So then,



I've googled and there's a slew of defrag programs - some free, some not so. Does anybody here have a favourite? Are there ones to avoid?



Cheers

I'm no computer whizz, but I thought all microsoft packages (windws 95,95,2000, xp etc.) came with defrag programmes? It's just a case of finding them, or maybe not.

I've always found that the one that comes with XP is sufficient for my needs.

Same here.

Cant see what difference a 3rd party prog would make under normal PC usage

Never heard of anyone using a 3rd party defragger...

My Computer
Right click on disc
properties
tools
defragmentation

This does need 15% free space to run properly though, maybe 3rd party ones need less space?

We (our company) use Diskeeper on some Windows Server installations (2000 and 2003) but not for desktops.

The Microsoft one doesn't compact the files after defragging them (which perhaps I should have made clear). I'm having problems downloading from my video camera which I *think* is due to there not being very many large (for some definition of large ) gaps with which to play about with.



To be more explicit - I can connect the camera and play the contents through the computer no problems. As soon as I try to save the contents the video capture program freezes. It has worked fine for the past 3 months, but there is large amount of data which gets stored, deleted, overwritten, etc. leaving me with what appears plenty of free space (35%) but this free space is spread out all over the shop.

How big is your Hard Drive?

40 gigabyte

so thats 14gb free, but still not enough contigious space to save the movie file...

General cleanup then run a defrag, buy a bigger HD..

I'm guessing you have come across or heard about a defragger that does compress the files after it is finshed?

..'Tis only a theory at the mo'



There are some on the net. I was just wondering if anybody had tried anything.

The bigger HD is possibly an option for other reasons

yeah, i'd just be a bit worried if that was the case, would have thought with that much free space, there would be enough in one place to put the file, unless it is bigger than i'm imagining.

Also gonna defrag my comp on monday while I'm out after this



Cool, and I havn't i'm afraid



Bigger HD are always good.

A word from the wise, keep an eye on it, esp if you massivly jumpi in size. Got a 340GB harddrive/ set of discs, in december last year. "Tonnes of space" says I, "Sure i can save whole series of stuff, get loads of games, loads of music, etc"

Before you know it, it does start to add up. Esp when most of it is junk you don't want any more. caught it before it gave me warnings though

Porn collection building up?

I use O&O Defrag although I'm using an, ahem, extended trial version.
It's much nicer watching lots of little coloured squares reorder themselves than some boring XP bar.

It is good though as it can sit in the background and maintain if you choose to. There are a few options on the way to defrag too.

Can't believe I'm sitting here typing about defrag tools at 1:30am.

I use Perfect Disk 7.0 from Raxco now up to version 8.0. The defrag tools included by MS have never seemed to help me that much. Perfect Disk does seem to do a far better job, although I'm not sure if it does what youe require. They do have a trial version available for download. I'd picked up a copy last year after my 80Gb disk died and had replaced it with two 300Gb disks.

I use a 3rd party defragger.

I used the microsfot one, then ran the 3rd party one.
As per usual microsoft software, its poorly written and doesnt do a great job.

I use Executive Software Diskeeper, its faster and more efficient.

Tell me about it.
Ive got a 250Gb HD, a 150Gb slave drive and a 500Gb external drive and theyre filling up.
And thats after I burned alot of movies to DVD etc.
Im getting another 500Gb drive off my dad soon as he doenst need his anymore (he upgraded to a quicker one as he uses it for video editing).
I need it to have a second back up of my 300Gb of music files.
Id be severely pissed if I lost them.

Diskkeeper I've come across in the past



I'll give the free Raxco one a go! It seems to tick all the right boxes, to use a wánk-speak-ism