Fresh setup, fragmenting problems (?)

[bleed3r]

Just setting up my new laptop with XP Pro (seagate momentus 120GB sata). I'm getting all these fragments on my C: drive as described below, but I have no idea what is normal/expected fragmenting behaviour. You can either tell me not to worry, or how to fix it

Partitions:

4GB C:
Just has static 2048MB pagefile, and /WINDOWS directory

rest to D:
Installed with program files, common files, etc set for here.


All I've done is install drivers and some apps. I've done chkdsk on reboot, run defrag a bunch of times, this is what it says:

Volume (C
Volume size = 3.91 GB
Cluster size = 4 KB
Used space = 2.83 GB
Free space = 1.08 GB
Percent free space = 27 %

Volume fragmentation
Total fragmentation = 35 %
File fragmentation = 70 %
Free space fragmentation = 0 %

File fragmentation
Total files = 4,342
Average file size = 699 KB
Total fragmented files = 8
Total excess fragments = 28
Average fragments per file = 1.00

Pagefile fragmentation
Pagefile size = 2.00 GB
Total fragments = 2

Folder fragmentation
Total folders = 344
Fragmented folders = 1
Excess folder fragments = 0

Master File Table (MFT) fragmentation
Total MFT size = 5 MB
MFT record count = 4,702
Percent MFT in use = 97 %
Total MFT fragments = 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fragments File Size Most fragmented files
21 28 KB \WINDOWS\system32\config\software.LOG
3 1 KB \WINDOWS\system32\config\SAM.LOG
2 36 KB \WINDOWS\Debug\UserMode\userenv.log
2 1 KB \WINDOWS\system32\config\default.LOG
2 12 KB \WINDOWS\system32\wbem\Logs\wbemcore.log
2 1 KB \WINDOWS\system32\config\SECURITY.LOG
2 8 KB \WINDOWS\system32\config\system.LOG

I can do a defrag, reboot the laptop, and analyze again to see more frag'ed files like this every time:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fragments File Size Most fragmented files
3 97 KB \WINDOWS\iis6.log
2 19 KB \WINDOWS\system32\wbem\Logs\wbemcore.log
2 28 KB \WINDOWS\system32\config\software.LOG
2 34 KB \WINDOWS\tsoc.log
2 25 KB \WINDOWS\msmqinst.log
2 28 KB \WINDOWS\ocgen.log

So some MFT fragments and stuff that fragments all the time.

I probably installed windows 3-4 times trying to get my setup right, so could I have gotten the MFT fragments from doing that? I did however format C: every time, but I don't know if that rewrites the MFT. If it does, then I got these MFT fragments from just installing apps and drivers...

Is this ugly "Total fragmentation = 35 %, File fragmentation = 70 %," and constantly getting fragmented files a problem, or is it what I should expect from my C: drive (even with this minimal setup?) I'd think that with just static pagefile and /WINDOWS directory there would not be much going on...

Would it be better if I left more free space than current (27%) for C?

I can try reformating the whole drive to get rid of the MFT fragments, but will I just get more?

These all may be stupid questions, so fill me in if they are!

 

[Nanan]

With only 27% free space on your C: you are going to have problems with your Windows file and the 2gig page file because windows does not preallocate a block of memory for page file, it just uses the first available spots which is likely falling into gaps between other Windows file blocks. As your computer runs it generates the log files which get bigger and bigger as the computer runs. These files which once fit nicely between x and y blocks now require a larger spot so the file system chops up the file and puts it in the next few available spots thus fragmenting.

If you really want to get rid of or drastically cut down on fragmenting then you should make a 3 gig partition which will only be used for the 2gig of page file.

On my current rig I have it set up as thus.
150 gig WD Cav HD , 147gig usable, C: 140 gigs are allocated for the OS and most programs, D: 6.xx gigs allocated for 4gigs of page file.
74gig Raptor HD 71.xx gigs usable, E: only have games on this drive, WoW and UT2k4. UT2k4 eats up the majority of the drive with the 400+ maps from online play, WoW eats up very little space, only like 7-8 gigs.

 

[bleed3r]

These files which once fit nicely between x and y blocks now require a larger spot so the file system chops up the file and puts it in the next few available spots thus fragmenting.

So, when I defragment and it compacts all the data into a nice solid blue chunk, isn't that just going to cause more fragmenting? It moves all the data into that chunk, and thus has no room to grow like you say. Would it not be best if the degragmenter evenly spaced out all these files that grow, rather than cramming them all into one spot?

Is there really a point to making another partition for the page file? This way its close to the start of the disk, its static, and you can see it is all in one nice green chunk here on the right:


edit: same pic if above doesnt show


And all that white space... do the log files etc really need more to keep from getting fragmented? Maybe its just inevitable and not a worry...?

 

[bleed3r]

I zeroed out the drive then reformatted & installed XP. Ended up with 2 MFT fragments still. Maybe it can't be avoided?

I haven't had much luck googling any of this. I might try Diskeeper and Perfectdisk as they suposedly do stuff to the MFT and/or pagefile.

I also tried making a 2 GB partition for pagefile alone. When I set a pagefile to it, say 1900MB, 1GB, whatever, it seems to always get 1 fragment as it puts the file in two sections.

Tried PageDefrag (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/pagedefrag.mspx) and it didn't work for me. The screen goes by really quick on reboot and there is no log file, so I don't know what error it gives.

I'll see if those defrag tools do anything if I can get trials/demos.

 

[m0ntecarloss]

Are you only getting fragmentation on drive C? Try saving some big files on your other partition just out of curiosity - maybe its got nothing to do with the pagefile etc....

I say this because I am experiencing the same thing on a totally different setup I built for my PVR. My 2nd partition is approx 400gb and am experiencing MASSIVE fragmentation. I don't think anything it writes is 'not' fragmented.

I have formatted so many times and tried so many different settings including disabling any hard drive settings such as caching and NCQ just to see if anything would help. I have even tried two separate drives - 1 was SATA and 1 PATA....

I wish I had my pic of the windows defrag utility like yours - if I let the PVR fill up half the hard drive and then look at it in defrag - it shows half white (obviously) and half red!

Not trying to hijack the post at all, it just seems we are experiencing a similar issue...