Hard drive badly fragmented -- is this a bad sign?

[aimeeandbeatles]

I usually defrag once a week using Auslogics Disk Defrag. I like to analyze it first as if its not too badly fragmented I'll skip a week. Anyways, the last few weeks, I've noticed that the data partition has been very badly fragmented -- something around 25 - 30%. before it usually was around 10% at most, and the system drive is around that. I'm worried something bad's happening and I ran MalwareBytes and it didn't pick up anything.

However I've been working a lot with files, cleaning up and the sort. But I dont understand why this would cause it to fragment that badly.

Also, another thing to note is that some of the files on it change a lot -- e.g. in the Archives & I keep my Firefox profile on the data partition. But the change has only been within the last few weeks.

Any ideas?

 

[Petek]

How much free disk space does the computer have? A disk that's low on free space will fragment more quickly than otherwise. When you run your defragger, does it completely defragment the drive (except for immovable files)? If not, you may have to run it more than once. Can you schedule the defragger to run automatically at some convenient time and more often than you do now?

 

[Zelig]

Don't bother using a defragmentation program or even looking at fragmentation if you're using Vista/Win7.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

How much free disk space does the computer have? A disk that's low on free space will fragment more quickly than otherwise. When you run your defragger, does it completely defragment the drive (except for immovable files)? If not, you may have to run it more than once. Can you schedule the defragger to run automatically at some convenient time and more often than you do now?

I recently repartitioned the drives (I do that when reinstalling to account for different things). Currently the data partition is about 1/2 full but I'm working with some large files so when I delete those it'll go down.

Don't bother using a defragmentation program or even looking at fragmentation if you're using Vista/Win7.

The automatic defrag didn't meet my needs. I used it for a while and then when I looked at the drive it was horribly fragmented. I work with a lot of small files.

 

[Zelig]

The automatic defrag didn't meet my needs. I used it for a while and then when I looked at the drive it was horribly fragmented. I work with a lot of small files.

You can't notice the performance difference, you're just wasting your time.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

That still doesnt answer my question.

 

[Zelig]

Because it's not something you should waste your time on.

Get rid of all your programs to check fragmentation levels and don't worry about it.

 

[Abaddon]

Modern computers can look after themselves, you are worrying about something relevant to Windows 98?

 

[EnglishCrusader]

Modern computers can look after themselves, you are worrying about something relevant to Windows 98?

Troll.

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[aimeeandbeatles]

My hard drive tends to be on the loud side (just the normal chattering, not it being faulty) and when it's badly fragmented it does more reads and there's a lot of noise.

 

[GoodGame]

My hard drive tends to be on the loud side (just the normal chattering, not it being faulty) and when it's badly fragmented it does more reads and there's a lot of noise.

I'm not sure about the constant need to defrag. Was that analysis done using Auslogics? If it was done using XP default, then I wouldn't worry.


Noise on the other hand, is a fair indication of coming mechanical failure, in my personal experience. I'd recommend backing up the drive, and start shopping for a replacement. If chattering frequency increases over time, then anticipate an imminent failure.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

No, it's been like this since I got it. There no changes in the amount or type or volume of noise. The noise is most noticable when opening large files but right now it's pretty defragmented so it's quiet.

I managed to get the fragmentation levels to a sane amount so it should be fine now. I did do a check disk the other day and it's fine except for the 1 bad sector (I've had that for a long time, it happened when the power cut just as I was saving something)