What is the difference between Windows defrag and standalone apps?

Question

Which is the best?

I understand that other software may be faster, but is the end result any different between all the various applications? If all the files are defragmented, then, apart from speed, how can one app be better than another?

Answer 1

Windows defrag is online defragging and standalone is when you do it yourself offline.

Answer 2

This is an article about DiskKeeper defragment program..You may find some useful information:

http://www.networkclue.com/hardware/computer/performance/defrag.aspx


Pay attention in this part of the above article:
"Clue: The Defrag program that comes with Windows was actually made by Diskeeper SEVERAL years ago. It was designed for Hard Drive up sizes up to around 3 GB. Things have changed alot since then and the Diskeeper defrag software today utilizes the new algorithms for today's larger drives."

Answer 3

I use Windows defragger probably once every other month. You don't need to defrag more often then that. I use my computer on-line at least 12hrs/day. Never noticed any appreciable speed increase after a defrag, in fact Windows defrag normally says I don't have to defrag but I do.
Never tried any other defrag.
One thing I can state positively is that Windows Defrag is NOT an on-line defragger, it can be used without even a internet connection, so you can disregard Edward W. suggestion.

Answer 4

A dedicated third party defragger like Diskeeper defrags system files, multiple drives simultaneously, does boot-time defrag and has an automatic defragmentation mode. The speed with which Diskeeper defrags is also faster than that for the Windows defragger.

Answer 5

Stand alone are sometimes better depends which one you get , and some are quicker .
I asked , not so long ago for some ideas :this was the answers i got go to snapfiles.com/freeware then to fragmentation software then choose one I tried auslogics defrag . the first time i ran it it took long i have a large disc volume and it hadn't been defraged in a while . since then it whizzes through a complete defrag in no time at all . I suggest you try it - its also free.
also try www.yesitsfree.co.uk for free software.

Answer 6

window is a defrag is a basic free defrag with little real quality,
it does the job just though....
now diskeeper and the other software available to do this job is dedicated to this task with other options,
like;
frag guard/ boot time defrag (which keeps your booting files from fragmenting,defragment of the MTF, etc),
and also set and forget where it automatically defrags when needed....

i defrag every day and i use the computer for about 3/4 hours yesterday and there was 1392 fragmented files.....
and that in one day....
i would download CCleaner and its free,
run that first then after i have finished run the defrag before i shut down......
if you don't run it regularly it will take minutes to hours to run
and for what it cost and the time involved it is not worth not doing....

Answer 7

Windows defrag is super slow! I use Auslogics defrag and find it fast and efficient. Get it here: http://www.auslogics.com/disk-defrag/index.php ( it is free! ) Hope this helps.