IObit announces a new version of their free disk defragment software – Smart Defrag 2.
In a real sense, it’s often difficult to measure an increase in system performance following Hard Drive defragmentation. Nevertheless, I do agree, that defragging is a positive maintenance process, and should be done regularly.
A quick recap on disk fragmentation: What is it?
Creating and deleting files and folders, installing new software, and downloading files from the Internet, will cause a Hard Drive to become fragmented. When you delete files or folders, the first available empty spaces on the Hard Drive are filled in randomly when you create new files and folders – as you do when you save pics from your camera, install software, save emails, or create documents.
To keep fragmentation to a minimum, I run the paid version of TuneUp Utilities 2011 in the background, which continuously optimizes, amongst other things, my computer’s hardware, including automatic disk defragging.
The latest release (March 18, 2011 ), of the award winning free system tool, IObit Smart Defrag 2 , can also run on this type of “set and forget” basis. I occasionally hear from users that they can’t remember the last time they defragged their disk/s – they’ll get to it – eventually. But, they don’t have to – IObit Smart Defrag 2, can do this for them on a continuous basis.
Sporting a brand new user interface, (which remains uncluttered), IObit Smart Defrag 2 continues to be easy to use, and as in previous versions – it’s fast and efficient, and best of all, it’s free.
Installation: Be cautious.
NEW – Boot time defrag allows files which can’t be defragged, or moved while the system is running, to be defragged. These files include pagefile, hibernation file, MFT, and system files.
If you’re running the automatic defrag feature, you’ll have ready access to a simple reporting tool.
Running a full defrag, and full optimization (which places frequently used files and folders into the fastest area of the disk), took just a few minutes.
Fast facts:
Extremely Fast and Efficient Defragmentation Enhanced – Using IObit’s latest defrag engine and the new “Boot Time Defrag” technology, Smart Defrag 2 has not only the world’s fastest defragmenting speed but also the most advanced defragmenting ability. It’s been specially designed for modern, large hard drives, which eliminates the long waiting time.
Always-on Automatic Defragment Enhanced – Smart Defrag 2 works automatically and quietly in the background, so it continually and constantly keeps your computer fragment-free.
New! “Boot Time Defrag” Technology – Smart Defrag 2 uses a new “Boot Time Defrag” technology which allows you to defrag files during the system boot process – files which cannot be defragged or are not safe to move after the system is already up.
System requirements: Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit), Vista (32-bit and 64-bit), XP (32-bit and 64-bit) with SP2/SP3 or Home/Professional/Media Center, and 2000.
Languages: English, Albanian, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Flemish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italiano, Japanese, Korean, Malayalam, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, 简体中文, 繁體中文.
Download at: Download.com
The addition of a “boot-time defrag” feature (not always available in a free defrager), coupled with an improved defrag engine, makes Smart Defrag 2 a worthy competitor in a crowded freeware defrag market.
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Bill Mullins' Weblog - Tech Thoughts 
i read somewhere that defragmenting is not really needed nowadays since current hard drives have bigger capacity that fragmentation barely have any effect. is it true?
Hey xsilentx,
There are some types of applications on which techies can’t seem to agree – one (as you’ve noticed is Defraggers), and another (for example), is Registry Cleaners.
So yes, as a general statement, I’d have to agree – defraggers have limited impact. On the other hand, a badly fragmented drive will often benefit (in a measurable way), from a defrag.
Bill
yes i would think that also, but i would say pending your overall applications, this give each and other one a different view. also with
largest come larger problems. think on this with the larger size disk space now you cab load save and maintain bigger programs and files, so the scale changes. think about whats going to happen as we move towards
Q-computing now we are going smaller, in to a area of size you
mind can’t even conceive, with all different rules of physics. maybe we
won’t have to defrag, or backup sys, just zfrag, or maybe imgine we backup and it happens(smile).
Hey Kenneth,
Lol – “maybe we imagined we backed up and it happens (smile)”, I hear ya – it does happen.
Bill
Hey Bill,
I just completed an W7 OS repair (yep; already! just to fix some minor annoyances) a few days ago and was going to drop Smart Defrag when I found Version II (the boot-time option is a great feature). To add to the defrag debate I recently read that defragging enhances your chance of successful file recovery. Any thoughts?
Best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
Agreed – the boot defrag is a real plus. Good to hear your OS repair went smoothly – good one.
On the “defragging enhances your chance of successful file recovery” thing, I’ve heard that all the way back to the DOS days. But, in practical terms, the number of variables is so substantial that this is something I wouldn’t rely on. The only real predictor. it seems to me, is the amount of disk activity prior to the undelete attempt (new files written, new applications installed, etc.)
Best,
Bill
Would you happen to know how this compares to other defraggers? I’ve used Auslogic’s and Piriform defraggers, but on Win7, I ended up sticking to the default defrag.
Hey Teknophilia,
I’ve reviewed both Auslogics Disk Defrag (readers opinions here agree it’s the fastest), and Piriform’s Defraggler (readers opinions here are split – some thing it’s too slow, while others love it – go figure!).
As a stand alone defragger, I’ve always been partial to Auslogics Disk Defrag. Although, I must admit, Win 7’s defragger does a good job.
Thanks for dropping by.
Bill
I’ve tried several times to install smart defrag 2 in my laptop running w7 ultimate 32 bits, but all I get is a dropdown box saying runtime error (at-1.0): cannot import SCALEX.
Thanks for any help,
Gene
Hi Gene,
It’s a good idea to uninstall a problem program and reinstall, but in most cases, it’s important to remove all references to the application before the reinstall – particularly in the Registry.
You can do that by uninstalling the application with free Revo Uninstaller, which is particularly good at removing Registry keys. If you have deleted the application manually, then clean up the Registry by using free CCleaner.
Hopefully, you should then have an uneventful reinstall.
Bill