topic Trying to do a manual defrag. in Norton 360

Trying to do a manual defrag.

Masterblaster — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:03:44 GMT

I want to be able to do a defrag. When I try it won't let me saying that my HDD is only 6% fragged.

I had Norton utilities years ago and I could manually run it. I could even run it many different ways, files to the front, most used, etc.

Am I missing something?

Re: Trying to do a manual defrag.

mdturner — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:59:11 GMT

Masterblaster wrote:
I want to be able to do a defrag. When I try it won't let me saying that my HDD is only 6% fragged.
I had Norton utilities years ago and I could manually run it. I could even run it many different ways, files to the front, most used, etc.
Am I missing something?

Hi Masterblaster

You can manually run the Windows Defragmentation program - this is what Norton uses anyway. You can find it in Programs, Accessories, System Tools.

Re: Trying to do a manual defrag.

AllenM — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:39:38 GMT

Hi Masterblaster,

Norton does not have their own defrag utility any more, as mdturner said it just uses Windows defrag utility.

The options that you are looking for concerning smart file placement and the like do not exist in the Windows defrag utility.

You might want to consider something like PerfectDisk made by Raxco. I have used this for many years and it is very customizable and also has offline defrag capability.

If you are interested, PerfectDisk can be found at the following:

Pro version: http://www.perfectdisk.com/products/home-perfectdisk11-professional/learn-more

Standard: http://www.perfectdisk.com/products/home-perfectdisk11-home-premium/learn-more

Hope this helps.

Allen

Re: Trying to do a manual defrag.

Masterblaster — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:39:42 GMT

Thanks for the info guys.

I'm very surprised Norton now uses Windows Defrag.

I purchased this suite expecting to get the old Utilities improved. I guessed wrong.

I can use MyDefrag which is a very good program and free.

What's the point of Norton "offering" something that comes standard with Windows?

That's misleading to me.

Re: Trying to do a manual defrag.

g_cafe_c — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:18:17 GMT

Masterblaster comments:

Thanks for the info guys.

I'm very surprised Norton now uses Windows Defrag.

I purchased this suite expecting to get the old Utilities improved. I guessed wrong.

I can use MyDefrag which is a very good program and free.

What's the point of Norton "offering" something that comes standard with Windows?

That's misleading to me.

Along with the "disk optimizer" the other features are disk cleanup and registry. The features are at best "available" if you choose when you run your scans. Other than this set of features and the Backup feature, Norton 360 seems not much different than the current version of Norton Internet Security. The point seems unclear unless these features are easier to use than directly running them through Windows. I myslef are only concerned with PC Security and Identity Protection, even though I have Norton 360 as one of my products. Sometimes when I do a scan, I "allow for any" disc optimization/defragmentation in case any is needed.

Re: Trying to do a manual defrag.

Masterblaster — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:50:21 GMT

I use a program called Rollback RX. It's sort of an updated Norton GoBack.

One drawback is you cannot defrag once it's installed. To defrag you need to uninstall it, defrag, reinstall it.

So none of the Norton scheduling defrag features means beans to me. I have used the Registry cleanup. Seemed OK but didn't provide a lot of information. Registry cleaners either do too much or not enough.

I use CCleaner (free) to clean my HDD. I doubt Norton offers much more.

I too am using 360 for security and virus protection.

The Utility part of the suite to me is somewhat useless. Too bad as years ago, Norton Utilities was the header hands down.

Re: Trying to do a manual defrag.

AllenM — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 02:43:25 GMT

Masterblaster wrote:
I use a program called Rollback RX. It's sort of an updated Norton GoBack.
One drawback is you cannot defrag once it's installed. To defrag you need to uninstall it, defrag, reinstall it.
So none of the Norton scheduling defrag features means beans to me. I have used the Registry cleanup. Seemed OK but didn't provide a lot of information. Registry cleaners either do too much or not enough.
I use CCleaner (free) to clean my HDD. I doubt Norton offers much more.
I too am using 360 for security and virus protection.
The Utility part of the suite to me is somewhat useless. Too bad as years ago, Norton Utilities was the header hands down.

Hi Masterblaster,

I admit there is not a value add in one sense of the word to N360 (and Norton Utilities) leveraging the Windows defrag utility. However the intent behind this is basicaly a one-stop shop where defrag can be performed from a single application, even though it does leverage Windows routines to do it.

The other value add is that when it comes time to scan your drives for malware, having a freshly defragged drive will decrease the amount of time it takes to scan for malware. In fact overall N360 will run more efficiently when the drive is freshly defragged.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes.

Allen