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As long as you are using Windows, even on newer Oses version like Vista or XP, you cannot escape disk fragmentation. On a larger scale though, it is not known to cause any system instability and or disk problems, but disk fragmentation is well-known to be the reason for poor read/write disk performance.
The built-in Windows defragmenter for properly clearing up problems seemed not powerful enough. Now comes disk de-fragmentation, as the solution. Commercial disk defragmenters in fact, promises much better methods on defragmentation in which a significant gain on disk performance is shown.
Disk defragmenters by themselves are sometimes the ones which causes problems. Though if one is really greedy for speed then ironically, a stable system can be compromised.
Blame it on Diskeeper by Diskeeper Corporation and Raxco PerfectDisk, the two mainstream commercial disk defragmenters currently available. As after trying PerfectDisk, Mozilla Thunderbird noticeably became unresponsive, it was frequently slow and sluggish every time an e-mail is deleted. Also, when work is continued Thunderbird tries to get back in two minutes even when the window is switched to another. Which was really unlikely before.
On the positive side though, PerfectDisk enabled a significant gain on the computer’s over-all system performance. While some programs are kind a “screwed up”, as you need to give up some in order to have and enjoy more, is’nt it? After personally believing that since defragmenters are created for problem solving, though perhaps not one defragmenter could solve all then at least, the other defragmenter can take care of what was left behind. Ironically that’s what convinced me to switch over to Diskeeper and uninstall PerfectDisk.
As compared to PerfectDisk, a good job resulted from Diskeeper, but here now comes ANOTHER problem. Diskeeper did to BitComet, what was done to Thunderbird by PerfectDisk. My “Options” could not be properly saved in BitComet, and what was done to BitComet and Thunderbird made me wary hence, will result potentially to at least a minute of total hang in the system when there’s anything done wrong. Meaning both Diskeeper and PerfectDisk did not solve problems but created them instead, maybe it is much better at all not to use commercial defragmenters and just stuck to the usual way.
Very surprising that DK altered a setting on your computer. Are you sure that it was due to a defrag, because normally it should never do that. I have been using various versions of DK for the past several years and all have worked superbly without issues. You should try contacting DK support, they may be able to help you.
Anyway, I always prefer DK over the windows defragger- the difference in speed and comprehensiveness of the defrag is worlds apart, not to mention the other features, customization options etc.
I agree with Teodan.
If there were problems with either of the 2 third party defragmenters mentioned, they were most likely user caused!
I have helped hundreds of people with computer problems (most of which required defrag of some kind) and in that time i have never seen any legitimate good third party defrag program cause any kind of problems on the systems they were properly used on.
There was a recent malware attack “posing” as a defrag program that causes a lot of problems, but that was malware.
Here is a recent Top 10 Reviews side-by-side of the best defrag programs around with detailed data on each program reviewed:
http://disk-defragmenter-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
You will notice that Diskeeper took the gold medal for being the most transparent (there was no system resource drain while it ran despite having several programs open while the PC was being used) and for preventing fragmentation.
Perfect Disk took the bronze medal and a very positive review as well, so obviously these programs do not “cause problems”.
On the other hand, the built-in is meant for casual, occasional computer users who don’t mind waiting for the built-in to defrag their drives (on the order of “Word Pad” for writing or “Paint” for graphics).
If that’s where a user feels comfortable, then that’s what these programs are there for (although I doubt a writer would use Word Pad or a Graphics Artist rely on Paint for their work).
For the rest of us who do any amount of downloads, write documents, edit video files, play music, watch video, save, edit and delete files (for that matter any student who does his homework on his PC or anyone who uses their PC for work), we can get a free trial of the top placers via the above review (or at http://www.diskeeper.com for the gold medalist) and enjoy faster performance and longer disk life.