Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
Thu Apr 26, 2018, 04:06 PM Apr 2018

Defragmenting my laptop?

Do I need to defrag my laptop?
How often?

Is the 'tool' that comes with Windows 10 adequate?

I have done it every few months with the 'Windows' tool since buying my laptop about 3 years ago, but yesterday it was so slow I shut it down after about two hours.
Typically in the past it took about 15 minutes.

I regularly run Malwarebytes, adwcleaner, cleaner, etc.

Thanks

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Defragmenting my laptop? (Original Post) left-of-center2012 Apr 2018 OP
Run Registry Cleaner as well quartz007 Apr 2018 #1
Auslogics -- thanks left-of-center2012 May 2018 #4
hmmm...mine is older than the hills quartz007 May 2018 #5
I'll keep an eye on it left-of-center2012 May 2018 #6
I thought we no longer needed to defrag our computers. PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2018 #2
Windows 10 will do it automatically once the level of fragging gets a certain level mr_lebowski Apr 2018 #3
 

quartz007

(1,216 posts)
1. Run Registry Cleaner as well
Thu Apr 26, 2018, 04:18 PM
Apr 2018

As for defragging hard disk/electronic storage, Microsoft software in my Windows 7 is excruciatingly slow. Get a free defrag from Auslogics.. it works much faster and gives a great visual image of which files are being defragged.

Also periodically clean out browsing history, which can build up huge.

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
4. Auslogics -- thanks
Mon May 14, 2018, 08:07 PM
May 2018

I've downloaded Auslogics and it worked great. Really liked it. But, although I 'saved' it
it keeps disappearing and I have to re-download it.




 

quartz007

(1,216 posts)
5. hmmm...mine is older than the hills
Mon May 14, 2018, 09:34 PM
May 2018

Every time I run Auslogics defrag, it tells me newer versions are available, but I stay with the simpler & older version.

After downloading did you install it with correct options?
Any of your other programs disappear as well?

PoindexterOglethorpe

(26,727 posts)
2. I thought we no longer needed to defrag our computers.
Thu Apr 26, 2018, 04:33 PM
Apr 2018

I recall that as something we did before Windows, and when we still had to format our floppy discs. It's been so long I couldn't begin to tell you when I last did it.

 

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)
3. Windows 10 will do it automatically once the level of fragging gets a certain level
Thu Apr 26, 2018, 04:58 PM
Apr 2018

No need to bother running it manually, though you certain CAN if you want to.

And you shouldn't (IMHO) use any other defragger than the one that comes with Windows for that reason ... first of all every other defragger uses the Windows Engine to accomplish the task, so nothing else is actually 'faster'. Secondly, if the alternative defragger uses different algorithms to decide where to put the files on the disc (some have options like 'faster bootup defrag', that sort of thing), what will end up happening is that the built-in Windows auto defrag will eventually kick in ... it will trigger Window Defrag to rearrange and undo most if not all the stuff that other defragger did to your drive anyway.

I would try again but make sure you run the built in disk cleanup utility first, and make sure to click the 'cleanup system files' button straight off, this will add some stuff to the initial list like Windows Update Cleanup, which I def. recommend. Also helpful is deleting all but most recent Restore point, an option on a second tab you only see when you click 'cleanup system files'. Make sure you review you recycle bin first, restore stuff you might need ... but then let the cleanup tool empty your recycle bin. All these actions give the defragger (potentially) a lot less work to do.

I would just resolve to let it finish the job even if takes hours. It's a low-resource process and should not slow down your browsing and such all that much.

Latest Discussions»Help & Search»Computer Help and Support»Defragmenting my laptop?