Hi Gold Tutor. Re "Disc Defragmentation"
Just been reading your post on disk defragmentation. It's a subject I have been looking up on recently, as it's a most important basic maintenance operation on the computer. The below "rant" is my perception after reviewing Windows XP Home Edition OS.
Lucky for you, Microsoft provide a couple of tools to help keep your hard drive and the programs on it healthy and happy (and running longer) as well. The best part is (if you have Windows), they're already loaded on your machine!
/RANT ON
Sorry, that's not how I see it at ALL. It's like if you buy a brand new $40,000 truck, with leather upholstery, cruise control, the whole caboodle, LOADED as it were, only to find when you drive this wonderful new truck off the parking lot it comes equipped only with a manual stick shift, and unfriggin believably only has THIRD GEAR or something. Disk defragmentation is that basic and important an operation. The facility sold with the OS can only be used manually and they have hobbled it so you cannot schedule with it. It also has been designed not to defragment your system files, which is also a very important basic operation. That will slow down your system more then anything. (imho, interested in any other view)
What you have to do is now buy the proper auto gearbox for the fancy vehicle you just bought. Get ready to double up your initial cost. I mean you have to buy software like “Office 2000” to use spreadsheets and word processing. A proper disc defragmenter is not a basic part of the OS??. If so, Microsoft can pull my other leg as it has bells on it.
/RANT OFF
There are several commercial programs available that do the job properly. I think this is one of the preferred systems..
windows-defrag.com
I am sure it’s very good. The “free download” is for 30 days only btw, then you fork out $40 or whatever. I don’t mind buying software, but I don’t like being tricked into this. So, my favourite anarchist phrase came to mind and I cruised the net looking for a freebie that could do the same job. I found one that I am evaluating (see "DrvCareXP" )..
lexunfreeware.com
DrvCareXP
You do need to have Microsoft's .NET Framework v1.1 loaded.
PLEASE NOTE:- Caution on freebies. For risk takers only. I have only run it for a day, and I do have a complete cast iron back up of my system if it messes everything up. There was some problems after I downloaded the executive software in the first link then uninstalled it. Didn't like to be "locked in" paying for the product. Then I kept getting a office wizard automatically loading. My XP research indicates this is because of another XP type problem though, and I killed this particular and very bad demon by the usual method of re installing my whole system from ghost. The Lexun freeware DiveCareXP does seem to work though, I scheduled defragmentation of all my drives several times over early this morning. Everything looks as sharp as a razor this morning –g-
OK, on another subject I posted on recently. The start menu and software loading up into the task tray when it’s not wanted. Happens easily if you have several people using their own accounts, and loading their own software. In each case I found that there was a setting option in the software that had been checked “Start program automatically on startup?”. Once that was de- selected all was well. An icon can be used on the users desktop to start what ever they want to load.
I think many people who design software are brain dead. Sorry, but I just feel that way. The concern and the comfort of the customer seems to be the last thing on the designers mind. Touting the product is “job number one” in most cases.
Actually, take little notice of my rants. I seem to be just getting the hang of this “mashing the buttons on the ‘puter” these days –g-
...and god bless the folks who design and distribute good freeware. You have saved us so much trouble on so many occasions. Thank you. |
