Tech Team Newsletter - Volume 5 Issue 2

Tech Team: In the Trenches

April 2007 Volume 5 Issue 2

Table of Contents

The Secret to a Faster Hard Drive

Defrag your hard drive the right way; remove big, useless files; find duplicates.

Are you looking for tips for a faster hard drive? We’ve got the tools and tricks to help you uncover the secret to a faster drive.

Q. I used the Windows Disk Defragmenter, but when I tried another defragging tool, it said that my drive was still mostly fragmented. Which one should I trust?
A. The Windows tool misses Restore Points--files that are created and deleted each day, and are dispersed all over the drive. In addition, third-party tools allow you to choose how to defrag—for instance, by bundling the files tighter.

The Golden Bow Systems' $40 Vopt 8, as an example, is a program that defrags Restore Points and is compatible with Vista and XP. Among Vopt's smart features are tools for deleting temporary files; an efficient feature that closes unnecessary applications, including Windows Services; and a way to automatically defrag multiple drives and then shut down the system.

Regardless of the program you use, you can get a better defrag with simple tricks:

Defrag early and often-- defragging improves performance.
Open applications don't get defragged, so close them all before you begin.
Delete Temporary and Internet cache files using CCleaner, a free tool you can download online from www.ccleaner.com.
Get rid of duplicate files on your hard drive with Duplicate File Finder. You can download it free of charge from www.funduc.com

Q. I have a big file (hiberfil.sys) on my drive. I can't delete it, and it doesn't move when I defrag my system. What should I do?
A. That huge file is a Windows file created automatically if you've ever closed down your PC while in Hibernate mode. The best way to get rid of it is to choose the Power Options from the Control Panel, select the Hibernate tab, uncheck the Enable Hibernation check box, and click OK. If you want to use Hibernate after defragging, repeat the aforementioned steps and check the Enable Hibernation check box.