Just a freindly reminder to everybody that you should be defragging your harddrive a minimum of once a month but perferrably once a week. Especially if you are like most of us and constantly downloading, installing, and removing programs. Here's a few tips.

1.Run error checking software prior to ensure everything is ok with your drive.(Might be a good time to run a full virus scan as well)

2. Get rid of the crap, run disk cleanup ( start-programs-accessories-system tools), as well as erase old e-mails, .txt files, .tmp files,you don't need anymore. Don't forget about any .bin's/iso's you've already burned too.

3.If you run win XP and are sure you system is stable in its current condition run system restore (start-programs-accessories-system tools) and create a restore point for today. Then run disk cleanup again and under the more options tab- clean up old system restore points.(this will erase all points except the most current)

4. You now want to diable as much software as possible before starting to ensure a complete defrag. This could include booting to safe Mode but most importantly you want to close all un-needed programs running in background. Disconnect/turn off your modem (if its cable/dsl always on type) then turn off firewall,real time virus scan and all programs in the systray. Turn off screen savers, and power management also.

5.Run your Defrag program (I personlly use Diskkeeper7) and don't touch until it's done .

[color=red:2b4e2a1cf2]Just like an oil change for your car- its simple but keeps your system running at its peak.[/color:2b4e2a1cf2]

Hope this is useful.

Yeah, I try and defrag mine at least once a week ;)


But I never knew about that number three thing about cleaning old restore points - thanks :)

Once a week

Once a week if I remember. I download a few things to add to my collection :) but I don't install too often.

[quote:b1a3706f81][i:b1a3706f81]Originally posted by popeye [/i:b1a3706f81]
[b]Once a week [/quote:b1a3706f81]

Yeah, I'm like Menace. I defrag about once a week. Ido alot of D/Ling but not alot of installing.

I defrag twice a week ;)

I download and install so many programs and after I uninstall.........:p

Twice a week is good for me

With Diskeeper

I have never done a defrag on either XP system , been running one as an upgrade from build 2526 RC2 right thru to devilsown Corporate with plenty of programs tried in between, I have not noticed much difference between this and a clean install.

Depends on how much installing, uninstalling, and downloading you do. At least once a week is a good idea.

Once a week, more if I do lots of installs/uninstalls etc.
However.....I was always under the impression that NTFS
never got fragmented.
From what I have seen in the last 6 months of running XP with NTFS partitions.....this is not true and I get just as much as win 98
on Fat 32.

Once, maybe twice a week.

When making and deleting images on my pc the hardrive gets fragged up to hell, runs like treacle!

smelly

It does make a BIG difference.
Using Executive Software Diskeeper defragger 7.0.
Fast and efficient!
Once a week, both computers

Since I have convert all my partitions in NTFS, windows is less fragmented :)

I try to defrag my drive about once a week.

I do a lot of installing and moving of files so I need to defrag more often.

defrag what's that?

nah, just kidding, but i hardly ever do it. maybe once every 3 months or whenever i remember to do it.

Ok,

It's me again,

Since two weeks I have convert all my partitions to NTFS
I really recommand to do this ;)

And with the boot defrag option of Diskeeper,

This is the first time,
I receive a "congratulation" on all my partitions :)

All is really good defragmented

I try to defrag every couple of weeks and around every 6 months or so I just wipe my whole drive(s) and reinstall fresh....:)

Usually once a month. Depends on how much i have been using my puter.

about once aweek...and aleast once a month i do it in safe mode
this way only the min things are running and loaded that way does a better job

i do it about once every three months...

[quote:513d0a3376][i:513d0a3376]Originally posted by Ditchmonk [/i:513d0a3376]
[b]about once aweek...and aleast once a month i do it in safe mode
this way only the min things are running and loaded that way does a better job [/quote:513d0a3376]

And that works fine in safe mode ?

greasemonkey,

Yeah, I defrag at least 1 X week, sometimes more, & always after installing new proggies or axing stuff from system.

Using Diskeeper 7 (build 398).

3 questions:

1. When doing boot-time defrag, the Directory Files are NOT placed at top. When doing non-boottime defrag, the Directory Files ARE placed at top. Do you know what this means? Shouldn't it be the same?

2. Also, when doing boot-time defrag, I thought the Page File was supposed to be placed at end. Now, I have files both in front of & behind Page File, even after boot-time defrag. Any insights here?

3. Does the WindowsPREFETCH file work in concert with Diskeeper 7, as it does with the Diskeeper version that comes when you first install Win XP Pro?

works fine in safemode...i had same reaction when first told about it...but works fine...xp pro...and home ...98se

Atleast once a week and also after installing or uninstalling any program. Like to keep the darn PC all fit & fine. Like that's possible. :D

I defrag every month or so

It is a good idea having the hd partinioned in 2: one primary partition to the system and a bigger one to keep documents, software, cd images, temporary internet files, etc. The system partition becomes less fragmented and in case of a system failure you won't lose your data, just repair it or install from scratch on the primary partition, which doesn't affect the other one.