Understanding "defrag language"

[flyboy 28]

Alright so I defrag my hard drive every week, like a good little computer nerd. The only thing I don't understand is what does all this nonsense mean?



I'm talking about the different colors that look like a bar code.

Any help is appreciated (just for my own curiosity)

James

[Apex]

The disk defragmenter has a pop-up window which appears when you click on the 'Analyze' button; it will tell you if you need to defrag or not, so once a week may not be necessary, but can't hurt.  There is a legend (visible in your screen shots) at the bottom which explain what the bars are all about, in general, the red bars denote fragmented files and those are the ones that the defragmenter gets back together; when the task is complete you should have few or no red bars.  For reasons unknown to myself, files get separated over time, and that reduces PC performance; defragmenting puts them back together again, after a defrag, the blue lines should more or less be continuous.  That's a non-tech explanation, but I think pretty accurate.

[Saitek]

James - I know exactly what you mean and it is very frustrating to look at I know. It is only curable by formatting that I have experienced I'm afraid.

Compressing the hard drive to make more space can make it a little tougher.

Can I guess that you started defragging regularly when it was already bad? I doubt you defragged every week from day 1. I did this one this morning.

Drive C
Now I'd like to know on mine what on earth that green bar of the unmovables is doing all lost at the end!



Drive E

[Craig.]

Best way to explain it.
Red: Bad
Green: ignore
blue: good
white: great:)

[flyboy 28]

Can I guess that you started defragging regularly when it was already bad? I doubt you defragged every week from day 1.

Co-rrect!


Thanks for the laymans terms, Craig.

[Saitek]

Ah I thought so James. Unless anyone else knows of a remedy, bite your tongue. If there is a remedy I'd like to know because we have another computer that is looking pretty poor.

[Craig.]

Just so you guys know, its not a big problem if the blue sections are not to the far left. It has no effect on your computer or how it runs. Maximise the window and you get an even clearer idea of the file spread. They dont need to be connected either. Its just a basic diagram to show you what files are not in the right place (as shown in red) and those that are (as shown in blue)

[MWISimmer]

Best way to explain it.
Red: Bad
Green: ignore
blue: good
white: great:)

Perfect explanation Craig.
Rob.

[Marlin]

Oh my God dude!!!!

I take it that that was a first huh??? LOL

Does FS9 run better now??

[richardd43]

I found it interesting that after I used the MS defrag utility I ran my Norton defragger and it showed my disk with a lot of fragmentation (can't remember the % now).

I am not real sure why the programs are so far apart or which one is the better.

[legoalex2000]

I found it interesting that after I used the MS defrag utility I ran my Norton defragger and it showed my disk with a lot of fragmentation (can't remember the % now).

I am not real sure why the programs are so far apart or which one is the better.

NEVER EVER!!!!! dont ever use a program to defrag, the best derag option is the windows defragger. mostly because the program has to defrag itslef sometimes, hanging the system. the windows DF cannot move, it's permanent.

i know this from personal experience.

Ramos

[richardd43]

NEVER EVER!!!!! dont ever use a program to defrag, the best derag option is the windows defragger. mostly because the program has to defrag itslef sometimes, hanging the system. the windows DF cannot move, it's permanent.

I have been useing Norton Utilities for 25 years and have never had a problem with it hanging my computer.

[legoalex2000]

I have been useing Norton Utilities for 25 years and have never had a problem with it hanging my computer.

well, to each his own. i've always had problems, but if you didn't, hey stick with it. just giving my opinion.

Ramos