Path: utzoo!mnetor!tmsoft!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!munnari.oz.au!manuel!ccadfa!bxw From: bxw@ccadfa.adfa.oz.au (Brad Willcott) Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.apps Subject: Re: Norton SD is STUPID! Message-ID: <2279@ccadfa.adfa.oz.au> Date: 16 Feb 91 06:27:29 GMT References: <51050004@hpcupt1.cup.hp.com> <1991Jan22.213923.10877@sj.ate.slb.com> <1991Feb4.034224.1@acfcluster.nyu.edu> <2674@excelan.COM> Organization: Computer Centre, University College, UNSW, ADFA, Canberra, Australia Lines: 68 tporczyk@na.excelan.com (Tony Porczyk) writes: >In article <1991Feb4.034224.1@acfcluster.nyu.edu> jqg9462@acfcluster.nyu.edu writes: >>In article <1991Jan22.213923.10877@sj.ate.slb.com>, poffen@sj.ate.slb.com (Russ Poffenberger) writes: >>> Personally, I wouldn't run ANY disk optimization program with ANY TSR's >>> loaded. >> I don't agree. At least disk cashe will speed up the process a lot. >>With PC-Tools Compress can run with all PC-Tools programs, including PC-Cache >>Jun >I run COMPRESS almost daily (lots of stuff installed and uninstalled all the >time) with SMARTDRV.SYS (2048) and a bunch of networking software. It never >hurt my system, but I usually do reboot afterwards. I don't have much >experience with SD because it is so unbelievably slooooooow..... Anyone out >there used a different optimizer that would be faster than COMPRESS and have >a similar organization scheme (to standard on compress)? Something that >would optimize BIG drives? >Tony >. I am a frequent user of Norton's SD. Iuse it _because_ it is reliable and safe. If there should be a power failure, then I don't loose anything. In fact, I even get it to do a "verify after write". To me, the security of the data on my HD is of greater importance than saving 10 or 15 minutes. Besides, one can always find something else to do, whilst waiting. Just to put this time factor into perspective, I tend to be a VERY impatient computer user. If I have to wait for the computer to catch up to me, then I get somewhat peeved. However, data security is MORE important to me. I am currently using Norton 5.0. I am very pleased with the enhansements in this version. A point I would like to make about disk cache programs (eg: Smartdrv.sys). Thet operate by keeping a copy of the latest data read from and/or written to a drive being cached. The cache is checked first when data is required off of a cached drive. If it is not there, then the drive is read directly. The reason I mention all this, is to point out the verify process of a program such as SD, would be of no use, as it would simply be verifying the data currently stored in the cache. Therefore, I recommend the following: a) Turn off the cache facility for the drive(s) to be unfragmented. b) Use a program such as Norton's SD which does NOT rely on storing the shuffled data in memory. Shaw it will take longer than the other type of program, but what value do you place on you data? c) Use the "verify after write" facility of that program. Again, data security. d) Turn on the cache facility, and reboot the computer. Now for the disclaimer: I am NOT in anyway connected to the developers/ destributors of Norton Utilities. This advice is given freely from my experience as a PC Consultant. PS: Turn off the cache when ever you are doing software repairs to ant disk drive. Otherwise, you want be aware of any write faults. Brad. -- Brad Willcott, ACSnet: bxw@ccadfa.cc.adfa.oz Computing Services, Internet: bxw@ccadfa.cc.adfa.oz.au Australian Defence Force Academy, UUCP:!uunet!munnari.oz.au!ccadfa.oz!bxw Northcott Dr. Campbell ACT Australia 2600 +61 6 268 8584 +61 6 268 8150 (Fax)