Do NTFS master file tables really need to be defragmented much?

[Sukhoi]

I'm going to be running Win2KPro on my new computer, and I was planning on just using the default defragmenter. However, I've heard that it doesn't defrag the MFT for NTFS partitions. Is it worth it to pay for a different defragmenter just to defrag the MFT? Thanks!

 

[Nothinman]

The MFT barely fragments because it's setup at format time and pretty much stagnant. The real reason for buying something like DiskKeeper is boot time defrag for exclusively locked files (like the registry and swap file) and on-line directory defragmenting.

 

[Sukhoi]

So do you think it would be worthwhile to pay $50 so I can defrag the registry and swap file?

 

[JungleJoe]

The defragment tool comes with W2K is good enough.

 

[Nothinman]

Depends on how much that $50 is worth to you. I'm pretty sure there are demos of almost all the defraggers for Win2K, download them and see if you think it's worth it.

 

[Sukhoi]

$50 is a lot to me. I'll go DL the trial versions and see how they work.

 

[c0rv1d43]

Although the MFT may not be externally fragmented, and shouldn't be on a proper installation of the OS, it can become badly fragmented internally. Small files are written entirely within the MFT. So, if the system has a lot of small files being written to and erased from an NTFS partition, then the MFT is very likely to become badly fragmented internally. The fix is a boot-time defragger that utilizes the appropriate APIs for defragging the MFT.

BTW, though it's based upon the same basic idea as the in-built defragger, the commercially available Diskeeper (Executive Software) is much faster at defragging than the basic defragger -- at least on all of the systems on which I've seen both defraggers used.

- Collin

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: c0rv1d43
Although the MFT may not be externally fragmented, and shouldn't be on a proper installation of the OS, it can become badly fragmented internally. Small files are written entirely within the MFT. So, if the system has a lot of small files being written to and erased from an NTFS partition, then the MFT is very likely to become badly fragmented internally. The fix is a boot-time defragger that utilizes the appropriate APIs for defragging the MFT.

I'll just throw in that SpeedDisk does this all on a live system (no need to reboot and do it druing startup)
Bill

 

[Adul]

I like to throw in that MS recomends not doing it while the system is running. That proper way is to do it at boot time. That is enough to make m leary of using speeddisk method has it could lead to possible data loss/corruption.

 

[c0rv1d43]

Ya, I feel more at ease with a defragger that doesn't manhandle the OS. I suppose the Symantec/Norton people are pretty sharp, but I think some of us have seen times when those folks have been a little too sharp. I don't like running with scissors!

- Collin