defragging multiple partitions / volumes / drives under Wind

[shassouneh 0]

Hi,

I was just wondering how you can set disk defragmenter to automatically defragment all drives! for instance, I wish to set Disk Defragmenter to defragment all drives by itself, without me having to do it manually after each drive or partition has been defragmented. Someone please help! :-)

[CrazyKillerMan 0]

all you ahve to do is use "Set it and forget it"

then simply set up each individual drive to start at a time.

 

Example:

My system has1 raid array with 2 partitions and 1 20 gig drive

 

C:

every 24 hours from 4am to 6am

D:

every 24 hours from 2am to 4am

E:

every 24 hours from 12am to 2am

 

 

or something like that.....i only have it on during weekdays....as with weeknds im on the computer till the wee hours.

[shassouneh 0]

thanx. Maybe i'll try that. is there a way you can actually set disk Defragmenter itself to defrag all partitions / volumes / drives?? I mean just like the deframgmenter in win9x???

[ghayes 0]

The previous poster is not using the Win2k built-in defragger but a 3rd party commercial defragger.

 

The built-in defragger is only designed to be run interactively and to only allow defragging of one partition at a time. If you are good with writing/maintaining scripts, check out http://www.morphasys.com/autodefrag/ for some scripts that you can use to schedule the Win2k built-in defragger (simulates a user clicking on the appropriate buttons in order to defrag).

 

Some of the other limitations of the built-in defragger:

 

- Cannot defragment directories on FATx partitions

- Cannot defragment the pagefile

- Cannot defragment the Master File Table ($MFT) and related metadata on NTFS partitions

- Doesn't consolidate free space

- Requires at least 20% free space in order to be able to defragment

- Is a multi-pass defragger - my require many passes in order to defragment

- Cannot be natively "network scheduled"

- Requires admin privs in order to run

 

In order to get native scheduling capabilities or to get around the limitations above, you need to go third party, of which there are several products to choose from:

 

PerfectDisk 2000 - www.raxco.com - Schedulable, defragments pagefile, directories and MFT and is the only commercial defragger capable of defragmenting the rest of the NTFS metadata ($LogFile, $Bitmap, etc...). PD2k runs on Win9x, WinMe, WinNT 4.0 and is certified for Win2k. From a central point you can schedule defrag activity throughout. No difference in functionality between the workstation and server version (both the workstation version AND server version can schedule through the network). PD2k is a "one pass" defragger - designed to do the job in one pass. PD2k also works very well with minimal usable freespace - as low as 5% where others may require alot more. PerfectDisk also does a excellent job of consoli[censored] freespace - which means that the partition re-fragments slower. PerfectDisk uses the MS provided API's for defragging files.

 

 

Diskeeper - www.execsoft.com - Schedulable, defragments pagefile, directories and MFT but is unable to defragment the rest of the NTFS metadata. DK runs on Win9x, WinNT 4.0 and is certified for Win2k. Requires their Server version if you want to schedule defrag activity through the network. May require multiple passes to completely defrag a partition. Diskeeper strongly suggests that you have at least 20% freespace in order to effectively defrag. Diskeeper uses the MS provided API's for defragging files.

 

 

O&O Defrag - www.oo-defrag.com. Schedulable, defragments pagefile and MFT but doesn't defragment the rest of the NTFS metadata. You have to purchase their "Network Addition" which allows you to schedule through the network. O&O Defrag is a "one pass" defragger - designed to do the job in one pass. They have a separate Network Edition of their defragger that I believe does network scheduling but it slots into their own MMC type "framework". Works well in lower freespace conditions. O&O Defrag uses the MS provided API's for defragging files.

 

 

Speedisk 5.x - www.symantec.com. Schedulable, defragments pagefile, directories and MFT but is unable to defragment the rest of the NTFS metadata. SD runs on WinNT 4.0 and Win2k. Requires purchase of their Norton System Center if you want to schedule defrag activity through the network. SD is a "one pass" defragger - designed to do the job in one pass. Works very well in low freespace conditions. SpeedDisk also does a excellent job of consoli[censored] freespace - which means that the partition re-fragments slower. SpeedDisk is the only defragger that does NOT use the MS provided API's for defragging files.

 

 

OnTrack's Suite - www.ontrack.com. A suite of products. You can't just buy the defragger. Schedulable. Works on NT 4 and Win2k. Don't know too much more about this one. Ontrack's defragger uses the MS provided API's for defragging files.

 

 

Defrag Commander and Defrag Commander NE - www.winternals.com. Remotely defrags NT and Win2K systems, also schedules the built-in defraggers on WinMe/9x and optionally Win2K. Works as an MMC snap-in. The NT/Win2K defrag engine is designed to do the job in "one pass" using the Microsoft defrag APIs but with no software installed on the systems being defragged. Defrag Commander also provides it's own defrag engine which does a far better job than using the Win2k built-in defragger. Provides no offline/boot time defragging of pagefiles, directories or NTFS metadata.

 

Vopt - www.goldenbow.com. Works on NT4 and Win9x. Not sure if it works under Windows 2000. I don't know much about this defragger.

 

Hope this helps!

 

- Greg/Raxco Software

 

Disclaimer: I work for Raxco Software, the maker of PerfectDisk 2000, as a systems engineer in the support department. I have tried to not be too biased in presenting information:-)

[CrazyKillerMan 0]

Ya

sorry about that...

When diskeeper is installed, the default defrag is over written to use diskeeper.

I should have known too!!!!

DAmmit....

[clutch 1]

Nice post ghayes, very informative.

[shassouneh 0]

Dear ghayes,

thanx a lot for the very useful info. I really apreciate it! I may actually give PD 2k a try sometime when i get y hands off of pc games for a bit

lol

thanx again! :-)