Defragmenting

[randomer]

If I defragment my computer to make it faster (it's going slowly at the minute and i have run spybot, adaware and virus checker) will I lose any files?

Thanks.

[vehelpfulguy]

If it all works properly you shouldn't. but I would back up important files just in case.

Remember it can take hours to run, some people leaving it running overnight.

[yellowjohn]

remember to defrag with your pc in safe mode or the defrag will keep stopping and resetting as it cannot move files which are being used. thus it will take forever to finish.

i have defragged loads of times and never lost or had any files corrupted but v.h.g is right you should back up incase.

[Mattk]

ive never had any problems and i dont run in safe mode.

i defrag almost daily to keep it very quick using a free prog called 'diskeeper'.

[yellowjohn]

mattk that is about the silliest answer i have ever seen on here.why on earth would you want to defrag almost every day? to do this properly you would not be able to use your pc much during the day ,so if not using and deleting large files e.t.c ( the point of defraging ) why do it.

[fo3nix]

also worth noting: while older systems needed to be defraged one a week or so to keep optimum speed, modern OS's such as windows XP can do without a defrag for a good few months and still be very fast.

[Genesis]

I don't defrag in safe mode - didn't realise it was such an issue. Until recently I used 'diskeeper' too like Mattk (new PC and haven't got round to downloading it yet), and I do a weekly defrag which takes about 20-30 mins at the very most. I can imagine that a daily defrag would take far less time than that so not being able to use the PC while it runs wouldn't be a problem.

Oh, and I've never lost any files - as far as I know, anyway!

[cherrybomb]

As far as I know it is only the older versions of windows i.e 95/98 that will keep stop starting if you dont disable your screensaver & antivirus software. Windows XP and indeed most good antivirus software dont cause problems although the screensaver should be disabled and it certainly doesnt take hours to do a quick defrag as someone has suggested, nor are you likely to lose valuable files however regularly backing of your file is good housekeeping anyway. Also fragmentation is not only caused by the deletion of large files but also by uninstalling programs, bad shutdowns etc and daily defrag is not a problem.

[Catso]

Also, consider emptying the recycle bin and clearing IE's cache before you defrag.

I have never lost any files defragging, with W95/98 or NT/XP (in normal mode).

[randomer]

Thanks to all who replied.

[peanut42]

Also you can try a little prog called Ashampoo Magic Defrag which runs in the back ground all the time and senses when you use the pc and pauses until you have finished then starts again......................