Best Disk Defragmenter?

[ThatsABigOne]

I have always used Defraggler from Piriform, which is same dev that makes CCleaner.

 

[LokutusofBorg]

An SSD is the best defrag, as fragmentation is moot on solid state storage. SSDs are standard SATA drives, which means they will work on any computer that has SATA.

A hybrid drive (e.g. Momentus XT) or caching solution (Z68 et al) is next best, as it caches your most frequently used data, completely eclipsing any optimization defrag programs could ever hope to achieve. If you are willing to pay for a defrag program you are spending your money in the wrong place. The cost premium for a Momentus XT is surely not much more than what you would be willing to pay for a defrag program.

For spinning drives, the built-in defrag program in Windows is more than sufficient. The performance of hard drives is constantly improving, so if your drive is even a couple years old, you will see a noticeable improvement by buying a new drive. Again, paying for a defrag program is spending your money in the wrong place.

 

[lothar]

While on Windows XP, I used O&O Defrag 9 Professional back in 2004-2006 era I believe.
I jumped from Windows XP to Windows 7 in 2008(9?).

I never bothered to re-installed it.

 

[Crow550]

I use Auslogics Disk Defrag because it's fast and effective.

Goto Settings. Scroll to Defrag Priority and select high. Now click on settings again and select Program settings.

Then click on the Algorithms tab. Now tick Delete temporary files before defragmenting & Move system files to the beginning of the disk & Defragment in VSS compatible mode. Now make sure skip fragments larger than IS NOT selected. Then click OK.

For best results run it in Safe mode. Once in safe mode load up Auslogics Defrag and click the down arrow by the Defrag button. Then select Defrag & Optimize.

I only use the boot time defrag with Defraggler.

I've noticed a slight boost. I only run a Defrag after I have installed or uninstalled a lot of files. You can set it to run when the PC is idle.

 

[bruceb]

I use Diskeeper 9 Pro version. But that old a version can not handle the new terabyte size drives. The latest release from them can. It has always done the job and never had any issues with either it or it's installation.

 

[General Kenobi]

I'm using Auslogics Disk Defrag - I get noticeable results, so I don't see any reason to switch yet. I've been considering moving to Defraggler later this year though, because Auslogics seem to focus more on their paid software these days.

 

[Berryracer]

Aside from the popularity of MyDefrag and the ability to tweak scripts, I've never seen it have any improvement over my other favourite defragmentation utilities.

I'd actually make a vote for Auslogics Disk Defrag - it's not an "uber-techie" utility, but one neat feature is the ability to defrag and optimise WITH the system files of Windows in the fast disk access areas of the HDD platter(s).

Piriform's Defraggler [Piriform being the well-known developer of CCleaner] I also like - and you can get a portable version of that.

Both of those utilities are free.
P.S. With the Auslogics defrag tool, don't do it through their website - it'll link to CNET and have those abnormal [I'd rather not use a harsh word - I don't want to name and blame someone/something and then turn out to be wrong or just rude] installers. Instead, download it from FileHippo.

I have tried Auslogics Disk Defrag since I own a license for Auslogics Reg Defrag and it seems to be very fast in defragging

 

[Dude111]

I dunno,i have always thought the windows defrag was the best

 

[Berryracer]

hmm,,,strange results, I just defragmented my external HDD, and the job was done, but I don't know why Auslogics Disk Defrag left many empty spaces in beween

 

[Nothinman]

hmm,,,strange results, I just defragmented my external HDD, and the job was done, but I don't know why Auslogics Disk Defrag left many empty spaces in beween

Why are you even concerned with it? You've already wasted more time in this thread than you will ever save by defragging your filesystems. And that's assuming that there's an appreciable benefit to defragging, which there isn't in most cases.

 

[Berryracer]

Just switched to PuranDefrag FREE as it defragments boot files and MFT

 

[lxskllr]

Just switched to PuranDefrag FREE as it defragments boot files and MFT

Uninstall it, and never look at defrag again. You say you have OCD issues, well stop. A link was already posted that said 3rd party defrag was BS. Windows won't even let you see how fragmented it is without jumping through hoops; so use that. It defrags once per week, and while that's too much, it's easy enough to deal with, and it's default.

 

[gizbug]

Perfectdisk 12.5, love it.

 

[hawk82]

MyDefrag v4.3.1

http://www.mydefrag.com/

Used it for few years, is simple and gets job done.

Ditto. And it is free.

 

[Matt1970]

The absolute best Defrag program in the world will give you maybe, if you are really lucky, a 5% boost over Windows Defrag.

 

[KirklandBrand]

I used to defrag religiously but the built in defrag for win 7/vista is good enough and it's scheduled to run routinely anyway. But the main point is only time to defrag in my opinion is after you first re-install the system or after you remove the hibernate file post fresh-install. But even then it is useless if you have a fast enough drive. Really if it makes you feel better than do it but really in the modern days with faster and faster drives with also 4k sector size there really is no point in defragging the system anymore.

 

[0roo0roo]

Appears there was a bench did, over 3 years ago.
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/the_disk_defrag_difference

I'm going to assume that offerings of today vary little from what was out back then.

Although I'd like to see a more in-depth benchmark test ran using more programs than what's out today.

makes sense....

only so much you can do...

better just to get a tb+ drive, more contiguous space = less problems to begin wtih

 

[acefightr]

Just keep it simple and use windows 7 defrag program.