How to defrag a HD correctly?

[neptunefix]

I'm using WinXP SP2 and defraging my drives.. however, it does not seem to put all the data at the "beginning" of the drive. It puts large chunks in the middle area.. but i'd like to compact it towards the beginning of the drive because it's faster there. Does this make sense to anyone? Help?

 

[deathwalker]

I know of no way to manipulate the Defrag process in Windows.

 

[daniel49]

It puts the programs you use most towards the front of the drive. those towards the middle tend to be accessed less.

 

[neptunefix]

Apparently, XP doesnt read minds. I have some samples that need to be streamed from hard disk.. i want them in the front of the drive, but Windows refuses.

 

[Akki]

Try O&O Defrag Pro. It includes a number of defrag methods, and it ought to be able to do what you're wanting to do (I can't quite understand what that is).

 

[Creston]

Originally posted by: neptunefix
I'm using WinXP SP2 and defraging my drives.. however, it does not seem to put all the data at the "beginning" of the drive. It puts large chunks in the middle area.. but i'd like to compact it towards the beginning of the drive because it's faster there. Does this make sense to anyone? Help?

The idea that files at the beginning of a drive are "faster there" is incorrect. As long as your files are continuous (ie, blue), it doesn't matter WHERE they are in the defrag screen. Which is the reason why defrag doesn't move your files to the left, because there's no point to it.

Also, I'm not even sure if the graphical depiction that defrag gives you actually corresponds with the layout of your harddisk. It could very well be that while it shows everything to be in the middle of the defrag screen, the data simply takes up the first xx% of your harddisk.

But again, it makes NO difference whatsoever.

Creston

 

[FlyingPenguin]

XP's defrag does an adequate job, but it's no frills. Diskkeeper gives you a lot more control of the process, although for the average person XP defrag is more than adequate.

 

[neptunefix]

That's interesting. Where do you get this information from?

Originally posted by: Creston

Originally posted by: neptunefix
I'm using WinXP SP2 and defraging my drives.. however, it does not seem to put all the data at the "beginning" of the drive. It puts large chunks in the middle area.. but i'd like to compact it towards the beginning of the drive because it's faster there. Does this make sense to anyone? Help?

The idea that files at the beginning of a drive are "faster there" is incorrect. As long as your files are continuous (ie, blue), it doesn't matter WHERE they are in the defrag screen. Which is the reason why defrag doesn't move your files to the left, because there's no point to it.

Also, I'm not even sure if the graphical depiction that defrag gives you actually corresponds with the layout of your harddisk. It could very well be that while it shows everything to be in the middle of the defrag screen, the data simply takes up the first xx% of your harddisk.

But again, it makes NO difference whatsoever.

Creston