Subscribe via e-mail: In the past, defragmented disks were the major reason why computers became slow over time. Since Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 support scheduled defragmentation, this problem is no longer that serious. However, the fact that Microsoft offers a defragmentation API shows that room still exists for third-party tools.
The website of the free defragmentation tool MyDefrag also addresses this topic. These are the reasons the tool’s developers give for using MyDefrag instead of the Windows Disk Defragmenter:
- Much faster.
- Totally automatic, extremely easy to use.
- Optimized for daily use.
- Disk optimization, several strategies.
- Directories are placed together.
- Reclaims NTFS reserved areas after disk-full.
- Maintains free spaces for temporary files.
- Can defragment very full harddisks.
- Can defragment very large files.
- Can defragment individual directories and files.
- Can be run automatically with the Windows Scheduler.
- Can be used from the commandline.
- Can be used as a screen saver.
- Can be run from cdrom or memory stick.
- Script language, can be customized.
It is difficult to verify if MyDefrag is really faster than the Windows Diskfragementer because you need two equally fragmented disks. What I find most interesting about the tool is that it allows you to script defragmentation tasks. MyDefrag comes already with special scripts daily, weekly, and monthly defragmentation tasks. The daily defragmentation task is the fastest and has the least impact on the machine. The other tasks are slower but more thorough.
Other things you can do in scripts is to only defragment certain file types, sort files according to various criteria (size, last access, last change, etc.) and advanced tasks like moving files from the NTFS reserved area to normal disk space. Check out the complete list of MyDefrag script commands for more information.
The defragmentation tool also distinguishes between data and system disks and can defrag flash memory disks. MyDefrag’s graphical user interface doesn’t belong to the best I have seen, but, I guess, this won’t bother the scripting guys. I tested MyDefrag v4.3.1 on Windows 7.
What is your favorite defragmentation tool?
MyDefrag
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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yup, i use it too since some years (in the past it was called JkDefrag) and very happy with it.
you could also try MyDefragPowerGUI made by Emiel Wieldraaijer. it has a nicer and more powerful gui, is portable and can also integrate ccleaner and some other useful tools.
get it here: http://www.wieldraaijer.nl/
and with the MyDefrag Script Creator you’re able to create your very own defragmenter scripts for your special needs.
get it here: hofmannc.de/mdsc
also check out the MyDefrag forums for more custom scripts.
Thanks a lot for these useful tips! MyDefragPowerGUI looks indeed much better than original user interface.
“It is difficult to verify if MyDefrag is really faster than the Windows Diskfragementer because you need two equally fragmented disks.”
Actually, it’s very easy: Make an image copy of one badly fragmented disk onto another disk, preferably the same model or something of similar speed. Run Windows defrag on one, MyDefrag on the other.
@bob yes, you could do an sector-by-sector drive image like norton ghost and some others can do. should copy the defragmentation 1:1 for you. but the most important for me is, that it makes his job good and is flexible for me (like zones i can easily create using the MyDefrag Script Creator).