We continue to acquaint readers with defragmenters for the Windows operating system. Recall that the hero of the last article was Defraggler, developed by the creators of CCleaner. It cannot be said that he was somehow unique, but he coped with his direct task with a bang.
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Today we will not only study one more program, but also summarize the results of consideration of all three. And this series of articles will not end there, but will pause for a while. This decision was made in order to diversify the topics of published articles.A new object of our attention was Auslogics Disk Defrag Pro - an Australian defragmenter released by a well-known developer of various applications for the Windows operating system. The program boasts of its speed of operation and, like O&O Defrag, offers a premium version. True, there is a free solution, but we will focus on the Pro edition in order to fully assess its capabilities and potential.
The following equipment was used for testing:
- Laptop Lenovo G50-70 (OS Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit; Dual Core AMD E1-6010, 1347 MHz; AMD Radeon R2; 2 GB DDR3-1600 DDR3 SDRAM, WDC WD25 00LPCX-24C6HT0 (250 GB, 5400 RPM, SATA 6 Gbps).
- Desktop OEM assembly (Windows 10 Pro 64-bit; Gigabyte GA-970-Gaming; AMD FX-6300 (4200 MHz); Sapphire RX 460, 4 GB; Kingston HyperX Fury DDR3-1800, 8 GB; SSD Kingston, 128 GB , WDC, 1 TB).
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Auslogics Disk Defrag Pro
The application is small in size, works with all popular file systems, including the ancient FAT 16, and uses a proprietary algorithm to prevent further file fragmentation. The work with solid-state drives in the form of their optimization has also been implemented. Not without VSS-mode.
Key features:
- Defragmentation of locked system files;
- Four ways to optimize file placement;
- Special algorithms for SSD drives and VSS mode;
- Preventing file fragmentation;
- Disk performance monitoring.
Interface
First of all, Auslogics Disk Defrag Pro offers presetting. You can specify in what capacity you use your computer - for various daily tasks, like a workstation, for games, or as a server. The defragmentation method will depend on this. And depending on the choice, the application will offer to clarify, for example, how often you work with documents and use the Internet.
Next, we indicate free days, thanks to which you can set up auto-optimization and a schedule. Thus, the program's work schedule is formed: quick defragmentation after 15 minutes of inactivity and full on weekends. Everything is simple and straightforward.
If we talk about the Disk Defrag Pro interface itself, then this is the proprietary design of Auslogics, inherent in all the developer's software. It consists of several windows with tabs, so initially the eyes run up, however, upon closer examination, everything becomes clear.
The hard drive is one of the most important components of a computer, but not all users pay due attention to it. If the processor, video card, RAM and other components fail, they can be replaced quite simply, while with a breakdown of the drive, the owner of the computer will lose all his data, which obviously no one wants. To avoid a hard drive failure, you must carefully monitor it and regularly defragment it.
What is Disk Defragmenter
The defragmentation process is very simple and very important, but many people forget about the need to carry it out. It organizes the files on your hard drive so that the operating system can access them more easily and quickly when requested.
During the work of the hard disk, new information constantly appears on it. The user downloads files from the Internet, installs programs and games, creates new documents and performs a number of other tasks. When information is stored on a hard disk, it occupies a certain number of free clusters on it. At the time of deleting, changing, copying files, the clusters are cleared, but free space is formed between one file and another on the hard disk. Disk defragmentation is necessary to organize the files on the disk, and they were sequentially going one after another, and there were no free clusters between them.
Disk defragmentation on Windows must be performed because:
Some users are aware of the need for defragmentation, but do not perform it. This is due to the fact that this process is very lengthy, and it can take up to ten hours to organize files on a volume drive. At the same time, the procedure time can be significantly reduced, for this it is enough to perform it on a monthly basis, as recommended by hard drive manufacturers. The more often you defragment, the less data on the drive will have to be moved, and therefore the process will be faster.
Important: Defragmenting is only necessary on rotating head hard drives, while it is not needed on SSDs. Defragmenting a solid-state drive will only reduce the number of write cycles to it, but will not give a performance gain.
How to defragment a disk
To defragment a disk, you need to start the appropriate process. The Windows operating system contains a special tool that allows you to defragment your hard drive. Unfortunately, it is not perfect and in most cases it is more convenient to use third-party utilities. Different programs contain their own algorithms for defragmenting the drive. Below we will give an example of several such applications and show you how to do the job of organizing clusters using the system tools.
Defragmenting your hard drive using Windows
If you are wondering how to defragment a disk in Windows 10 or earlier versions of the operating system, then this is quite easy to do. To run the standard defragmentation tool, you must:
Please note that in this menu item you can also configure the "Scheduled optimization". When choosing the appropriate item, it is necessary to set the frequency of the process and the hard disk / disks that will be subjected to it. After that, the system will automatically defragment the drive according to the selected schedule.
Hard disk defragmentation software
There are dozens of applications that allow you to defragment your hard drive. Each of them has its own pros and cons. Some are better suited for large hard drives or storage drives that are installed on servers, while others are better for home use. Below we suggest looking at a couple of free hard drive defragmenter programs.
The simplest and most convenient application for defragmenting your hard drive on your home computer is Defraggler. The free version of the program, which can be downloaded from the official website of the developers, does not have wide functionality, but it copes with its main task.
The application is officially localized into Russian, and it allows you to defragment not only the entire disk, but also a separate program or folder. The program also provides an option with fast disk defragmentation.
Auslogics Disk Defrag Free is a free version of the application of the same name from Auslogics. You can also download it from the official website of the developers. The application is a little more functional than Defraggler, and it does not have a Russian language, which is why it is more difficult to work with it. At the same time, the program has a number of functions that are not available in the official hard disk optimization tool from Windows and in the Defraggler application.
To improve the performance of your computer, you should periodically clean up your hard drives. Defragmentation utilities allow you to move files within one partition in such a way that the components of one program are arranged in sequential order. All this speeds up the computer.
The best programs to defragment your disk
Today there are several popular tools for defragmenting a computer disk. Each has its own advantages.
Defraggler
One of the best free utilities for tidying up computer hard drives. Allows you to optimize the work of not only the whole disk, but also individual subsections and directories.
Smart defrag
Another free disk defragmentation app. You can run the application at boot time, which will move the system files.
There is a free and a paid version of the program. The latter has more advanced functionality. The tool allows you not only to put things in order on the storage medium, but also to check it for errors.
Puran defrag
Has all the functions of the programs described above. At the same time, it allows you to program a disk defragmentation schedule.
Disk Speedup
A free utility that works not only with disks, but also with files and directories. It has advanced functionality that allows you to set certain defragmentation settings.
So, you can move rarely used program components to the end of the disk, and frequently used ones to the beginning. This significantly speeds up the system.
A program that optimizes the hard disk several times faster than a regular OS application. After starting the program, just select the desired partition and start defragmentation.
An optimization system that includes many functions, including disk defragmentation.
The program has a simple, intuitive interface, as well as the usual functions for such an application, including the ability to check the disk for errors.
The tool allows both beginners and experienced users to work, depending on the program settings. In the latter case, advanced functionality allows you to perform complex operations to optimize the system.
MyDefrag
This is almost a complete analogue of the previous program, created by a lone programmer for himself.
Disk defragmenters can optimize system performance and improve computer performance. If you want your device to work for a long time, then you should not neglect the system utilities and applications. In addition, there are many options for both experienced users and beginners.
Defraggler designed to defragment the entire hard drive or individual files. This small, free and easy-to-use Windows application supports NTFS and FAT32 systems.
Most defragmentation tools can only defragment the entire disk, which can take a certain amount of time. Defraggler allows you to specify one or more files or folders, as well as the entire drive for defragmentation.
When Defraggler reads or writes files, it uses the same methods that Windows uses. Using Defraggler is as safe for your files as using the standard Windows defragmenter.
Using analysis, you can quickly see how fragmented your hard drive is. The disk map shows you blocks that are empty, unfragmented, or in need of defragmentation.
Defraggler Key Features
Boost your hard drive performance with fast defragmentationOrganizes empty disk space to further prevent fragmentation
Defragmentation while the computer is idle. Set Defraggler job to perform daily, weekly or monthly tasks
Support for all modern versions of Windows and many localizations
Defragmenting system files at boot time
Defraggler is developed by Piriform, which also offers its users the popular free tools CCleaner and Recuva.
Defragmenters significantly speed up the reading and writing of files to the hard disk of your computer, while increasing its performance. The Windows operating system has a built-in program for solving this kind of task by default, but it is not as effective as third-party software. It will be discussed below.
Defragmentation is a very important optimization process, this procedure allows you to arrange file fragments in a convenient order for the operating system, while speeding up the work of the hard drive and the entire PC as a whole. The programs presented in the article are successfully solving this problem.
The first defragmenter that can bypass the level of efficiency built into Windows is a product from Auslogics. He knows how to monitor HDD using the built-in S.M.A.R.T. Can defragment hard drives larger than 1TB. Works with file systems FAT16, FAT32, NTFS in 32 and 64 bit OS. If you want to automate the optimization process, the program has a function for creating tasks for their execution without user intervention.
Auslogics Disk Defrag is completely free, but the developers have inserted ads wherever possible. When installing, there is a risk of getting a lot of unnecessary adware in addition.
A very simple program that has several defragmentation algorithms in its arsenal and supports work with Flash drives. All performed actions are recorded in a log file, which can be viewed and analyzed at any time. A set of scripts will allow you to choose the most suitable option for optimizing disk volumes, depending on the degree of fragmentation.
MayDefrag is free, but the problem is that it was only partially Russified. Most of the information boxes are never translated. The software has not been supported by the developer for a long time, but it remains relevant to this day.
Like the product from Auslogics, Defraggler has a task scheduling function for automating processes. It has only two main tools: analysis and defragmentation, but such a program does not need more.
The interface is in Russian, there are functions for optimizing individual files, and all this is available for free.
The first program on our list that can make your work easier - it prevents file fragmentation using the function IntelliWrite... This means that the defragmentation process will occur much less frequently, and this, in turn, will increase the performance of the computer. Diskiper is very easy to automate, and has a wide range of settings for this: for example, automatic optimization and computer power management.
Once you have set all the parameters for yourself, you can forget about the existence of this defragmenter, because it will do everything for you.
PerfectDisk combines some of the useful features of Auslogics Disk Defrag and Diskeeper. For example, it also prevents the process of disk fragmentation and has built-in technology to monitor the S.M.A.R.T. Processes are automated using built-in calendars with the ability to customize them in detail. A good bonus for users of this powerful tool will be the function of cleaning partitions of the hard drive, which removes all unnecessary system files, freeing up space.
Accordingly, such a powerful program will have to be paid for. There is a limited free version, but it is also very useful for the computer. The Russian-language interface with PerfectDiske is officially absent.
One of the most powerful and popular tools from the IOBit company. Has a modern, well-thought-out graphical interface, distinguishable from all programs presented in the article. Smart Defrag has many useful features to help you avoid thinking about defragmenting your system. It can work in a quiet mode, that is, without notifications, optimizing the system without user intervention.
Smart Defrag can perform defragmentation at computer startup, excluding files and folders you have selected in advance. Like PerfectDisk, it can free up space on your hard drive. Gamers will appreciate the game optimization feature that maximizes their performance.
UltraDefrag is a fairly simple and useful defragmenter today. He knows how to optimize the space before starting the OS, work with the main file table MFT. Has a wide range of options, adjustable through a text file.
This program has all the necessary advantages: free, Russified, small in volume, and finally, it shows amazing results of hard drive optimization.
This is one of the most common products from O&O Software in this segment. In addition to simple system analysis, O&O Defrag has as many as 6 unique defragmentation methods. The O&O DiskCleaner and O&O DiskStat tools optimize the hard disk and provide the most detailed information on the results of this process.
The big advantage of O&O Defrag is its support for internal and external USB devices. This allows you to optimize Flash drives, SSD drives, and other storage devices. In addition, the program can work with several volumes at the same time, and can fully automate the defragmentation process.
Vopt
The program has not been supported for a long time, and at first glance it seems that it is completely outdated, but this is far from the case. The algorithms developed by Golden Bow Systems for this defragmenter are still relevant even on the newest operating systems. The Vopt interface contains many small but very useful functions for optimizing your hard drive.
There are small systems for monitoring the performance of the hard drive, the function of erasing free space, and all this is free. There are two defragmentation modes available, Task Scheduler and Exception List. However, these are all the basic tools present in all modern defragmenters.
Puran Defrag is a free hard disk optimization program with detailed settings for each of the processes. Like most previous defragmenters, it also provides automation capabilities. The main difference from other representatives of this segment is that the developers have focused not on the number of functions, but on a wide range of parameters for them. Puran Defrag will be able to boost your PC's performance comfortably.
It's free and easy to use. Unfortunately, the program has not been supported since 2013, but it is still relevant for modern computers. Although there is no Russification, the interface is intuitive.
Of course, these are not all possible defragmenters that have earned respect from users, but they are distinguished due to their simplicity or, conversely, a wide range of useful functions. The programs in this segment are very useful for file systems because they maximize performance by organizing the scattered fragments in space.
