Re: iDefrag program in Leopard

In article <ABPvj.2549$fX7.2127@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, CZ
<CZ@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From O'Reilly's book "Running Mac OS X Tiger", p 187: when using OS X's
journaling f/s:
Re: Auto defragging:
"When opened, if a file has > 8 fragments, and is < 20 MB in size, it is
moved to contiguous disk space"
Re: Adaptive hot-file clustering:
Frequently read but rarely changed "small" files are moved to the fasted
part of the hard disk
Files in that area that are not so qualified are moved from that area

which means that the file system automatically defragments itself, and
therefore there's no need for a third party utility.

From: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25668
If your disks are almost full, and you often modify or create large files
(such as editing video, but see the Tip below if you use iMovie and Mac OS X
10.3), there's a chance the disks could be fragmented. In this case, you
might benefit from defragmentation, which can be performed with some
third-party disk utilities.

did you even read that url? it explains why defragmenting is *not*
needed except in very specific scenarios, such as editing video. most
people don't do high end video work, and those who do usually have a
dedicated drive *just* for the video files. it also explains that
defragmenting can make things *slower* in some cases.

Also, some Mac user have found defragging beneficial:
http://www.macupdate.com/reviews.php?id=16819

they think it is. i didn't see any actual benchmarks.

You are locked into the Mac not needing defragmentation, that is your issue.
In some situations, OS X can benefit from defragmentation, even Apple admits
it.

apple admits that it's not needed except for a few uncommon scenarios
and you haven't given any indication that you are in one of those.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: disk defragmentation
    ... with 80% free disk space should not be creating difficulties. ... In ScanDefrag, I also set the option for "Page ... periodical defragmentation, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: how I make the desfragmentation in my computer
    ... In Windows Explorer (called "My Computer" ... Exactly, the correct word is defragmentation and clearly, if we asked ... make a disk defragmentation. ... topic of this newsgroup. ...
    (microsoft.public.word.newusers)
  • Re: Reserved Files and Defragmentation
    ... > I'm trying to get a grip on defragmentation issues for my NTFS ... > I have installed the demo versions of both Disk Keeper 8 and Perfect ... > to greatly reduce the amount of contiguous free space - thus ... > associated monster files, but this isn't something I would want to do ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain)
  • Re: Long load time for documents
    ... detect and repair. ... Then clean up your PC, I would recommend you to run some anti spy SW, ... You might also consider to run defragmentation of your HDD. ... And have a look at your hard disk: if it's over 80 per cent full, ...
    (microsoft.public.mac.office.word)
  • Re: iDefrag program in Leopard
    ... Re: Adaptive hot-file clustering: ... Frequently read but rarely changed "small" files are moved to the fasted part of the hard disk ... If your disks are almost full, and you often modify or create large files (such as editing video, but see the Tip below if you use iMovie and Mac OS X 10.3), there's a chance the disks could be fragmented. ... In this case, you might benefit from defragmentation, which can be performed with some third-party disk utilities. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.system)