4 gbyte limit

Hi Christer ...

Like you, I used to be an avid Norton SystemWorks fan, but became disenchanted with the way the programs insinuated themselves into my computer's "fabric ". It turned out the only one I really was using was SpeedDisk, anyway, so I went from SystemWorks to Utilities. Because of the problems SpeedDisk caused with PartitionMagic I quit using it, too.

I'm interested in your comments about SpeedDisk vs the XP defrag utility, as I was given to understand that the XP defragger was just a simplified version of SpeedDisk. In any event, I've had no further problems with PM since dumping SpeedDisk and using the XP defragger.

 

diskeeper vs. speed disk

I also used to use Speed Disk (as well as SystemWorks). I started using Diskeeper about a year ago (ver 7). I've quit using all the Norton stuff except I still use Norton A/V. I have used Norton programs for as long as I've had a PC. Diskeeper seems to do a very good job, but I still prefer to run it manually. The current version is 8, I compared it to the WinXp version and it seems to run a little faster, it also offers many more options like running at boot and 'Set it and Forget it'. I guess if I run Win98 again I'll reinstall the Norton stuff, but it just doesn't seem to do much for WinXP.

B

 

Thought I would use this thread for my next question as it seems relevant.

Since converting my slave drive to NTFS after your recommendations and being happy with it, can I now do the same on my main drive, and after doing so run my Ghost image to restore it, as that was of course created on FAT 32.

 

Interesting read this is

If you're happy with your boot partition being FAT32, leave it.
If you convert it to NTFS, and then decide to use your ghost image, it will be back to FAT32. Ghost doesn't care, it simply writes the stuff back, byte by byte, in the format it was created.

 

Screamer ...

Of course you can convert your main drive to NTFS, but what's the point of going back to FAT32, via your Ghost backup, after doing so? You could, instead, make a new backup of the drive after converting to NTFS.

 

Thank you reboot & JSS3rd for your input, and you have convinced me to leave as is.

It was just that comparing the NTFS with the FAT 32, the former seems much more efficient in keeping the files from framenting.

I certainly do not want to reinstall the OS & all the apps, and as Ghost would just keep FAT 32, I will just have to live with all those horrid red lines on the defragmenter that show up every time I look at my C drive.

 

Screamer ...

I don't understand why you're so hesitant to convert your main drive, with the OS and your installed programs, to NTFS. It sounds almost as though you think you'll have to format the drive as part of the process. That isn't so, and you won't have to reinstall a thing. Converting to NTFS doesn't do anything to the info on your drive except change the manner in which all those bits and bytes are handled by XP. In the unlikely event that you should run into a problem during the conversion, you always have your current Ghost image to fall back on.

I should have been more emphatic in my last post ... you SHOULD make a new Ghost backup after converting to NTFS and, as Pete says, you should make backups frequently.

 

OK, I'm convinced - going to give Diskeeper a test drive. (this from a big time Norton Fan)

 

Rockster,
Like I said before I've used Norton programs for years but since I've started using XP they are becoming an endangered species. I still use Norton AV, but its days are numbered. I've been using Diskeeper for about 18 months and really like it alot. I did go back and try Norton Speedisk again but returned to Diskeeper, this time without any doubts. The main difference you will notice is Diskeeper does not group all your programs together like Speedisk does, this is not a problem. Diskeeper arranges programs for optimum performance, not so they look nice and neat in the 'defrag window'. Give it a try... 30 day trial version available HERE

B

 

Done deal - Initial reaction very positive. Have spent the last couple of nights just doing some housekeeping/maintenance after changing sound cards and video cards in my main box. Have been trying to get my boot sequence finely tuned after some issues with leftovers from a Winfast PCI TV card - got all that squared away and logs were looking flawless, but wasn't happy with boot times. Got into it big time this morning and am very happy, now this Diskeeeper is like icing on the cake. Quite impressed - will put it through its paces as I learn more about it and how to optimize it. Thanks ......

 

Sorry JSS3rd, am definitely in Super Numpty mode here as I presumed that a drive needed to be empty to convert it from FAT32 to NTFS This probably explains your confusion in me wanting to use my Ghost image after I had converted the drive.

 

Hi PeteC, my last post probably answers your question. It's a pity you do not live closer BTW, because as you will gather, I could use a guru on my doorstep.