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What is the fastest and most reliable disk defragmenter?

What is a disk defragmenter? Does it help free up disk space?

  • I've been doing disk cleanups cause i''m low on space, want to know what a defragmenter does?

  • Answer:

    Long answer : defragmentation is a process that reduces the amount of fragmentation in file systems. It does this by physically reorganizing the contents of the disk to store the pieces of each file close together and contiguously. It also attempts to create larger regions of free space using compaction to impede the return of fragmentation. Some defragmenters also try to keep smaller files within a single directory together, as they are often accessed in sequence. Sequential reading and writing data on a heavily fragmented file system is slowed down as the time needed for the disk heads to move between fragments and waiting for the disk platter to rotate into position is increased (see seek time and rotational delay). For many common operations, the performance bottleneck of the entire computer is the hard disk; thus the desire to process more efficiently encourages defragmentation. Operating system vendors often recommend periodic defragmentation to keep disk access speed from degrading over time. Fragmented data also spreads over more of the disk than it needs to. Thus, one may defragment to gather data together in one area, before splitting a single partition into two or more partitions (for example, with GNU Parted or PartitionMagic). Defragmenting can increase the life-span of the hard drive itself, by minimizing head movement and simplifying data access operations. Short answer : No.

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Files aren't stored in one big chunk, they're stored in multiple pieces so that the information can be spread across the disk to fit if it has to be. Defragmenting rearranges these pieces so that they line up whenever possible. It helps make the pieces easier to find. The less time your computer spends looking for data on the hard drive, the faster it can open it.

Wes M

No, a defragmenter does not free up space. To understand what it does, here is a brief explanation. When windows writes and modifies files, they tend to become split up into smaller pieces (or fragments) and spread out across the harddrive platter. Known as fragmentation, this is a consequence of how FAT/NFTS (the windows file systems) handles files and cannot be avoided in any version of windows. Like a disease, file fragmentation causes the drive to slow down since it takes longer to read a fragmented file compared to a contiguous one. Apart from reducing overall system performance, it also makes the drive work harder thereby reducing it's life. A defragmenter is a software that rearranges these fragments of the files into one contiguous file. This makes the system run faster and also improves the life of the drive, meaning you can probably save some money on premature hardware replacement costs. Until recently, defragmenters were manual or scheduled i.e. one had to waste a lot of time running defrags regularly and waiting for them to end before being able to use the computer .This could be troublesome if you had large or multiple harddrives on a PC. Now, with the advent of automatic defragmenters on the market, this problem has been solved. Intelligent, automatic defragmenters run in the background and defrag silently when the system is idle - all automatically, so the user does not have to waste time and effort on this important system maintenance task.

Peacemaker

No does no free up disk space...just defragments files so your HDD can find them faster...

CRYSJON

Whenever you download lots of files ( or delete them for that matter ) the HDD is likely to get fragmented, which means files are not stored contiguously on the drive. A defragmenter puts these fragments back together sequentially.so that the HDD does not have to work more in order toread that file. Defragmenting does not delete anything or create 'space'.If the power gets cut during the defrag, it may be dangerous. Besides that there is no risk. In fact there are some very efficient defragmenters with a lot of advanced features which save time and effort needed in manual defrags, you can google for trial versions. High levels of fragmentation (esp if your drive is full) increase chances of drive problems. Its always good to do diskcleanups regularly and defrag while there is enough free space, in fact make sure you have atleast 15% free space at all times. Not only does it take lesser time, it also keeps the drives free from stress and prevents premature hardware replacements.

jizmo

When a file is saved to the hard drive, it tries to keep everything in the same location (or cluster) Over the course of time files will be deleted, leaving blank areas between files. If you install another large program, the hard drive tries to fill the holes, thus breaking up the program storage block. This effects your system performance by as much as 200% since programs have to access more areas of the hard drive, just to run.

BooBoo

you need to copy some files from the C drive onto a cd and then delete them from the hard disk to make space

Neo

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