Defragging XP

[mommalina]

=photolady

One thing I don't do is ask if I should defrag a harddrive, if it looks fragmented, then it needs it.
How can I tell if the harddrive "looks" fragmented?

Every week, I go to Disk Defragmenter and have it analyze. If it indicates a defrag is not necessary, I defrag only if I've noticed my computer seems to have slowed down. Otherwise, I check again next week.

Also, can you tell me if I'm I cleaning out temporary files the correct way (%temp% and Disk Cleanup)?

I will try CrapCleaner. Thanks Photolady and Rich.

Lina

[mylanta]

Lina,
Take the guesswork out of it and buy this. Once installed use "set and forget" set for "smart scan", then go and defrag it once and from here on it will do it by itself. try the 30 day trial first if you like:
http://www.diskeeper.com/landing/landing.asp?RId=1046&ad=dk10google&APID=PPS0001292
The odds are you do need to defragment regardless of what the Windows defrag tells you.

[Dan18960]

[Quote]
Every week, I go to Disk Defragmenter and have it analyze. If it indicates a defrag is not necessary, I defrag only if I've noticed my computer seems to have slowed down. Otherwise, I check again next week.

Also, can you tell me if I'm I cleaning out temporary files the correct way (%temp% and Disk Cleanup)?

I will try CrapCleaner. Thanks Photolady and Rich.

Lina[Quote]

I started this as a NEW thread since it was actually in PhotoLady's delema about Migrating a hard drive.

Lina,

I use to be paranoid about Windows 98 because it need continuous drive space to manage the page file sys - but XP is far from Windows 98 (any flavor) and I may be lucky if I do a defrag once a year now. In fact, I can't remember the last time I defragged any of my XP systems.

Basically, I will go in every once and awhile and clean out the user \ local settings \ Temp folder and Temporary Internet Files \ Content.IE5 folder. I delete all the files that are there (sometimes printers - HP being the most obvious needing to keep tmp files alive - have a few files that won't delete but the folders and tmp files otherwise are gone). I then go under Temporary Internet Files \ Content.IE5 and delete EVERY thing under there - again when needed IE will create what it wants to hold onto.

Your (Lina) already running a first class antivirus, spyware blocker, and popup ad protection (although I use Admuncher for the latter) - so sit back and relax, enjoy doing some just computing for awhile. Life is too short to be worried that you will get something that you are almost iron clad protected against.

[mylanta]

[quote]
Every week, I go to Disk Defragmenter and have it analyze. If it indicates a defrag is not necessary, I defrag only if I've noticed my computer seems to have slowed down. Otherwise, I check again next week.

Also, can you tell me if I'm I cleaning out temporary files the correct way (%temp% and Disk Cleanup)?

I will try CrapCleaner. Thanks Photolady and Rich.

Lina[quote]

I started this as a NEW thread since it was actually in PhotoLady's delema about Migrating a hard drive.

Lina,

I use to be paranoid about Windows 98 because it need continuous drive space to manage the page file sys - but XP is far from Windows 98 (any flavor) and I may be lucky if I do a defrag once a year now. In fact, I can't remember the last time I defragged any of my XP systems.

Basically, I will go in every once and awhile and clean out the user \ local settings \ Temp folder and Temporary Internet Files \ Content.IE5 folder. I delete all the files that are there (sometimes printers - HP being the most obvious needing to keep tmp files alive - have a few files that won't delete but the folders and tmp files otherwise are gone). I then go under Temporary Internet Files \ Content.IE5 and delete EVERY thing under there - again when needed IE will create what it wants to hold onto.

Your (Lina) already running a first class antivirus, spyware blocker, and popup ad protection (although I use Admuncher for the latter) - so sit back and relax, enjoy doing some just computing for awhile. Life is too short to be worried that you will get something that you are almost iron clad protected against.


Good idea but why not move the whole post????
Once a year, I thought you were a diskeeper devotee?
No way it still should be done weekly!

[photolady]

If you do go dump those files Dan says to, and you can't see "Local Settings" folder, it's because it's hidden. You have to make windows show it by going to "Tools>Folder options>View. Tick the radio button that says "show hidden files and folders" and uncheck "hide known extensions" Apply and ok out. Now you can that folder under your user name folder.

[tonyd]

I agree with the previous posts on cleaning files. I used to do it manually, not I just us JV16 PowerTools to clean unneeded files.

As far as defrag, I don't recommend it any more unless your machine has slowed and it says that it needs to be defrag'd. Defrag'ing is a hard drive intensive task. I don't like beating up the cheap hard drives any more than necessary.

-td

[photolady]

I don't defrag mine that often either, but each time I do..usually a month or has gone by and it always says it doesn't need defragging. That's when I look at the red portions and if it looks fragmented enough, I go ahead and do so. It's not like I do this every day. ;)

[jcampi]

I use Perfect Disk Version 7 and love it. It beats the crap out of the stand defrag that comes with Windows. So far it's the best defrag program I've ever used. It is super quick and never gives me an issue. Try the evaluation version. I'll bet you'll love it!

[mommalina]

If you do go dump those files Dan says to, and you can't see "Local Settings" folder, it's because it's hidden. You have to make windows show it by going to "Tools>Folder options>View. Tick the radio button that says "show hidden files and folders" and uncheck "hide known extensions" Apply and ok out. Now you can that folder under your user name folder.

Photolady, thanks for your help.

I had a difficult time getting there. Sorry, but I need idiot-proof, dumbed- down, step-by-step instructions. Here's what I did:

IE > Tools > Internet Options > Temporary Internet Files, Settings > View Objects > Downloaded Program Files > Tools > Folder Options > View > ticked (activated?) Show hidden files and folders > unchecked Hide extensions for known file types > Apply > OK

I don't know what a user name folder is, so I did a Start > Search for Downloaded Program Files, right clicked that entry, and put a shortcut on my desktop for Downloaded Programs Files. I rarely use IE, so I assume that's why there were only 15 entries (which I deleted).

Guess I'm okay?

Lina

[photolady]

No you're in the wrong window. The instructions were for Windows, not IE. User name folder is your user name located on C drive, under Documents and Settings.

For those rarely times in IE use the control I do. Under Internet Options, click the advanced tab, scroll down to "Empty Temporary Internet files when browser is closed" Check that and when you close IE out, your temp files are deleted automatically.

[mylanta]

Lina,
Settings under Tools, Options, Privacy, History and a check mark for cache will do the same thing in Firefox.

[mommalina]

Lina,
Settings under Tools, Options, Privacy, History and a check mark for cache will do the same thing in Firefox.

Rich, I'm not sure where the check mark you mention should go in Firefox. ( BTW, I think I have Firefox set to default. Don't remember changing it.)

There's no place for a check mark in FF, Tools, Options, Privacy, History, Cache. It says Remember visited pages for 0 days. When I go further and click Settings, it goes to Clear Private Data. Is this where I should put a check mark (Clear private data when closing Firefox)? Currently, Ask me before clearing private data is checked. Note that all private data are checked except Cookies and Saved Passwords.

BTW, in FF, Tools, Options, Privacy, Download History, it says Remove Files from the Download Manager when FF exits.. In Settings, it reads the same as above, in History.

As I stated earlier, I rarely have anything to delete in Disk Cleanup.

Lina

[mylanta]

Lina "read my words"
"Private data" "select what you want cleared" "cache" Now where would you place the check mark?

[mommalina]

Sincere thanks to Rich, Photolady, Dan, et al, for your patience and efforts.

No you're in the wrong window. The instructions were for Windows, not IE. User name folder is your user name located on C drive, under Documents and Settings.

Thanks. I went back and restored the default to undo what I erroneously changed in IE > Tools > Internet Options > Temporary Internet Files, Settings > View Objects > Downloaded Program Files > Tools > Folder Options > View > Show hidden files and folders > Hide extensions for known file types). No harm done, I guess?

For those rarely times in IE use the control I do. Under Internet Options, click the advanced tab, scroll down to "Empty Temporary Internet files when browser is closed" Check that and when you close IE out, your temp files are deleted automatically.

In IE, Tools, Internet Options, Advanced, Empty Temporary Internet files when browser is closed was already checked.
Glad to know I previously did something right!:D

Dan:
Basically, I will go in every once and awhile and clean out the user \ local settings \ Temp folder and Temporary Internet Files \ Content.IE5 folder.

Assuming I'm in the right place (Document and Settings and my User File), I don't see the user \ local settings / temp folder and Internet Files / Content.IE5 folder.

I give up. Will get CrapCleaner and Diskkeeper per Rich's advice. I will then have enough chasity belts on my computer to, as Dan suggested, relax!

Lina

Dell Dimension 4550, 60GB, 768 RAM, XP Home, Verizon DSL, Firefox, Kaspersky PAV, SpywareBlaster, Spybot-Search&Destroy, Win Patrol v7.0.l.0, JV16 Power Tools, Spider V1.16, HijackThis - v1.97. And coming soon: CrapCleaner and Diskkeeper.

[mommalina]

Lina "read my words"
"Private data" "select what you want cleared" "cache" Now where would you place the check mark?

Sorry, Rich. You missed a step. Told you I need specific, step-by-step directions.

"Cache" was already checked in Private Data.
Thanks.

BTW, I've always had a lousy sense of direction. Thank God I did not pass that gene on to my kids. Men supposedly never ask for directions ... that probably carries over to computers. :D

Lina

[mylanta]

All Right....TG

[photolady]

I don't see the user \ local settings / temp folder and Internet Files / Content.IE5 folder. And this is where the instructions came in about showing Hidden files and folders in Windows not IE. Click on "My Computer", at the top of the page/window you'll see "Tools" click on that, then scroll and highlight Folder Options. Now in Folder options click on the View tab, next scroll to the heading "Hide files and folders" tick the "Show hidden files and folders" and uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".

[mommalina]

And this is where the instructions came in about showing Hidden files and folders in Windows not IE. Click on "My Computer", at the top of the page/window you'll see "Tools" click on that, then scroll and highlight Folder Options. Now in Folder options click on the View tab, next scroll to the heading "Hide files and folders" tick the "Show hidden files and folders" and uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".

That's where I was before :dizzy: ....... but I did not get there your way.

Lina wrote: I had a difficult time getting there. Sorry, but I need idiot-proof, dumbed- down, step-by-step instructions. Here's what I did:

IE > Tools > Internet Options > Temporary Internet Files, Settings > View Objects > Downloaded Program Files > Tools > Folder Options > View > ticked (activated?) Show hidden files and folders > unchecked Hide extensions for known file types > Apply > OK

Assuming I had been in the wrong place, I went back and restored defaults. Now, following your directions, I ticked and unchecked the correct places again.

Your route is a helluva lot more direct!! :cool:. Thank you, Photolady :angel:.

Lina

[photolady]

You're welcome Lina. More direct approach would have been through control panel.