defrag

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I’m running XP Home SP2.
Looking for a free defrag program that is faster and hopefully better than Windows defrag.

Some news letter I get recommended “Auslogics Disk Defrag”
I tried it , it is faster, but when it finishes it says it doesn’t move around programs to them run faster (i forget the word used).
Anyone use this program?
Any other suggestions on what program to use?

Thanks,

John

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Replies

See the recent thread starting at post 699,963.

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Like many other important utilities we need to keep our computers in top shape, this too is a subject of “free or not” debate. Defragging is something one can’t take a chance on having a screwup with, so I don’t know how much faith should be put in the freebies that ARE out there. For my money, and it is a little money, something like PerfectDisk 2008 Professional is worth every penny paid for it, in trust and reliability. I’ve also used, in the past, Diskeeper 2008 and didn’t have any problems with it at the time. YMMV…

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Would you please tell me why you stopped using Diskeeper? I’m thinking about making a purchase and would like to have that information before I do.

Thanks,

Gloria

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Oh lordy Gloria, my old head hurts already, trying to recollect. Seriously though, it’s been a long time and it was here in The Lounge where someone recommended PerfectDisk. I’m leaving for work now, so when I come home later this afternoon, I’ll search The Lounge for “diskeeper” and any threads that I was involved in to see if I can find it. If you find it in the meantime, post back here so I’ll know you found it. All I can remember is that I don’t think it was anything major. More later…

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Don’t worry your brain about responding to my request. I found everything concerning defraggers by doing a search here on Woody’s. I’ve narrowed it down to 2 programs. I even found the thread that I created on finding a defragger and it was a long one.

Gloria

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>I found everything concerning defraggers by doing a search here on Woody’s. I’ve narrowed it down to 2 programs. I even found the thread that I created on finding a defragger and it was a long one.

So I guess you never found one back then and haven’t felt you needed one again until now.

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Not so, I tried 3 different ones, Defraggler; Diskeeper 2008; and Auslogics Disk Defrag. All of which have been removed. I’m now awaiting the 30 day trial of the Perfect Disk email to try that one.

Defraggler and Auslogics were all freeware programs. Diskeeper was a 30 evaluation program that was about to expire. None of them gave me an problems, but I think freeware programs are not as efficient as the ones you purchase. After reading about Perfect Disk I think it suits my needs best.

Gloria

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Gloria, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with PerfectDisk. I did do what I told you and searched back to 2004 for this thread ( post 393,303 ) which has comments from JoePerez, WyllyWylly and yours truly about some of the things concerning Diskeeper. As I remembered, none major, BUT I’ve been very happy with PerfectDisk ever since I bought it.

For the record, I used to run it every night, in the wee hours to defrag my C: drive but I stopped doing that when I started using disk imaging overnight to do daily incremental backups. Running a defragger when you’re using an imaging product (initially True Image and now Shadow Protect) is not a good idea for doing incremental backups. In a manner of speaking, it creates what amounts to full images each time. Nowadays, I run PerfectDisk every other week, just prior to doing a new, initial full image backup. So far this year, my machine is perking along nicely.

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I’ve installed it, but haven’t run it yet. I’m going to do that in a few minutes. After all the programs I’ve deleted and installed, my drive could use a good defrag. With a recommendation from you, I know it’s got to be good.

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Keep in mind that it may tell you that you need to do a “boot time” defrag and if it does, you should agree and let it do the rest of the job on a reboot. Every once in awhile, it tells me that I need to let it run a separate analysis and defrag on my “system” files and that doesn’t usually take too long, but sometimes requires a boot to get a clear shot at the files. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

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Tried most of the freebies over the years, although obviously not any of the relatively new ones that have been introduced, but also nearly all of the major “pay” defraggers. Allowing for personal preferences among the 2 or 3 very top performers, I went with Perfect Disk and have not been disappointed with it whatsoever.

So, I say, “Go with Perfect Disk 2008!”

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OK, I will let it do that. It’s running for the first time now. Before it started I received a notice that the PD91 Engine Service had to be started before Perfect Disk could start. I went into Services and started it, chose Manual as the instructions said. While in Service I noticed that PD91 Agent was disabled so I started that one too.Then I had to set the Schedule, which was east to do, chose weekly on Sunday starting on October 12th. Then started Perfect Disk manually, it’s off to the races.

I hope you’re in the Lounge today because I have to ask you if I should choose minimize or close while it’s running. I know it runs when the computer is idle but I want to be sure I’m doing the right thing.

I was surprised when I looked at the estimated time, it started out at 6 hours from the time it started, but as I watched the time went down. My C: drive is only 76.32 GB, I’ve used it for 4 years and less than half is Used Space.

I think I’m going to like Perfect Disk,

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I just got here. Well, I don’t remember ever having to do anything with services or anything like that, so I don’t know why YOU did.

Whenever I’m defragging, whether scheduled or manual, I DO NOT do anything with my computer, just for SAFETY sake. So I don’t think it matters if you minimize or not, but I would NOT use the computer while a defrag is in process.

What you saw about estimated time remaining is a common problem. Mine changes as the defrag proceeds and always takes a lot less time than is initially reported.

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Do you have PD91 Engine Services and PD91 Agent in Services?

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Yes. See attached. I didn’t do it. PerfectDisk did.

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Again, I see differences between freeware (trialware) and purchased programs. Because I’m using the trialware version, they probably had me set Services and did it for you because of your purchase. I don’t remember seeing PD91VM Defrag, but I will look again. If it’s not there that’s another plus for buying programs.

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Way late on joining this thread, but I thought I’d add my . I’ve used JkDefrag for several months and am pleased with it. And it’s . One feature I like is the program’s ability to run optionally from a command line, where you have all kinds of options for defragging and sorting. The web site also has an extensive forum and FAQ section.

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Just to add one to the list, I was rather disappointed with Paragon Total Defrag 2007 (various reasons) I used on a work machine for a while. Perfect Disk was much “nicer” in many respects.

Alan

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Duchess843,
Hello Just wanted to put my 2cents in, I use “DeFraggler” and “JkDefragGUI” mostly the latter i am also tying “PerfectDisk” and when i ran the defrag (PerfectDisk) under “statistics” my C drive was all green check marks and (EXCELLENT) so i guess that ole “JK” isn’t doing too bad a job.The only thing that i don’t like about “PerfectDrive” is that some of the things are way too small (for my eyes ) it’s like they don’t have enough room to put everything! EX: their “drive map” tiny boxes with indistinguishable colors. any way good luck.Regards Plain Fred.

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Why, thank you Fred, it’s so nice to hear from a gentlemen. And thank you for the good luck wishes, I think I’m going to need all the luck I can get and help from someone not of this world too.

I don’t care about the size of the colors on the drive map, just so it gets the job done, I’m more than satisfied.

Good luck to you.

Gloria

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Gloria,

>>>it’s so nice to hear from a gentlemen

Are you suggesting that the rest of us are NOT gentlemen? How disappointing!

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> Are you suggesting that the rest of us are NOT gentlemen? How disappointing!

Not to me! I never claimed to be one… too much to live up to.

Alan

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Not at all, I think you know better than that. I simply meant that I had never heard from him before and I was trying to be nice. This is ,what I get for simply being who I am. appreciative of kind words.

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>>>This is ,what I get for simply being who I am. appreciative of kind words.

I think you miss the point of my post, particularly the last “smiley”.

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I know you were funning, Bob. I was answering in the same vein, I should have added a smiley than you would have known that I was joking too. I’m sorry that you misunderstood and I apologize for not making myself clear.

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Fred,

If you like “JkDefragGUI”, then you should look at this version on steroids: JkDefrag Option GUI.

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Jeff,
Hello, and thanks for the tip, i guess that i did’t make myself clear in my post to Ms. Gloria, JkDefrag Option GUI is what i meant to post and what im useing now. Regards Plain Fred

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“I think freeware programs are not as efficient as the ones you purchase.”

I don’t think that’s at all true. Often the amount of support varies, and sometimes the design isn’t as snazzy due to the lack of a marketing budget, but on the whole software is software – paying money for it doesn’t suddenly make it better.

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Purchasing a program may not make it better, but most times you have more options available (and that stands to reason).

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Perfect Disk has a 30 day trial available here.

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That’s the version I’m using. I will know before it expires, if I want to part with my money.

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How about Defraggle

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I had Defraggle before I heard about Perfect Disk. It’s sort of plain vanilla compared to all you can see and do with Perfect Disk (that’s my opinion).

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OR POWER DEFRAG

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I looked at the program you mentioned and still like Perfect Disk better. Thank you for the recommendation though.

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One factor to consider, which I haven’t seen mentioned so far in this thread, is Joe’s comment in post 703,985 regarding the Prefetch feature of XP and above.

Alan

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