Defragmenter Installation

Mike,

Are you logged on with Administrative rights?

 

I checked out the Diskeeper site - for Diskeeper Pro - Diskeeper Lite is not supported, being freeware - the FAQ to that error message is to upgrade to a later version - not very helpful I know

However it may be worth reading the FAQ's here - installing either version will require the same permissions, I guess. Look in particular at Error 1911 and Error 2381.

 

Hi Charles!

I use Diskeeper Lite and have found these advantages:

1) It is quicker than the native XP version

2) It has a better GUI with a more detailed partition layout

3) It is still under "XP control" in that it works with prefetch and in the background. (Other defraggers than Diskeeper variants are installed in parallel with the native XP variant, not substituting it. They may not be under "XP control" but I don't know for sure. If Norton Speed Disk is used in parallel with the XP variant, they will fight eachother since they have different definitions of what is "optimized ".)

Christer

 

Diskeeper Lite substitutes the XP version, taking over all shortcuts (All programs > Accessories > System tools > Disk defragmenter and through Computer management) to it. The XP version does not get uninstalled. If DK Lite is uninstalled, the XP version is back in business.

Christer

 

Yes, as I understand it, at the command of prefetch.

I assembled and installed a new BOAC (Box Of Assembled Components) two weeks ago. Towards the end of the installation of all programs and utilities, I installed DK Lite. Prior to creating each Ghost Image (I create several at certain stages of the installation), I always defrag (among other things) and on each occasion, all files ended up at the front of the system partition.

During the installation, I start all applications once, starting with the ones included with XP and the rest when they get installed. This feeds the basic information to prefetch.

When I was satisfied with the installation, I let the computer idle for a while. After a few minutes of inactivity, DK Lite took the chance and started its background work (indicated by HDD activity). When it again was quiet, I opened DK Lite and had it analyze the system partition. Now, some files had been moved towards the center of the partition and the "chunk" of files at the front of the partition was smaller. Any subsequent defragmentation let them stay there. I assume that this "optimization" will get repeated with a change of usage pattern and the installation of additional software.

Christer

 

I don't think that XP schedules its own defragger. It is under the control of prefetch and does not handle "user files" on the system partition.

By "they" I refer to defraggers other than Diskeeper variants (including DK Lite).

DK Lite can not be scheduled by the user but prefetch obviously has control over it.

(By under XP control, I mean prefetch, sorry for any confusion.)

Christer

 

Hmm, I think that I edited my last post while You were reading it.

Doesn't change anything ...... ...... try it!

Christer

 

Charles & Christer

Just returned from an evening out and read your fascinating discussion

FWIW my two cents worth - I use Diskeeper Pro 9 .....

I am well aware that the native defragmenting tool in XP was written by Executive Software (now Diskeeper), but I was under the impression that Diskeeper Lite was an advance over the native XP version and differed from Diskeeper Home only in that it could only be run in Manual mode, unlike Home which can be scheduled on 'Set it and Forget it'. It is news to me that it would run as scheduled by XP and somewhat contrary to this report

Maybe not the full story

 

Hi PeteC!

I agree and that's what I mean by a user not being able to schedule DK Lite.

Charles' comment that the XP scheduler service has to be running does not mean that XP itself schedules Diskeeper (or its own variant). All scheduled tasks depend on that service (I think) and most of them appear as a scheduled task but there is nothing about the defragger or prefetch.

I haven't noticed neither the XP variant not DK Lite to ever touch a non-system or non-program file. This has led to my conclusion that prefetch is calling the defragger (XP variant or DK Lite or any full DK version) to optimize the system partition according to the data in the prefetch folder.

I'm not aware of a possibility for the user to schedule the XP variant. Anyone who is?

Christer

 

Now, I have read the report in PeteC's link and I found some information:

which promptly gets contradicted in the same report:

Hmm,
it seems like we have to ask someone who not yet has installed DK Lite to find out which is correct ...... ...... Charles?

Christer