profiles etc do not get stored on the boot disc. Let the OS do the scheduled defragmentations.
Storage disc: Here you are free to act like you want. Remember though to also consolidate the free space some times.

This way I have obtained better performance than using regularly a defragmentation software. Also note that selecting the defragmentation method that fits best your system and the way you use it, is not the easiest thing in the world.

 

I've been using PD for a few years, and if anything using it makes the system respond a little crisper. I don't do schedule defrags, but do an analyze every 2 months or so to look at the results.

 

Its imperrative for a gamer like me to frequently defrag and also do a boot 1

I do notice a grand difference between highly fragmented and a defragmented system performence wise ingame.

As for a plain user (not gaming) id say a 3d party defragger is pure luxury, so not that highly needed.

 

Puran Defrag is excellent, for free it has everything including boot time defrag which defrags system files, page file, MFT and registry hive. This program made me switch from PD which I have been using since version 4x so you can imagine how much it impressed me.

 

I use O&O professional.

 

I agree with NoIos that said defrag was useful for big enterprise networks and virtual machines although at home I keep all my disks defragmented also. I've various versions of PD for what I'm running, the Raxco product line is extensive.

Being a bit lazy I've not updated my main machine, still running PD2008 for VMWare - takes care of both vm and host.

 

Thanks again for your responses. I'm going to install the latest version of PerfectDisk and see if it makes any difference.

 

Try also JkDefrag; I can't say about MyDefrag because I've not yet tried it.

 

MyDefrag is IMO, better than JkDefrag, simply because it reflects Mr Kessels latest (and most debugged) ideas on defragging. Since MyDefrag uses the Windows defrag API (as did JkDefrag), compatibility with Windows has never been a concern for me. Plus MyDefrag now comes with a basic GUI that JkDefrag never had. Just makes usage sooo much easier.

Is defragmentation needed? I think so. But I admit that I question how much good it really does unless a drive is horribly fragmented.

 

I manually defrag with the windows 7 defrag once a week, just prior to doing a full backup with macrium reflect. Reason is that I also do daily incremental backups, so if the drive is defragged between times, then the file size is much greater.

Used to use diskeeper for their on the fly defraging and I liked them, but I wasnt so particular about backing up until I had a bad experience. One time only will do it

 

Using DK2010 Pro now; auto defrag and fragmentation prevention features rock!

 

Hope this thread will be helpful also for the OP:
https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=254884

 

Thanks again to all you all. I'm doing a Trial of PerfectDisk 11.

 

The OS self maintains quite well.
I've been a very longtime hard hard hardcore gamer, but since WinXP came out..and esp with newer OS's...the OS maintains itself quite well, to the point I notice no difference if I run a defrag. And my aging rig is still one of the faster ones to bootup, or load a level, or change levels....when I'm at a LAN or playing online.

If you install and uninstall a TON of software, delete lots of files...defragging can help put the drive back in order a little quicker (self maintenance would get to it anyways eventually).

 

Yes, I would recommend defragging, it serves a useful purpose but it's not a magic bullet.

I use PerfectDisk 11. It shouldn't do any "probing" unless you have an AutoPilot schedule set.

I used to use UltimateDefrag 1.72 Free but it quit working right for me on Vista for some strange reason. Before buying PerfectDisk, I'd try out UltimateDefrag 1.72, it's a lot more powerful.

 

From Disk Defragmentation – Background and Engineering the Windows 7 Improvements:

 

Since installing FD-ISR, I do not defrag. It is more than 2 years since I have run a defrag.

 

Oh well, performance improved a lot here after disabling the automatic scheduler of Win7 native defragger, and using MyDefrag daily scripts instead.

And PerfectDisk v11 looks pretty hot (geeky POV)

 

I am not sure it really helps, except in certain instances of very large data files accessed all day in a business. That said.

I mostly defrag either right after removing a program or just before installing one. I just feel if I defrag before installing a new program it is more than likely to be put on the disc closer together during the initial install.

Out side of that I defrag occasionally but do not make it a regular routine.

 

Now I'm curious Pete

Lol, OK Pete, which one? I ask b/c I purchased PD 7 back then and it's been good to me. I know it is slim and trim, nothing I don't need (like bloat,which is why I never upgraded Acronis TI) but am I missing something in the newer versions that would really benefit me and my system?

Lar

Oh heck, I forgot why I came here in the first place! If there's a better thread for this would you let me know or move this one?
PD stopped seeing my drives. I'm sure it is something I did after all these years with it. Read PD Help doc, nothing. Googled, nada. Must be a way to have PD find them. Reinstall? Thanks.
I want to ask you guys

ps. Pete, thanks for pointing me at Shadow Protect. Wow!

 

Re: Now I'm curious Pete

I heartily recommend Puran, for a freebie it packs the maximum punch and has all the features of paid ones like registry, pagefile and system file offline defrag, its PIOZR tech works out good and makes a good difference to file access times.