How To Make Vista more responsive and faster

How To Make Vista more Responsive and Faster​

   Information

Many people are having a problem in regards to either a slow boot up, or that windows is slow to load Programs.
I am using a SATA RAID 0 config, and even with 4GB of ram This can result in heavy fragmentation over two drives, and a slow system- especially after recording tv on MCE or any other activity that writes large files to disk.

Deframenting speeds up the system dramatically, BUT using the default defragmenter doesn't defrag file fragments bigger than 64MB or even include them in the fragmentation statistics
When you have file fragments for one program scattered all over your hard drive, it takes time to recompile them in order to execute the program/data in question. Consolidating all file fragments regardless of their size will result in faster access and execution. Now multiply this by hundreds of thousands of individual file fragments that the cpu must recompile to execute in proper sequence per Windows or User command at the same time. I have seen the GUI show 0% fragmentation where the -w command will show 10% fragmentation on a 640GB SATA RAID 0 drive- thats alot of little individual file fragments scattered over a modest size drive...

But this is only part of the problem, now add into the equation file system errors, bad sectors on the disk, and attribute record (NTFS Directory) corruption...and even the fastest system will slow to a crawl over time.

two steps to a faster system:
(Diskcheck can be scheduled at same time as defrag is running, and will commence upon reboot of system)

1. Do a full defrag- Consolidate all file fragments regardless of size (-w)​

Start>All Programs>Acessories>Right Click Command Prompt>"Run as Administrator">at command prompt, copy and paste the following>hit "Enter": (or just type cmd in search at start, right click program "run as administrator")​

(Do not close command (cmd) screen-flashing cursor in empty space indicates defrag running. see note below or page 2 of this tutorial (second post from bottom to see screen shots of the 3 defrag stages))​

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defrag c: -w ​

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2. Check disk for errors​

Start>Computer>Right Click "C" drive>Click Properties>Tools>Error Checking-Click "Check Now">Under Check Disk Options click "Automatically fix file system errors" and "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors"> Restart Computer​

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(note-substitute "c" for the drive letter you want to defrag/check for errors)​

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   Note

When the computer restarts after check disk, you will notice that the system is much faster and more responsive.

   Note

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Do not close the "Administrator:Command Prompt" window untill defrag is complete, or it will abort (wait until you see flashing cursor at C:\Windows\system32>_)​

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Defrag does not delete files- it just rearranges them on the drive and consolidates. If you notice increase/decrease of storage space on the drive, It can probably most likely be attributed to the Check Disk scan verifying/correcting errors in file data and free space, and/or bad sectors recovered, or marked as "unrecoverable" on the disk. See scan results for more info upon completion of Disk Check.​

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If your Disk is marked as "Dirty" see Method 3 here: Check Disk - chkdsk​

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Related Tutorials

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• How to Speed Up the Performance of Vista
• To Reset and Check All Drives and Run CHKDSK If a Drive is Dirty
• scan for and fix system integrity violations

 

[rive0108]

Rive, It worked, I must have spaced out on something. However I got this message- Note: On NTFS volumes, File fragments larger then 64MB are not included in the fragmentation statistics. My question is are 64MB and larger files still being defraged?

It will attempt to consolidate all file fragments regardless of size...(-w)

i.e., the command means "defrag/consolidate all file fragments on the c: drive regardless of size (-w). Be sure to schedule disk check also.

 

[brummyfan]

Thank you rive0108 for this little tweak, it made a performance improvement and my basic system behaves exceptionally well. Thanks again.

 

[enou2]

Thank you, I notice a wonderful difference and it really didn't take that long. You all rock.

 

[nsbjsn]

thanks again i did a defreg and disc check, It helped noticably.

 

[Gnys]

Hi Shawn,
I completed the manual defrag through the command prompt. One little observation I made, does the actual procentage compile during the defrag on Vista? Mine was 0% constant although the defrag completed. Is there something wrong but I'm figuring it's just some minor bug and it doesn't effect the defrag process.

PS. I'm looking to buy a software for system maintance. Searched through a couple of products such as System Mechanics, PC Tools Registry Mechanic 7, System Tech Vista & what you think of those?
I think that Vista's built in defragmantation is good so therefore I'd be looking for a registry defrag program and those mentioned have those abilities.
Is Vista's defragmentor good enough?
I'm getting down to the bottom of this absurd stattering and a lot has been resolved since these tutorials and a major tweak in the power options.

 

[rive0108]

Hi Shawn,
I completed the manual defrag through the command prompt. One little observation I made, does the actual procentage compile during the defrag on Vista? Mine was 0% constant although the defrag completed. Is there something wrong but I'm figuring it's just some minor bug and it doesn't effect the defrag process.

PS. I'm looking to buy a software for system maintance. Searched through a couple of products such as System Mechanics, PC Tools Registry Mechanic 7, System Tech Vista & what you think of those?
I think that Vista's built in defragmantation is good so therefore I'd be looking for a registry defrag program and those mentioned have those abilities.
Is Vista's defragmentor good enough?
I'm getting down to the bottom of this absurd stattering and a lot has been resolved since these tutorials and a major tweak in the power options.

If you havent run Check disk, I recommend doing so.

I assume if you are wanting to use a registry cleaner you are familiar with dynamic Link libraries, and svchost executables? (amongst other things), because if you are not then it is almost a gaurantee that you will end up corrupting your Windows Install neccessitating a Vista re-install.
Half this forum deals with Users who think a reg cleaner is for performance boosting, and end up Corrupting Windows. A registry cleaner is not able to distinguish between unwanted and legitimate entries, and if you dont know the function of the entries it wants to "clean", do not let it clean them- or you will find yourself re-installing Vista. Just some advice.

That said, in the software forum there is a free reg cleaner called CCleaner.

 

[S.SubZero]

The defrag thing is.. uh.. well..

Vista comes with a default scheduled task to run a defrag at 1am every Wednesday. Any system that is on at that time (or turned on after that time) will run a defrag on its own anyway. Unless a massive amount of misfitting writes and deleted are performed in that time, there will not be any noticeable fragmentation anyway. On my systems, the automatic defrag tends to run for just a few minutes.

 

[Gnys]

If you havent run Check disk, I recommend doing so.

I assume if you are wanting to use a registry cleaner you are familiar with dynamic Link libraries, and svchost executables? (amongst other things), because if you are not then it is almost a gaurantee that you will end up corrupting your Windows Install neccessitating a Vista re-install.
Half this forum deals with Users who think a reg cleaner is for performance boosting, and end up Corrupting Windows. A registry cleaner is not able to distinguish between unwanted and legitimate entries, and if you dont know the function of the entries it wants to "clean", do not let it clean them- or you will find yourself re-installing Vista. Just some advice.

That said, in the software forum there is a free reg cleaner called CCleaner.

Well, I wanted to defragment the registry and these free trialware programs are a joke, seriously although with respect the retail versions are noble.
I remember using trailware Registry Mechanic on XP Professional years ago and it never corrupted the OS but who knows how it will react with Vista 64?
Check disk was performed which turned out fine and just today a windows memory diagnostic was approached with a extended scan and everything is ideal.

 

[acdcfan]

How long does it take to defrag with vista?
It does not show the progress at all. AS it stand right now it has been running for over 1 hour. I have 500Gb HD which hasn't been defraged for over a year.

Somehow I thing it takes a little bit quicker with XP. Is Vista doing something different than XP?

 

[rive0108]

How long does it take to defrag with vista?
It does not show the progress at all. AS it stand right now it has been running for over 1 hour. I have 500Gb HD which hasn't been defraged for over a year.

Somehow I thing it takes a little bit quicker with XP. Is Vista doing something different than XP?

500GB and over a year?....might take a while. The command is for a FULL defrag. if you look at page 2 you will see three screen shots of the different stages of defrag.

 

[acdcfan]

Deleted

 

[acdcfan]

I followed your steps exactly. Error check works fine but, after I copy and paste and hit enter for the defrag in command prompt nothing happens. I just get copyright info.
Any Ideas? What am I doing wrong? Thanks.

Ae your running command prompt as the administrator?

An active running defrag looks like this...(note flashing cursor in empty space). Do Not close the command prompt! When defrag is finished the flashing cursor will return to: "C:\Windows\system32>_"

Mines is same as your second picture but my CPU activity is 0%. Is this right?

Edit
I ran O&O defrag software and got that vista drive is 0.13% defragmented ( that is nothing).Other drives 0%.... My question is if O&O defrag is accurate why is Vista taking more then an houre to finish it.

 

[snikir]

hey will anything happen if i close the command prompt while it is defregmenting?

 

[rive0108]

it will stop.

 

[Case]

How do you know when the defrag is completed? What will the screen look like in the command prompt.

Casey

 

[brummyfan]

How do you know when the defrag is completed? What will the screen look like in the command prompt.

Casey

When the defrag finishes it will look like this:

 

[rive0108]

How do you know when the defrag is completed? What will the screen look like in the command prompt.

Casey

If you look at page 2 (second to last post) it will show screen shots of the 3 stages.

 

[Case]

Thanks brummyfan & rive0108

 

[merkat106]

How would this compare to a third party defragger like JkDefrag or AusLogics Disk Defrag?

I would do this along with both third party defraggers. Using the Vista built-in defrag tool is good on a scheduled basis, then use the third party tools if you feel the disk needs further defragging. BTW, both JkDefrag & AusLogics Disk Defrag are good programs.

 

[JimJoe]

I use Diskeeper. I did notice that my Vista has VSS runing, and that Diskeeper noticed it and suggested a config change. Or its VVS. Shadow copy of the drive.

I changed Diskeeper, so next time it will defrag and take that into account.