How to defrag a HDD properly

[RejZoR]

Just the same as any other. This is not a graphical representation of a single platter anyway...

 

[Mussels]

I wonder how would this piece of software display my triple-platter drives.

yeah it doesnt really show the platters of each drive - the point is that even on a quad platter drive, it still uses the outer rings first (it doesnt fill one platter and move to the next) so its accurate still.

 

[pr0n Inspector]

yeah it doesnt really show the platters of each drive - the point is that even on a quad platter drive, it still uses the outer rings first (it doesnt fill one platter and move to the next) so its accurate still.

So you are saying you know for a fact that all drives operate "stack by stack"?

 

[Mussels]

So you are saying you know for a fact that all drives operate "stack by stack"?

yes. otherwise it would go fast -> slow -> fast -> slow in benchmarks like HDtach and HDtune, when its a linear decrease.

it does one sector on platter one, then a sector on platter 2, and so on. they all spin in sync at the same time (they do not spin independently, and the arms move as one) so it pretty much has to be that way.

 

[pr0n Inspector]

yes. otherwise it would go fast -> slow -> fast -> slow in benchmarks like HDtach and HDtune, when its a linear decrease.

it does one sector on platter one, then a sector on platter 2, and so on. they all spin in sync at the same time (they do not spin independently, and the arms move as one) so it pretty much has to be that way.

Except it's next to impossible to align the heads so precisely that they are always on the same track, especially not on today's high density platters. AND, benchmark tools always show a zip zag pattern that clearly indicates the head on a particular platter remains active for some time before switching to the next.

 

[Mussels]

Except it's next to impossible to align the heads so precisely that they are always on the same track, especially not on today's high density platters. AND, benchmark tools always show a zip zag pattern that clearly indicates the head on a particular platter remains active for some time before switching to the next.

i never said they were lined up perfectly and accessed simultaneously - i'm just sayin that they're working in tandem, not independantly. so yes, they're definitely worrking from the outside in, at the same time and not filling the drive up one platter at a time.

 

[RejZoR]

Except it's next to impossible to align the heads so precisely that they are always on the same track, especially not on today's high density platters. AND, benchmark tools always show a zip zag pattern that clearly indicates the head on a particular platter remains active for some time before switching to the next.

Zig zag pattern happens because of the seeking. 15ms delay between each seek (depending on distance) and not fully linear read and you get that zig zag patter.
Ever wonder why SSD drives usually have very straight line, usually perfectly horizontal with minimal deviations? Because their seek time is usually below 0.5ms, reading is not bound to physical rotation of the platters etc.

 

[freaksavior]

Thanks mussels. Any idea how long 2.7 tb will take?

 

[NdMk2o1o]

Why is the free trial (ie the latest version) labelled 2008

 

[erocker]

I use the defrag in Windows. Always have and do it about once a month. I've never experienced loss in performance or otherwise. Even works with RAID. That's how I properly do it.

 

[AsRock]

Why is the free trial (ie the latest version) labelled 2008

Because doing a new version just taking a little time though.
http://www.disktrix.com/DT_News.htm

 

[garyinhere]

I use auslogic defrag... i'm very OCD so i'm gonna give this one a try!

 

[F1reFly]

SSD ftw. yay no defrags

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

I'd recommend sticking with the windows 7 default program until the updated version comes out. Here's a link for command line options for better control http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/new-defrag-cmd-line-parameters-windows-7/

Good blog post for understanding defrag in windows 7 http://blogs.msdn.com/b/e7/archive/...d-engineering-the-windows-7-improvements.aspx

 

[pr0n Inspector]

Zig zag pattern happens because of the seeking. 15ms delay between each seek (depending on distance) and not fully linear read and you get that zig zag patter.
Ever wonder why SSD drives usually have very straight line, usually perfectly horizontal with minimal deviations? Because their seek time is usually below 0.5ms, reading is not bound to physical rotation of the platters etc.

We are talking about throughput benchmarks here.
Since heads are not aligned perfectly nor is the arm bearing completely without play, heads aren't always on the same track. if the heads are only moving say one track before going to the next platter, the heads never really seeks but merely "vibrates" locally(and moves linearly on a larger scale) due to the extremely small difference of head positions.
However if the heads are moving 1000 tracks before going to the next platter, it could result in a "fast -> slow -> fast -> slow" pattern that is visible even in a very coarse-grained scale like the one in HDtune.

 

[DaveK]

This might take awhile...

I use Defraggler, and while it has options to archive large files like RARs, ISOs and movies, I think it put them on the outside of the drive, as I ran it with that option earlier and well, you can see the where the green is...

 

[RejZoR]

I just have Vista defrag scheduled and it does it's job just fine. Using Defraggler on netbook with WinXP...

 

[pr0n Inspector]

New features in UltimateDefrag Version 3

7. Ability to defrag external USB drives including flash drives.

This is gold.

 

[AsRock]

This might take awhile...

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y171/davidkinsella/Untitled.jpg?t=1278141239

I use Defraggler, and while it has options to archive large files like RARs, ISOs and movies, I think it put them on the outside of the drive, as I ran it with that option earlier and well, you can see the where the green is...

At a guess the red outa are un movable files and the large red is system restore. You can click the within the circle so it tells you the files that have not been moved. The system restore ones are in brackets with a load of gibberish.

New features in UltimateDefrag Version 3

This is gold.

Just posted that a few posts up . They better hurry up with it already before everyone has SSD's lol.

 

[overclocking101]

I really dig the ultimate defrag, I can move files anywhere I need/want them to be. though I really havent had to yet but Am going to migrate all my files soon.

 

[shevanel]

Thanks for the informative post!

I've started using this method to defrag now but I want to ask, besides games folders what are other windows folders that should be done under performance mode to help with the overall OS experience?

 

[Mussels]

Thanks for the informative post!

I've started using this method to defrag now but I want to ask, besides games folders what are other windows folders that should be done under performance mode to help with the overall OS experience?

IMO, its less important to send stuff to the front, than it is to send stuff to the back. MP3's, backups, rar/zip files, etc. get them at the back and everything else ends up at the front.

 

[fullinfusion]

Im running the newest version of Ultimate Defrag, can some one tell me what I need to check off in the auto mode? It's just the primary drive I want defraged but some settings are throwing me off.

Thanks

 

[fullinfusion]

I have no Idea what im doing with this program... this is what I set things to in auto mode..

Is this the rite way or not?

 

[fullinfusion]

Where is the help?

Ok, Please help lol

this is bugging me bad ppl...