Defraggler

EricWB · Frequent Visitor Joined: Jan 31, 2007 Posts: 310

I still have windows XP on my PC and use some free to use software called CCleaner that helps to clear away unwanted files, e.g. temporary Internet files, logs from things like AVG and other software that just keeps adding new data to old.

The last time I downloaded an update to this I made a voluntary contribution so didn't feel guilty about also downloading something called Defraggler, an improved form or defragging software, that certainly improves the performance of the PC.

After backing up my TT devices I have used it to dfrag them, only time will tell if they run better they seem to but then it could just be my imagination. Have others done anything similar?

dhn · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 4:22 pm Post subject:

Defragging a flash drive as in the tt unit is not the same as defragging a physical hard drive on your computer. Or, in other words, there is no value to defragging the gps internal.

As least, that is my understanding......
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David

PaulB2005 · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 4:42 pm Post subject:

There is no benefit and it fact it'll shorten the life of your flash device.

Flash devices do not suffer with fragmented data as it takes the same amount of time to read information wherever it is on the drive. Unlike a "normal" drive where the read / write head (like the arm on a record player) has to move and there can be a slight delay in retrieving data whilst the head is moving.

Secondly flash drives purposely distribute data all over the drive to maximise the life span of the drive ("wear levelling"). Defragging upsets this scheme and increases the number of writes each sector goes through, thereby decreasing the life of the drive.

In short do NOT defrag any flash or solid state drive.

AndyVaughan · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:46 pm Post subject:

Don't quote me on this, but the read/write cycles on flash memory is significanty more than it used to be.

Doing a full Windows Explorer backup, formatting the flash and then reloading the backup has the same effect as defragging.

I too reckon it runs more smoothly after doing this, but it is probably all perceived as opposed to reality!

EricWB · Frequent Visitor Joined: Jan 31, 2007 Posts: 310

I have to admit I had never thought a flash drive could wear out as it were, I had always assumed they just lasted forever. But they must last longer than a hard drive surely? So I doubt the occasional defrag would make any difference to the perceived life as something else on the TT device will fail long before the flash drive.

young-goat · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 10:32 pm Post subject:

Before you use CCleaner (or any clean up utility) on a Windows computer make sure you untick or exclude .chk files or it will delete those from your TT backups as it sees them as unneccessary.
TT is based on Linux and uses .chk files for things that Windows doesn't

EricWB · Frequent Visitor Joined: Jan 31, 2007 Posts: 310

I never said that I used CCleaner for the TT but some other software from the same software source called Defraggler.

If you do use CCleaner on anything you have to have a reasonable working knowledge about the files it may delete if you just let it go without regards to the end result.

And of course for safety always ensure you have a backup of anything on any device either PC or TT before you do anything that may change any of the data in any way.

andy-c1 · Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 8:29 am Post subject:

shies there is some invaluable info in this thread ,have learnt something this morning already

thanks
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TomTom 5001

PaulB2005 · Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:25 am Post subject:

PaulB2005 · Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:27 am Post subject:

young-goat · Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:31 am Post subject:

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