Utilities

Why Defrag?
Today’s computers possess blazingly fast CPUs and high-speed static memory capable of millions of operations per second. Unfortunately, the fastest hard drives today can only process about 200 operations per second, which means the hard drive is often a bottleneck in your systems performance. As files are continuously deleted and added to the hard disk, fragmentation of those files occurs. The more fragmented the file, the longer it takes for the drive to access the data. According to Craig Jenson, chairman and CEO of Executive Software, it’s not uncommon for a file to be fragmented into 200 pieces.

Why Diskeeper?
It has always been suggested that users defrag their hard drives on a regular basis. Microsoft has even included a rudimentary defragmenter utility (Disk Defragmenter) in most of its Windows operating systems (excluding NT).

Unfortunately, the built-in tool has its limitations. For example, the built-in defragmenter in Windows 2000, performs an incomplete job because it doesn’t defrag the Master File Table (MFT), and the Paging Files must be manually operated and can’t be scheduled.

My favorite features in Diskeeper are “Set It and Forget It” and “Smart Scheduling,” which allow the software to automatically defrag drives during certain hours or when the computer is idle. By using the “Smart Scheduling” feature, I ensure my hard drives are running at their optimal performance level at all times.

Diskeeper 6.0 SE is much faster than the built-in defragmenter in Windows 2000. A report released by National Software Testing Labs (NSTL) concluded that Diskeeper is three to five times faster when defragging drives than the built-in defragmenter in Windows. Diskeeper performs its tasks in the background with minimal impact on other applications.

Alternatively, while the built-in defragmenter in Windows 2000 was running I noticed a serious impact in my system’s performance.

While the Workstation version is great for non-server machines, you must install the Server version on NT/2000/XP Servers.

Both versions perform identical functions, except the Server version can monitor and control all installations of Diskeeper on the network.

For example, I installed the Workstation version on all six workstations in my office (Windows NT and Windows 2000 Pro) and the Server version on my NT Server. From the NT Server I can monitor all six users’ disk status and initiate or schedule disk defrags remotely.

Diskeeper 6.0 SE performs exactly as promised. It offers a number of improvements over the built-in defragmenter in Windows, which makes it a valuable piece of software that warrants installation on both home and office computer systems.

At press time, Executive Software released Diskeeper 7.0 with added capabilities such as faster boot-time defragmentation of critical system files and PushInstall, which allows remote installation of Diskeeper workstations on a network.

The latest version also features Frag Guard, which helps prevent fragmentation of your most critical NT/2000/XP system files.

Some Diskeeper users can receive a free upgrade to Version 7.0. Contact the company for upgrade pricing information.

Price: $49.95, single-user; $229.95, 5-user; $389.95, 10-user; $259.95, single-user server version; $1,024.95; 5-user server version

Microsoft 95/98/Me/NT/2000 Pro/XP; Server Version: NT/2000/XP Server

Reviewed by Michael W. Newcomb, Esq., Mayfield & Associates, Solana Beach, Calif.

Feb/Mar '02 Issue

PROS
Automatically defrags drives in the background and does a more thorough job than the built-in Windows defragmenter.

CONS
Can’t install the Workstation version on NT/2000/XP servers.

VERDICT
Buy it. You won’t be sorry.

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Updated 01/29/02
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