Defrag Blues...HELP

[mark4man]

People,

After reading an article in Sound On Sound magazine, I used Norton Speed Disk to configure my audio data to the "Files First" positioning on my audio drive (In my project studio’s workstation PC...I have both a local drive for the OS & programs & a dedicated audio drive for digital audio data.)

The optimization didn't seem to bring any performance benefits in SONAR (my recording software)...but...I couldn't just leave well enough alone, I guess.

So I surmised that...if the audio data streams more efficiently from a "Files First" audio disk location...the program files on the local drive should also; & I went about painstakingly entering folder paths for all my SONAR program files (operational files, graphic caches, plug-ins, etc., etc.)

After optimization, tho...the program’s operation has bogged down to near dropout level; & I've noticed in SONAR's CPU usage meter that a higher percentage is now present; & that the graphics are super slow.

So my questions are: 1) How do I at least get back to where I was, for god's sake ??? My stock defragger is the Windows XP defragger, which I'm told is a watered down version of Diskeeper...(the British program.) Is this true? The only reason I used Speed Disk is because I was also told that the XP defragger, although efficient...doesn't defrag the MFT, Directory & various other system files. Is this true?

2) Will it help if I go back & defrag my local drive with the XP defragger? (i.e., will it put the program files back where they were...or will it just organize what's already there?)

3) Should I go out & get the full version of Diskeeper; & configure it to perform a “typical” or “default” defrag (& in that way get the system files defragged...if the above is true?)

And finally...where exactly SHOULD high intensity programs (graphic art, photo editing, digital audio workstations) be located on the local drive FOR optimum performance ??? Did I do the right thing? ('cause it sure doesn't seem so.)

Thanks very much,

mark4man

 

[zandor]

2) Will it help if I go back & defrag my local drive with the XP defragger? (i.e., will it put the program files back where they were...or will it just organize what's already there?)

3) Should I go out & get the full version of Diskeeper; & configure it to perform a “typical” or “default” defrag (& in that way get the system files defragged...if the above is true?)

And finally...where exactly SHOULD high intensity programs (graphic art, photo editing, digital audio workstations) be located on the local drive FOR optimum performance ??? Did I do the right thing? ('cause it sure doesn't seem so.)

Thanks very much,

mark4man

The beginning of the disk is always the fastest part, at least in theory. The "beginning" is mapped to the outer tracks of a hard drive. They've got a larger circumference and hold more data than the inner tracks, which results in higher transfer rates since the drive spins at a constant speed. In theory it'd be possible to map the beginning to the inner tracks, but I've never heard of this being done. Filesystems typically fill the disk from the beginning, so this layout provides the best performance.

The first thing I'd do is run chkdsk to make sure the filesystem isn't messed up. You might as well try the XP defragger and/or running speed disk again with the files first layout you tried first. If it's not too much hassle a backup, format, and restore of the data drive might also be worth trying.

Another thing you could try is relocating some portion of your audio stuff to the OS disk to spread out the IO load. I'm not familiar with the application you're using so I can't really suggest anything in particular.

 

[Rembrandt]

I have heard many horror stories about Norton’s Speed Disk. You are not alone. Please do what Zandor has referred you to do.
Understand that the XP version of Diskeeper does no optimizations to the disk. It only defrags. The Diskeeper you can purchase will optimize the drive so there are no spaces inbetween the files and will defrag your MFT and Directory. I used Diskeeper for several years and have switched to Perfect Disk. It does what Diskeeper does only better. If it is a defrag problem either program will solve it but I do not think this is the problem.
It sounds as if your dive may be working in PIO mode instead of DMA mode. I would check that out before purchasing a defrag program.

 

[mark4man]

zandor & Rembrandt...

Thanks very much.

chkdsk indicated everything was OK, but I'm reluctant to run Speed Disk again with the current settings. I was hoping to grab Diskeeper at a local CompUSA or Staples; & take it from there.

On the switch to Perfect Disk...if it does everything Diskeeper does...does it also defrag those system files (which cannot be defragged in real time) also at boot up?

Thanks again,

mark4man

 

[Rembrandt]

On your boot up partition it will do it all without rebooting except for metadata and MFT. On all of your other partitions it will do it without rebooting. I strongly recommend PerfectDisk 7. It is a more advanced program.