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defrag posts

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware, Troubleshooting, Windows x64

Auslogics Disk Defrag buffs up, adds disk optimization in v3


Defragmentation (like backing up) is one of those chores I don't think about doing all that often. And I really should, since my desktop at work is a cluttered mess of downloads, screenshots, temp files, and other digital flotsam.

When Auslogics mentioned they've got a new version of their Disk Defrag tool available for download, I figured why not take it for a spin? My drive could use the TLC, after all. The app is available with an installer or as a portable app and is free for home use.

One small feature worth a mention is that Disk Defrag supports Windows 7's superbar progress indicator. You can choose to defragment your entire drive or target specific files or folders. It's also got a number of other smart features, like free space consolidation and intelligent system file placement. Disk Defrag can also be set to run automatically when your system is idle.

The installable version can also clean up your temp files prior to defragging, minimize to the system tray, run scheduled jobs, and integrate into your right-click context menu.

Tidying up my drive's 130Gb+ of disorganization took about 25 minutes. Disk Defrag also includes a new optimization feature which Auslogics recommends running once a week. It takes quite a bit longer, but if it helps keep your drive healthy and running at peak performance it's time well spent.

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware

Defragment multiple drives simultaneously with Smart Defrag

Smart Defrag
Smart Defrag is a free disk defragmenting utility from IOBit. There are a few things that set this program apart from other defragmenting tools like Defraggler, JkDefrag and UltimateDefrag.

First, Smart Defrag can defragment several hard drives or partitions at once. In my tests, it did a complete scan of a 20GB partition and a 70GB partition in a matter of seconds. Smart Defrag can then either defragment the disks in question, or defragment and optimize the disks by arranging data for the best possible performance.

Smart Defrag also includes a handy scheduling utility which allows you to schedule daily, weekly, monthly, or one time disk defragmenting jobs. You can also have the application run when you first boot your system, when your computer is idle, or at regularly scheduled intervals (like every two weeks). If you're the sort of person who keeps putting off the task of defragmenting your hard drive, this feature could really come in handy.

[via Download.com]

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware

UltimateDefrag Optimizes your hard disk for apps you use the most

UltimateDefrag

UltimateDefrag is a free disk defragmenting utility for Windows. While defrag utilities are a dime a dozen (cheaper actually, since there are plenty of good free programs). UltimateDefrag sets itself apart from the crowd by letting you give priority to the files and applications that you use the most. Essentially, what that means is UltimateDefrag will move the chunks of data you need the most to the highest priority portions of your hard disk.

While UltimateDefrag's "high priority" feature won't make your programs run any faster, you may notice that programs launch a bit more quickly.

You can choose from several different methods for defragmenting your hard disk. You can process fragmented files only, consolidate your directories so that they're all next to one another on you hard drive, order files and folders by name, organize your disc by the most recently used data, or select the auto feature to let UltimateDefrag decide what's best for your PC.

[via gHacks]

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware, Troubleshooting

Quicksys RegDefrag: Defrag your Windows registry

Who doesn't love defragmenting? Here at Download Squad, we defragment everything we can get our hands on: hard drives, registries, jigsaw puzzles. Our daily defragment fix can be found here, with Quicksys RegDefrag.

In case you didn't piece it together from the name, RegDefrag will defragment your registry. In layman's terms: the program works to optimize your registry by removing gaps, fragments and wasted space in Windows registry files.

RegDefrag begins by analyzing your system's registry. If your registry is sufficiently fragmented, RegDefrag will give you the option to defragment. Unfortunately, there are no backup options (unless RegDefrag performs them behind the scenes, but we wouldn't count on it), which means you're out of luck should RegDefrag decide to remove or defragment the wrong files.

In our tests, RegDefrag recovered over 3 MB of space, which was about 10% of our computer's registry. Not too shabby.

RegDefrag is free, and compatible with Windows Vista, XP, and the ghosts of Windows past.

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware

Defragment individual files with WinContig

WinContig
Sure, you probably know it's a good idea to defragment your hard drive periodically if you're using Windows. But defragmenting all of your files at once can take a long time. WinContig is a executable file (read: no installation required) program that lets you defragment one file at a time without analyzing your entire disk.

Despite the name, WinContig is not related in any way to SysInternals command line utility Contig. If you're looking for a GUI for Contig, you might want to check out Power Defragmenter.

WinContig is free for personal and commercial use, and works with Windows 2000/XP/Vista.

[via Hackosis]

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware, Open Source

JkDefrag GUI: Windows screen saver lets you defragment your hard drive

jkDefrag GUIJkDefrag is a powerful open source disk defragmentation tool. But it's a command line utility, which isn't everyone's cup of tea.

That's where JkDefrag GUI comes in. As you could probably guess from the "GUI," the program is a graphical user interface for JkDeFrag. The utility makes it easy to customize your defragmentation tasks, with a variety of options.

You can analyze your hard drive usage, defragment, and/or arrange files on the disk. You can schedule regular defragmenting tasks. And our personal favorite trick is that you can set jkDefrag as your screen saver. When your computer's been idle for a few moments the utility will kick in and start optimizing your hard disk. Seeing as most monitors don't really need "saving" these days, it's a pretty good use of your spare CPU cycles.

You can run JkDefrag GUI as a standalone application, or use the options under the installer tab to install the program and screen saver.

[via freeware genius]

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Shareware, Freeware

Defrag on the cheap

O&O Defrag 2000 FreewareI'm personally a big fan of Raxco's PerfectDisk for my defragmenting needs, but if you don't want to spend any money but still aren't satisfied with Windows' built-in options, this thread on Lfehacker has some good suggestions. To begin with, DirMS is a free app that comes in GUI and command line versions. The GUI is, to put it mildly, austere, but it works. At the same web site you'll find an app called Buzzsaw that defragments "on-the-fly," i.e. it detects file fragmentation as it happens and undoes it when you've got spare processor cycles. Then there's Sysinternals' Contig, which is free and command line only, but if you need a GUI for it there's a free front-end for it called Power Defragmenter from eXcessive Software. A number of posters also dig O&O Defrag, which is in the same price range as PerfectDisk, but Major Geeks has a freeware version available for download. A lot of great suggestions there. What's your defrag solution?

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware

Free and Powerful Defragmenter for Windows

Power DefragmenterWindows has a built-in defragmenter, and while there is nothing wrong with it, it is lacking in a few areas. For example, it cannot defragment the swap file. Power Defragmenter is a front-end developed by a third party to make Contig, a very powerful command-line defragmentation utility much easier to use for the average user. Contig is made by SysInternals, who have a long history of making solid defragmentation software. Instructions on how to get Power Defragmenter working with Contig are available at eXcessive Software's site, the makers of Power Defragmenter. 

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