Defrag External HD?

Fendrix

Fendrix

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Jul 9, 2006
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I have a WD 1TB USB external HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136321

I've got about 684GB of stuff on it and I was wondering if I should defrag it like I do my internal HD? Also, the file system is FAT32 instead of NTFS, that's normal right?

I Google'd around and found that most sites say it's fine to defrag it but I've got a lot of information on there I don't want to lose, so I thought I'd ask [H]ere instead. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Yes, defrag as normal.
If its quite fragmented, a much quicker way to defrag if you have the space, is to copy everything off and copy it back on again.
 
Firstly, defraging drives is good and you should do it periodically to keep things healthy. I recommend using jkdefrag (google it - it's freeware) not the built-in MS defrag. It is *much* better.

Secondly, why in the world would you format your 1TB HDD to FAT32? If you have the space, I would recommend that you backup the external drive, remove the FAT32 partition,replace it with an NTFS partition, then copy the data back.
 
graysky said:
Firstly, defraging drives is good and you should do it periodically to keep things healthy. I recommend using jkdefrag (google it - it's freeware) not the built-in MS defrag. It is *much* better.

Secondly, why in the world would you format your 1TB HDD to FAT32? If you have the space, I would recommend that you backup the external drive, remove the FAT32 partition,replace it with an NTFS partition, then copy the data back.
Click to expand...

i forget the command but u can convert to ntfs from fat32 without loosing the data but u can't go back unless u reformat. id still back up and this saves a little time.


 
graysky said:
I recommend using jkdefrag (google it - it's freeware) not the built-in MS defrag. It is *much* better.
Click to expand...

I had heard that the standard MS defrag sucks as well, so I use a program called Defraggler, still good?

Secondly, why in the world would you format your 1TB HDD to FAT32?
Click to expand...

I have no idea - it was FAT32 when I opened the box and plugged it in, so I forgot to format and just started copying things over... Why is FAT32 full of fail?
 
Fendrix said:
I have no idea - it was FAT32 when I opened the box and plugged it in, so I forgot to format and just started copying things over... Why is FAT32 full of fail?
Click to expand...

127GB hard limit, 4GB maximum file limit, fragments badly, does not have MFT.
 
+1 for what AreEss said. Additionally there is no security layer and the block size is pretty big on a TB as I recall. I can't remember for sure but isn't 16 or 32k? Anyway, you can convert FAT-->NTFS but I wouldn't advise doing it that way. If you have the space dump the data, reformat, and restore data as a best practice.
 
I recommend O&O Defrag Professional. Great & efficient software.
 
All right, my files are in the process of transferring over to my internal HD...

as soon as that's done I'll be able to delete them all off the external and reformat. Just right click, format..., NTFS then good to go? Or is there another way I should do it? Speak now or forever hold my peace!
 
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