[Elder-Pirate]

Originally Posted by Gizzmoe

Well, please enlighten me... What kind of problems can be solved with a defrag?

Disk Defragmenter is a system utility for analyzing local volumes and locating and consolidating fragmented files and folders. You can also defragment disks from a command line using the defrag command.

Before defragmenting files or folders, see Checklist: Defragmenting volumes.
For tips about using Disk Defragmenter, see Best practices.
For problem-solving instructions, see Troubleshooting.



Troubleshooting What problem are you having?
Computer is running slowly or opening programs on the hard disk has become slow.

Cause: The volumes on your hard disk may have become excessively fragmented, possibly because you have recently created a large number of files or folders or have installed new software.

Solution: Analyze and then defragment the volumes on your hard disk if necessary. For more information, see Best practices.


Best practices Analyzing before defragmenting
Analyze volumes before defragmenting them. After analyzing a volume, a dialog box tells you the percentage of fragmented files and folders on the volume and recommends whether to defragment the volume. Analyze volumes regularly and defragment them only when Disk Defragmenter recommends it. A good guideline is to analyze volumes at least once a week. If you seldom need to defragment volumes, analyze volumes monthly instead of weekly.

Analyzing after large numbers of files are added
Volumes might become excessively fragmented when users add a large number of files or folders, so be sure to analyze volumes after this happens. Generally, volumes on busy file servers should be defragmented more often than those on single-user workstations.
Ensure that your disk has at least 15% free space
A volume must have at least 15% free space for Disk Defragmenter to completely and adequately defragment it. Disk Defragmenter uses this space as a sorting area for file fragments. If a volume has less than 15% free space, Disk Defragmenter will only partially defragment it. To increase the free space on a volume, delete unneeded files or move them to another disk.
Defragmenting during low-usage periods
Defragment file server volumes during low-volume usage periods to minimize the effect that the defragmentation process has on file server performance. The time that Disk Defragmenter takes to defragment a volume depends on several factors, including the size of the volume, the number of files on the volume, the number of fragmented files, and available system resources.
Defragmenting after installing software or installing Windows
Defragment volumes after installing software or after performing an upgrade or clean install of Windows. Volumes often become fragmented after installing software, so running Disk Defragmenter helps to ensure the best file system performance.






Like I said its something like not changing the oil in your car. Sooner or later the block will cease, allthough your computer will not cease but it may run so slow it will seem to cease.

Bet you 2bits that with your mod making and mod loading ( not counting other installs on your computer ) that if you allready have not used 'Defragmenter' you will probably notice the defrag page will be solid red. If you run defrag you may notice the FPS in SH3 will increase allthough not much but they should increase and in general the computer overall should run smoother, mine does and my computer is a pretty hopped up "Alienware" Aurora.

I know I'm an old fart and I may not know computers like you may but I do change my oil and I have a sweet running machine.



P.S. Anyone whom may like to learn more about 'Defragmenting' you can find all you may want to know at : Start/Program/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Defragmenter/Help

I just highlighted a small portion of 'Defragmenter'.


Allthough I can not prove it but if someones system is really clogged up it could possibly crash to desktop especially in SH3 when the graphic card is drawing a convoy or something of that nature and the files are scattered all over the place because of non Defrag use.