Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!uupsi!rodan.acs.syr.edu!bwdavies
From: bwdavies@rodan.acs.syr.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Looking for memory defragmentation utility.
Message-ID: <1990Nov23.192455.8811@rodan.acs.syr.edu>
Date: 23 Nov 90 19:24:55 GMT
References: <1990Nov14.214230.1087@rodan.acs.syr.edu> <2381@moscom.UUCP> <187.274c09c6@intersil.uucp>
Sender: Sam Hil Cabal, DS
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Lines: 68

In article <187.274c09c6@intersil.uucp> hamilton@intersil.uucp writes:
>>In article 1990Nov14.214230.1087@rodan.acs.syr.edu bwdavies@rodan.acs.syr.edu writes:
>>>In article <2375@moscom.UUCP> mcc@moscom.UUCP wrote:
>>>>
>>>>I have recently received my copy of Quarterback Tools v1.2a from Central Coas
>t
>>>>Software and have run it on my 2 meg A1000 with the Sprit Technology HDA-506 
>>>>doesn't fail it _will_ take quite some time to complete.  My 20meg partition
>>>>took about 30 minutes using the fast option.
>>>
>>>You're kidding, right?  I have an H-P '286 machine at work with an 80 Meg
>>>hard drive, and using PC Tools, it takes no more than 10 minutes to 
>>>optimize the whole thing (if I don't have it clear the empty blocks).
> 
>You're confusing de-fragmenting and re-organizing.
> 

No, I'm not.

>PC Tools has a number of "ordering/sorting" options.  The base mode is simply
>de-fragment, in which it basically re-writes any non-contiguous files in
>consecutive blocks, for faster loading.  This mode does nothing else.
> 
>Now, some of the other options will make it sort the harddisk and put all 
>the files in order, all files in each subdirectory grouped together, etc.
>This is the sort-of serious re-organization (not just de-fragmentation)
>that QB tools does.  On my 40M 286 system at work, PC tools will take hours 
>re-organizing a perfectly organized, de-fragmented harddisk if I just add a
>12 byte file named "AARDVARK", since it will now move every single block over
>by 1 (maybe 2?) blocks so it can put AARDVARK at the top.  Similarly, if I only
>add a file named "ZEBRA", the re-organization is over in seconds.
> 

My machine at work is set up to alphabetize all files and sub-directories, too.

I regularly add and change files beginning with all sorts of letters.  It
still only takes a few minutes.  

>Bottom line:  PC Tools' and Quarterback's _re-organization_ (optimizing) times
>are probably comparable.  Here are the significant differences that I see:
> 
>Quarterback will use all the ram I have available as a buffer, speeding
>the process and reducing hd thrashing.  On my 10meg the extra
>8 megs of buffer memory gives QuarterBack the edge on speed.  Quarterback
>also seems to have a more intelligent/efficient algorythmn for re-organizing.
> 
>PC Tools is more "robust"-you can stop the program while it's running and
>your harddisk will be intact.  If there is a power interruption, there is
>a very good chance that nothing on your hard drive will be lost.  QB tools
>needs to add this feature-it's not hard, but it slows things down a little. 
>PC Tools also gives you more control over what exactly you want to do to your
>harddisk, although the usefulness of some of the options is questionable.
>It would also be nice if QB tools added a "block clear" feature also.

Using the'block clear' function on PC Tools _does_ add to the time it takes
to optimize the disk.  Using this option, it does take thirty plus minutes
to finish.  Is this the way you have your machine set up?

I'm glad that there is a program like this for the Amiga, I will most
likely be buying one in the next six months (maybe waiting for an'040
option or the A3000UX), and I would consider a disk optimizer necessary
equipment.

-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sam Hill Cabal				"If there's anything insidious going
bwdavies@sunrise.bitnet			 on in the world, the media is behind
bwdavies@rodan.acs.syr.edu		 it!"	-T.J. Teru