Try not to Break Anything

[DanKH]

Actually Dave, I was on Win7 even before it went out

Darren: No, actually I'm fully aware of anything that runs on my computer ....and no, there is no automatic defragging running. And there haven't been for ages ...

Defragging after huge installs and uninstalls is a hype ... there, I said it ... prove me wrong

I think it was a good idea in them old days when HDD's weren't so fast as they are today, but of course you won't see any companies selling defrag programs telling you that

On the other hand, it doesn't hurt anything, so if you want to waste time and ressources that could be used for other things ....

I do hope I haven't insulted anyone thats was just an opportunity to air one of my obsessions

[ianhind]

Dan

Didn't the introduction of NTFS as the default file system help remove the need for defragging? I vaguely remember something about that but

Ian

[TSR2]

Alot of what Dan says is correct, however you will (or should) notice improved load times with the odd defrag. this will vary from setup to setup, but if your using HDD's maybe bi anually do a defrag, or after a full rebuild. There is no hard and fast. If your using SDD's, never defrag them

[DanKH]

Alot of what Dan says is correct...,

Thank God!

Could you please tell my wife as well... ?

[DanKH]

NTFS (New Technology File System) has the possibility to use bigger blocks than FAT32 (File Allocation Table) and thus the files are not so often broken into smaller pieces and hence in risk of getting fragmented .... but NTFS does not eliminate the fragmentation ....

On the other hand NTFS introduces more overhead in case of small files, in terms of memory use so....

Please be noted that this is only a very brief and overall description of some of the differences, a lot more can be found for those who are interested here:

FAT

NTFS

[GHD]

I think it was a good idea in them old days when HDD's weren't so fast as they are today

So inefficiency is dependent on the speed of the disks not on the placement of the data

[DanKH]

Well yes and no

I prefer 'in-continuity' instead of 'inefficiency' as the new HDD's are indeed VERY efficient!

... but you won't feel the incontinuity of a fragmented file on a quick disk ....

[Garry Russell]

Does it help if you use in-continuity pads?

[DanKH]

or incontinence pads perhaps? To avoid leaks...

[tonymadge]

As always companies seize on every opportunity to shaft the buying public and always for profit not because some poor sod is flooded out