when defragmenting Windows XP, is there any benefit to defragging several times in a row?

Question

Will the files in Windows XP become more compact with subsequent defrags, or is only one defrag necessary?

Answer 1

No paul, once is sufficient. No gain in anything to do it again. The cluster size is set and will do it's thing. About once a month is all any hard drive needs to be defragged.

Answer 2

Depending on the extent of fragmentation and the type of fragmened files, multiple attempts at defragging may or may not have any benefit. It is difficult to predict precisely since the outcome is unique to each situation.



Rather than waste time scheduling the XP defragger to run again and again, try a good automatic defragmenter. It defrags in the background in real-time using only idle resources, and you can use the PC as usual when defrag is running, so you don't have to worry about when it ends and how many times it has to be run. Unlike with the obsolete scheduled defrag, there is no beginning or end of a auto defrag, instead the auto defragger minimizes fragmentation on the drives at all times. Google 'fully automatic defragmenter' for more info.

Answer 3

If you look at the fragmentation graph, you will notice blue and red lines. Blue lines are contiguous files (good) and red are the fragmented ones (bad). So long as the defrag changes the red lines into blue completely you need not run the task again and again. There is no benefit in running a defragmenter repeatedly on a completely defragmented drive. However, the built in tool for various reasons does not complete the task efficiently at times. In such cases you may need to analyze and run the task again.

Alternatively, go for one of the very efficient automatic background defragmenters that run in real time to tackle fragmentation as it occurs without obstructing your work on the PC. Google for trial versions.

Answer 4

Defragging constantly is not necessary, doing a defrag maybe once a week will keep your system running a little more smoothly

Answer 5

one defrag a week is sufficient enough to keep your pc running smooth. there is also an option to analyze the hd first before defragging to see if it needs any.

Answer 6

one defrag will do because if you repeat the process everything will stay the same

Answer 7

No, Defrag is whack, it does nothing...



I just partition my hard drive...

Answer 8

It's alsmot the same as putting a puzzle together. Once you put it together, you cannot "put it together again." You have to wait till someone messes it up again.

Answer 9

I get the duct tape from the nearest person.