Defragging

[rorythedog]

Hi folks. Can anyone reccomend a good free defragger. I've been using the one built in to Xp, but now I've read that it's not very good. What do you guys use? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

[-swt-]

defragging... hm... well... havent de-fragmented for more than 2 Years :cheeky:

maybe this helps you : Defraggle your motherdisc! (http://www.datadocktorn.nu/us_frag1.php)
okay... just kidding... sry...

dont know any programm :puzzled:

[brian]

As far as I know there is no good freeware defrag program available. The technology involved in effective defragging is pretty sophisticated, so developers tend to want to charge for it. You're looking at at least $40 for a decent program. I use PerfectDisk for major weekly defrags and VoptXP for routine daily ones.

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

I use Norton speeddisk 2003. Professional and nothing to complain about :)

[Tokelil]

I have to agree with Brian... Defrag programs are pretty complicated! Especially when they have to be at least better than Microsofts standard defrag program.
I use Perfect Disk 6 my self... Works really well!

[Heigar]

I use diskeeper pro,works really good ,but it's not free.

[Hanzo]

defragging... hm... well... havent de-fragmented for more than 2 Years :cheeky:

maybe this helps you : Defraggle your motherdisc! (http://www.datadocktorn.nu/us_frag1.php)
okay... just kidding... sry...

dont know any programm :puzzled:
I have to agree. Usually by the time my disc requiere a defrag I'm already planning to do a clean install. By the way, that seems faster than defragging the disc anyways... :ninja:

[traveller]

There is a free version of Diskeeper available. It does not have the automation tools of the Pro version, but if you are only defragging ocassionally instead of constantly, it works quite well. I used it for a couple of yers before upgrading to Diskeeper Pro. :heart:

[rorythedog]

Hi traveller. Since my first post I've been using a 30 day trial version of Diskeeper. Unfortunately, after uninstalling it I am unable to run the built-in XP defragger. I just get the message "Snap-in failed to initialize
Name:<unknown>
CLSID: {43668E21-2636-11D1-A1CE- 0080C88593A5}".

I then looked this up on Google and found advice on the problem but when I follow this advice I get this message : "Failed. Return code was 0x80040154."

Apparently this is a known problem with Diskeeper. It's just a pity that the magazine that included this demo (PC Format) didn't see fit to tell people that this program would feck things up.

I'm not quite sure who to sue first
:mad:

If anybody can help someone who is suddenly way out of his depth, I'd be eternally gratetful.

Cheers folks.

[acozz]

Reinstall Windows without formatting your hard drive (repair install I think it's called).

Seriously.

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

Try norton speeddisk :carrot:

[Hanzo]

Reinstall Windows without formatting your hard drive (repair install I think it's called).

Seriously.
The best option IMO. Boot from the WinXP cd and press enter, then when it detects the Windows installation that you have already in your HD it'll ask if you want to repair it. Just hit the proper keys and it'll reinstall and hopefully fix the crappy symantec software leftovers... (I'm no fan of symantec) :cheerful:

[-swt-]

i can only fully agree to Hanzo !

try to repair the Windows-Installation !
and never install Norton-Crap again !
Symantec was a realy nice Company with impressive Products... but today its only bulls*it...
Since Norton-AntiVir/SystemWork/InternetSecurity/etc.-2003 their Products are realy bad *2.thumbs.down*

silent greets

[jawpr]

i can only fully agree to Hanzo !

try to repair the Windows-Installation !
and never install Norton-Crap again !
Symantec was a realy nice Company with impressive Products... but today its only bulls*it...
Since Norton-AntiVir/SystemWork/InternetSecurity/etc.-2003 their Products are realy bad *2.thumbs.down*

silent greets

I have used Norton and mcFee (not sure that is spelled right) but I had some priblems with both of them. I finally tryed AVG (it's free) and I love it. I have not had any problems with it yet and I have been using it close to a year.

[rorythedog]

Is Diskeeper made by Norton?

[hedge]

Is Diskeeper made by Norton?
Nope, i think people just wanted any excuse to get into norton, and i can understand that...
Anyway, i think you should try that repair install, it should get the windows defragger working again...

[rorythedog]

Nope, i think people just wanted any excuse to get into norton, and i can understand that...
Anyway, i think you should try that repair install, it should get the windows defragger working again...

I know I'm a bit thick here but how do I get the option to repair using my XP disc?

[Hanzo]

Just check how is done here:

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdrepair/part1.htm

Jawpr: That's what I use. I even made the little effort to buy the full version. Since then I haven't had any troubles with viruses or worms or anything. It updates the virus definition daily on my system so I'm pretty safe. I wouldn't go back to Symantec or McAfee even if they pay me to use their crap.

I highly recomend Grisoft AVG Antivirus and I'm sure Jawpr will do so too. :silly:

[jawpr]

Just check how is done here:

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdrepair/part1.htm

Jawpr: That's what I use. I even made the little effort to buy the full version. Since then I haven't had any troubles with viruses or worms or anything. It updates the virus definition daily on my system so I'm pretty safe. I wouldn't go back to Symantec or McAfee even if they pay me to use their crap.

I highly recomend Grisoft AVG Antivirus and I'm sure Jawpr will do so too. :silly:

Absolutely! I have the free version and it updates the virus definition daily also and it uses the same definition that the full version uses. My last one(McAfee) that I bought lasted about 5 months and then it got to where it would not even let me upgrade the virus definition so I took it off and started using AVG. My son had Norton on his system and he got a virus and Norton could not even find it. I put AVG on there for him and the first time he ran it, it caught the virus and got rid of it for him. AVG is also much faster than Norton or McAfee.

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

Wow, amazing. I didn't know norton was that unpopular! I've been using products from norton, like norton systemworks and anti-virus since windows 95, and that is a long time ago. Never had any problems with norton/symantec either.

[Tokelil]

Im kind of a fan of Nortons software too... Started bag with Norton Commander I guees. Since their antivirus software has kept me virus free. Norton Ghost is a nice tool too, IMO.

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

Im kind of a fan of Nortons software too... Started bag with Norton Commander I guees. Since their antivirus software has kept me virus free. Norton Ghost is a nice tool too, IMO.

Oh yes, how could i forget norton commander for MS-DOS :shocked: I used it quite a lot actually. Then i think there was also speeddisk from Norton for MS-DOS, im pretty sure. :D

And Norton Ghost is indeed a very sweet tool for cloning your harddisk. I'm considering to use it again when i buy a new pc, though it depends on wherther my windows is currently stable enough ;) It will save me time updating everything when not starting from scratch. Hmm, what to do...

[Heigar]

I think it's funny people knocking norton/symantec,when they aren't even the source of the problem,diskeeper is made by Executive Software,I used diskeeper pro for a while and tried perfectdisk and i have to say perfectdisk IMHO is the better of the 2,And as for norton antivirus,it's the only one that I have used that has not let a virus or trojan on my pc.

[t23]

PerfectDisk is the best defragger i have ever tried. It is extremely thorough, unlike useless products like VoptXP and Norton Speed Disk. Its offline defragmentation is priceless to me.

Raxco (http://www.raxco.com/) have a trial version, so if you're going to pay for one anyway, give this a try before you decide.

[rorythedog]

Hi folks. Well that only took about a fortnight to resolve.

I ran the repair install and it fixed the defrag problem, however my OS became very unstable. Games that were previously running at 55 to 60 fps were now running at 15 to 20 fps.

In desperation I drove 60 miles to my nearest shop for some professional help (sic.) Oh dear, what a mistake. After 8 days in the shop I picked it up expecting all to be well. Not a chance. It would seem that they simply reinstalled XP over the top. It was worse than it had ever been.

To cap that, they had somehow uninstalled my modem drivers, rendering it impossible to get on the net to ask you guys for advice. And get this, out of the kindness of their hearts, they installed Norton antivirus!

Anyway, to cut a long story short, it's sorted. I bit the bullet and reformatted my HD and performed a clean install of XP. Much better. In fact, better than ever.

This is my first computer, except for an Amiga way back when (those were the days). As a novice I took everything at face value. When installing new programs I would always use the default installation method, usually called recommended or typical. Invariably this installs all sorts of other crap. Now I always do a custom install. That way I'm in control.

I'm obsessively neat. I like my computer to run perfectly. Hence my desire to use a third party defragger. However, if I'd just been more careful with my installations in the first place, I would never have needed the defragger.

To any newbies out there, don't be afraid. Anything is fixable. Seek advice first, this forum being a damn fine place to start. Then take things carefully, step by step, easy does it, caw canny.

Now I can get on and post some more inane ramblings. Bet you all can't wait.

PS How do I partition my HD?

And I never mentioned Speedisk. Oh shit...

Thanks for all the help & advice.

The :beer: 's are on me.

[t23]

PS How do I partition my HD?



PartitionMagic is your friend but can be your worst enemy too. It's a very easy to use piece of software and i ignore all the horror stories people tell about it, it has never failed me.

If you want to dual boot OS'es, System Commander from V Communications is the best boot manager around. A girl i used to know succeeded in installing 52 operating systems on four HD's using that.

[-swt-]

to partition your HDD, i recommand PowerQuest's "Partition Magic"
its a real good software to do that...

well... you can do it as well in DoS or with an build-in Partitioner in Windows, but i realy recommand Partition Magic

its realy easy to use !



silent greets

[traveller]

PartionMagic is indeed very powerfull and relatively easy to use. It also costs real money. A freeware option is Ranish Partion Manager (http://www.ranish.com/part/) . Whichever you choose, approach with caution! These programmes will allow you to do some very :cool: things to your hard drive, but also allow for massive damage (like reformatting your primary partion or hiding your OS). Take your time and pay attention to all the warnings. :cross-eye

[cudelleirbag]

I think you can do partitions on empty disk with Windows "Disk Management".
Win+R -> "diskmgmt.msc"

CL

[Roj]

I use diskeeper pro,works really good ,but it's not free.
So do I and I highly recommend it.