Free Defrag Program, Good or bad?

**grizzley** · 04-Aug-08, 03:30 PM

i have had a really rough time with my computer being super slow lately and friends have suggested that i try a disk defrag, so i was googling to find a program that could do it for me and i came across a website called htp://www.coolz.co.za that makes refernce to a program called diskeeper.
i just want to know if anyone as heard of or used this program before? and if it will be reliable to use on my computer?

**Chrisjan B** · 04-Aug-08, 03:51 PM

I think it will work fine. You can also use the free http://www.auslogics.com/disk-defrag
I find there is usually other issues when your computer slows down: viruses, spyware, when last did you do a diskcheck, does the PC have enough memory?

Maybe you should some knowledgeable person have a look?

**Dave A** · 04-Aug-08, 04:11 PM

Assuming a Windows OS, do these defragmenters really do a better job than the Windows defrag program anyway? I got PCtools at one time and wasn't that impressed. Ultimately, it just repacked and indexed things differently, but came with other problems, like the daily slowdown as it shuffled its way through making my PC "healthier."

From a user point of view, it was slowing me down more than the fragged files were.

**Chrisjan B** · 04-Aug-08, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by Dave A

Assuming a Windows OS, do these defragmenters really do a better job than the Windows defrag program anyway? I got PCtools at one time and wasn't that impressed. Ultimately, it just repacked and indexed things differently, but came with other problems, like the daily slowdown as it shuffled its way through making my PC "healthier."

From a user point of view, it was slowing me down more than the fragged files were.

A Windows PC needs to be defragged regularly (at least monthly)and the reason I recommended the Auslogics program is that is quite fast and seems to do a good job. I yesterday defragged my two 320 GB harddrives in about 30 minutes time and you can still work on the PC while it is working.

See the Defragmention Explained at http://www.auslogics.com/disk-defrag

Hard disk errors can also be a source of a slow PC. Windows XP does not always alert you to disk errors. It is also a good idea to run the Windows checkdisk utility from time to time with the /f and /r switches from a command line. Keep in mind that if you do this it takes up to an hour to run after the PC has been restarted, schedule it for a convenient time then.

**Marq** · 05-Aug-08, 12:23 PM

I hauled out the April 2007 copy of PCFormat magazine which ran a helpline by Luis, a guy who seemed to know what he was talking about. He advocated many times that defragging was a waste of time.

This is part of his last reply on the subject of defragging...

Defragmenting a computer hard disk is a pointless waste of everybody's time, as I've said in these very pages since time immemorial. It's the 21st century equivalent of prayer beads, or something. The only thing you'll ever get in return for the time you waste defragging your computer's hard disk is the faint placebo comfort of the ignorant and deluded user.
If a fragmented hard disk really did generate dangerous amounts of extra heat and affect overall system performance, don't you think that the hour or so of solid thrashing that defragmenting often entails would be enough to guarantee your disk's ultimate demise, if not that of your entire rig? It's like saying 'regularly plough up your lawn to prevent unsightly worm casts!'
So I'll say this for (hopefully) the last time: Don't bother defragging - you're wasting your time.

I haven't defragged my drive since reading that and do not seem to have had any problems as a result.
To check this, I ran this auslogics programme on my one drive - 600 defragged files out of 200,000 - no problems reported....mmm... I think Luis knew that answer was coming.

Your slow computer is probably software related. Probably Vista? Could be virus, spyware or registry problems. Check out startup options - often I find programs load update checkers and stuff that keeps your computer busy in the background that you do not need. My internet usage shot up one day last week - I eventually discovered that adobe was updating my software in the background and was downloading a 400meg file. Stopped that process and hey presto - instant speed up.

**Dave A** · 05-Aug-08, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Marq

...don't you think that the hour or so of solid thrashing that defragmenting often entails would be enough to guarantee your disk's ultimate demise,...

Does he have any advice on Anti-virus scans? They pound the poor hard drive too.

**irneb** · 12-Aug-08, 07:20 AM

I might be wrong, but I think I heard (or read) somewhere that the standard Windows Defrag is actually a scaled down version of DiscKeeper ... might be wrong, but the name rings a bell.

**grizzley** · 06-Aug-08, 11:30 AM

firstly i must say that everyone on this forum has been such a great help. wow its nice to know that there are people out there willing to put all they can into helping someone else!

i decided to go along and download the diskeeper program and it is amazing, it runs in the background when im not busy on my computer and i dont need to switch it on and off, also it gives me loads of stats about ny hard drive, thanks for the go ahead on that one, you guys should check it out, you never know what dangers lie out there when you download a program off the net.
thanks a bunch to everyone

**duncan drennan** · 06-Aug-08, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by grizzley

i decided to go along and download the diskeeper program and it is amazing

Grizzley, how about contributing to the conversation instead of just trying to promote a product? As has been pointed out before, we are all about trading knowledge for value, and I am sure you have more to contribute than you are letting on.