Software Forum

Sorry if this suggestion has been previously mentioned; as the main aim of AceUtilities is to clean up the general dross which accumulates, might you develop a really good fast defragmenter as a final touch? I use VOPTXP which is very good indeed, but the updates are very few and far between and it is a bit of a trial having to switch programmes.
At present, I prefer CompleteCleanup to AUs surfing filth remover (yours knocks out a couple of files which I cannot trace); so I am tending to use spyware followed by Cleanup followed by AU followed by VoptXP before most shutdowns. True, I have nothing better to do (for very good reasons) but a nice neat, clean disc
shown on a tiny graphic display would be a considerable joy to achieve within ONE application.......and worth a small price adjustment I would judge
regards
Teej

Well, there is already a "RegCompactor Defrager" which is FREE if one purchases AU! Unless you're talking about a disk defrag program.

Cal, I think he was referring to a disk defragmenter.

airdale, there are excellent defrag software out there like diskeeper, voptxp, PerfectDisk, etc, and so our own defrag program is not financially viable. (It needs a lot of work). THanks anyway for the suggestion though.

yours knocks out a couple of files which I cannot trace

Can you please explain ?

Best to leave defragging to those who specialize in it. As Hari correctly points out it is a lot of effort and if not done properly can corrupt data or make things perform worse. The oldest defraggers have probably 20 years of refinement under their belts.

Hi Folks

I think Mr. Norton has done a pretty good job of making a defragmentation Program and Mr. Gates has upgraded it pretty good too.I DO wonder how much Norton got paid for the effort of writing the OEM program...

Perhaps you could speed up the process of re-arranging the little magnetic bit and pieces,which we call Memory, by doin some of the tricks of the trade...

These apply to Windows98/98se..

Windows XP does'nt need much help in this area(far as I can tell)
I'd sure be glad to hear of way to improve XP defrag process if anyone knows some..

1. If you use Windows98 try replacing the OEM "Defrag.exe" with the one from WindowsMe...

2. When selecting switches in the Defrag setup window;
NEVER
"Arrange Programs for quickest Start"
...(This is a real time waster and likely would'nt be of any advantage unless you only use one or two primary programs and then it would only help in starting those two ,or so ..)
Un-checking this will greatly speed the defrag time...

3. It's OK to dot the switch to
"Check Drive for Errors" if you want
BUT
Scandisk does ,virtually, the same thing and more, when you run it with all the switches ON...
Un-checking this will speed you up porportionate to the Errors on the drive and How often you run scandisk....

4. Run the defragmentor as often as possible..
Many networks run defrag "continually" on there system machines..
The more the merrier...

5. Also turn OFF any thing not needed to run Windows..Use the Task Manager or a "Plugin based tweaking program
(Like eg.)"Xsetup"(>www.xteq.com<Google it)

I use "Power defrag too(http://www.powerdefrag.com/home.htm)
I have a free version for Win9x but I see they have gone share ware
It uses an improved Algorythim(they say) and works well...

Or ,on Win9x you can Edit the System.ini file

*IF YOU KNOW HOW AND HOW TO RE-EDIT IT FROM DOS PROMPT AFTER RE-BOOT*...

In the System.ini File;
Alter the Line
"SHELL=EXPLORER.EXE"
TO
"SHELL=DEFRAG.EXE"

Restart the machine and ONLY the Defrag.exe will run,Freeing resource for the defragging..

Remember when you do this way ;
YOU MUST RE-EDIT THE SYSTEM.INI FILE BACK TO

"SHELL=EXPLORER.EXE"

BY STARTING TO THE DOS PROMPT AND USING THE DOS EDITOR.
WINDOWS WILL NOT START WITH THIS LINE("SHELL=DEFRAG.EXE") IN THE SYSTEM.INI...(ONLY THE DEFRAGGER WILL START)
IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO EDIT SYSTEM FILES ,FROM DOS,DON'T MESS WITH IT...

First time I did this I could'nt get past the doss prompt for a month till I read the book!

Finally;
Keep your drive trim by useing a file wiper(like in ACE UTILITIES) TO DELETE THING YOU DON'T NEED...

"Using ACE UTILITIES on a regular basis will do as much or more than Defragging ..

So tell all your friends to try ACE UTILITIES(The Pride of the Sub-Continent)

ACE!"THE BEST SYSTEM MAINTAINENCE UTILITY KNOW TO MANKIND!"

Happy Defragging
jazz...........aka............DenB.........

As usual Jazz, you always give insight!!!

I have bought and used Norton's speed disk, diskeeper and PerfectDisk. I ran the 30 trial of System Mechanic and gave their defrag a try (slowest defrag ever!) I have used the simple/basic Windows defrag and I would never use it or rely on it for any serious defrag - it is not worth using IMHO.

I would buy PerfectDisk multiple times over every other one. It works extremely well, you don't have to reconfigure your system.ini or go through any other special steps. It will run with other software working and with lower memory requirements. It will also perform a "boot time" defrag to defrag window files which are locked after windows opens. It is as good a defrag as ACE is an all-in-one utility. It does it's job and does an excellent job. Also has a 30-day trial! http://www.raxco.com give it a try.

At the risk of taking this slightly off topic, I discovered that the problem with System Mechanic is that it slows to an absolute crawl when it hits a large compressed file, which there are plenty of in the Windows patch undo's.

Unfortunately their website did not give me a way to contact them to report the problem, so I didn't, and they rapidly lost the business to Ace and Diskeeper.

Always go for dedicated ones when you look for defrag / antivirus / anti-spyware/backup tools.