Offline Defrag

[hat]

I heard this defrags your entire hard drive, as windows defragmenter can't defrag files is use. Is there any real advantage vs running the regular windows defragmenter? If so, how can this be done?

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

windows defrag = garbage .. dash way dat

 

[Ravenas]

windows defrag = garbage .. dash way dat

Smart words, I agree...

 

[oily_17]

I use PerfectDisk a very good and easy to use defragmenter.Just simply choose your drive from the menu and it will analyse and suggest which type of defragment to carry out.

As your system files that are in use can not be defragmented it will do an offline defrag,if that's what's needed, the next time you reboot, before your OS loads.

The benefits of defraging your whole drive and system files would include

Operating system and other programs,games etc load faster.
File searching,transfers etc will be easier/faster.

Other defragmenters include O&O Defrag and Diskeeper another two good programs.

 

[von kain]

any good open source or freeware?

 

[AsRock]

I use Ultimate Defrag best one i have found over many years.

It allows you to put you data were you want it on your hard drive.
Not freeware though .
www.disktrix.com

If you want to get all files moved have you considered dual boot

 

[Grings]

any good open source or freeware?

Auslogics disk defrag is quite good http://www.auslogics.com/disk-defrag/index.php

 

[Stearic]

If you want to defragment some of the system files such as the $MFT or paging file, then an 'offline' defrag such as a boot-time defrag would be necessary. I dont think there is any program that defrags these while windows is running.

Slightly OT: IMO, an automatic defragmenter is far better than a manual defragmenter. A manual defragmenter requires you to analyze, decide and run/schedule a defrag often wasting your time and keeping the system off limits to other apps during the defrag; but a smart autodefragmenter circumvents these problems. Fragmentation monitoring, analyses and defrag during system idle would all be automatic with minimal overhead in manpower and time, but with continuous benefits ie drives are fragmentation free most of the time.

Automatic defragmenters are already in use on commercial Windows servers IIRC, and it is only a matter of time before these become mainstream for the desktop.

 

[francis511]

any good open source or freeware?

http://www.filehippo.com/search?q=defrag

 

[Wile E]

If you want to defragment some of the system files such as the $MFT or paging file, then an 'offline' defrag such as a boot-time defrag would be necessary. I dont think there is any program that defrags these while windows is running.

Slightly OT: IMO, an automatic defragmenter is far better than a manual defragmenter. A manual defragmenter requires you to analyze, decide and run/schedule a defrag often wasting your time and keeping the system off limits to other apps during the defrag; but a smart autodefragmenter circumvents these problems. Fragmentation monitoring, analyses and defrag during system idle would all be automatic with minimal overhead in manpower and time, but with continuous benefits ie drives are fragmentation free most of the time.

Automatic defragmenters are already in use on commercial Windows servers IIRC, and it is only a matter of time before these become mainstream for the desktop.

I prefer doing it manually. Despite the fact that auto defragmentation works mostly in idle time, it still does consume resources. Plus, I just don't like programs messing with my hard drive without me telling it to. lol

I use O&O Defrag, personally. Tho, I've been wanting to try Ultimate Defrag for it's ability to reorganize files to your liking.

 

[Stearic]

I prefer doing it manually. Despite the fact that auto defragmentation works mostly in idle time, it still does consume resources. Plus, I just don't like programs messing with my hard drive without me telling it to. lol

Yeah, it does consume resources, but it's hardly noticeable, even with medium spec rigs. As for the program accessing the drive without asking permission, since the program in question is not malware, and is infact helping to keep things organized, personally, I don't find it an issue. (Something like running a torrent that is accessing the drive all the time while working on the PC..it doesnt bother me). YMMV ofcourse.

 

[sixor]

windows defrag sucks so much

the best freeware gnu defrag for me is jkdefrag, but you have to use the graphic version http://www.emro.nl/freeware/

it very light and free

 

[JacKz5o]

I use Diskeeper and its a great defragger.

 

[Batou1986]

!DO NOT USE O&O offline defragment on Vista!
i used it once and i corrupted vista to the point i had to reformat, to be sure i reformatted and immediately did it again with the same result
so unless they have fixed something i would avoid using any offline defrag option in any defrag program under windows vista. apparently vista don't like programs moving around its indexes and crap

 

[Wile E]

!DO NOT USE O&O offline defragment on Vista!
i used it once and i corrupted vista to the point i had to reformat, to be sure i reformatted and immediately did it again with the same result
so unless they have fixed something i would avoid using any offline defrag option in any defrag program under windows vista. apparently vista don't like programs moving around its indexes and crap

Really? No probs here on Vista with offline defrags.

 

[theonetruewill]

Last time I used an Offline Defrag with PerfectDisk I got from 7% fragmentation to 96% fragmented. Windows slowed to a crawl and it took me 6 hours to get back down to 0% with diskeeper. I don't think there's enough of a performance gain even if it works vs the risk.

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

I use O&O Defrag as well. Very good program.

 

[{JNT}Raptor]

Last time I used an Offline Defrag with PerfectDisk I got from 7% fragmentation to 96% fragmented. Windows slowed to a crawl and it took me 6 hours to get back down to 0% with diskeeper. I don't think there's enough of a performance gain even if it works vs the risk.

Never ever heard of that happening before....Must have been a settings thing....Perfect Disk here for what seems forever and no Issues at all..one of the best defraggers around IMHO.