Is Defragmenting Useless Now?

Summary

In this video, the importance of defragmenting hard drives is discussed, particularly focusing on how technology has changed over time. While defragmenting was once crucial for improving performance, modern solid-state drives (SSDs) make defragmentation unnecessary and potentially harmful. For mechanical hard drives, newer file systems have advanced techniques like extents and compression to reduce fragmentation. The video also highlights features like delayed allocation and transparent defragmentation, which help maintain file efficiency. Ultimately, manual defragging isn't as vital as it once was, but it still can be beneficial for mechanical drives.

Takeaways

• 😀 SSDs are more common than ever and defragmenting them is unnecessary, as they can access data spread across the disk efficiently.
• 😀 Defragmenting an SSD can be harmful, as it uses valuable write cycles, which are limited on these drives.
• 😀 Mechanical hard drives (HDDs) still benefit from defragmentation for optimal performance, but modern file systems have methods to reduce fragmentation.
• 😀 Modern file systems like NTFS use 'extents'—continuous areas reserved for files—to prevent fragmentation.
• 😀 Older file systems like FAT16 and FAT32 don't support extents, leading to more fragmentation, especially on pre-XP versions of Windows.
• 😀 File compression can reduce fragmentation by filling gaps with compressed files, though results may vary depending on the system's speed.
• 😀 Compression is primarily used for saving disk space but can also reduce fragmentation by leaving fewer gaps between files.
• 😀 Newer versions of Windows allow users to compress entire drives with one click, but decompression can slow down the system.
• 😀 Delayed allocation (or allocate on flush) is a technique that holds data in memory before it's written to disk, reducing fragmentation.
• 😀 File systems like APFS (Apple) and EXT4 (Linux) use delayed allocation to ensure files are stored in contiguous blocks to reduce fragmentation.

Q & A

Why was defragmenting a hard drive considered important in the past?

Defragmenting a hard drive was important because, without it, the computer would struggle to find scattered pieces of files, which could slow down performance significantly.

Why is defragmenting SSDs unnecessary and potentially harmful?

Defragmenting SSDs is unnecessary because they can access data randomly, without a performance hit. Additionally, defragmenting uses up write cycles, which are limited on SSDs, potentially shortening their lifespan.

What makes modern file systems more efficient in preventing fragmentation?

Modern file systems use techniques like 'extent', which reserves continuous areas on the disk for specific files, minimizing fragmentation from the start.

How do file systems like NTFS prevent fragmentation?

NTFS uses the concept of extents to ensure files are stored in contiguous blocks, reducing the chances of fragmentation.

What were the main file systems used by older versions of Windows, and how did they differ from NTFS?

Older versions of Windows used FAT16 and FAT32 file systems, which lacked support for extents, leading to more fragmentation compared to NTFS.

How does file compression help in reducing fragmentation?

File compression reduces the space taken up by files, which can leave larger gaps on the drive, reducing the likelihood of fragmentation.

What are the potential drawbacks of using file compression to reduce fragmentation?

While compression can help with fragmentation, it can also put strain on your CPU when decompressing files, and with large files, it might make fragmentation worse in some cases.

What is 'delayed allocation' in file systems like APFS and ext4?

'Delayed allocation' involves holding data in memory until the system is ready to write it, reserving contiguous blocks on the disk and keeping files less fragmented.

How does MacOS handle defragmentation automatically?

MacOS uses a feature called transparent defragmentation, where files below a certain size are automatically defragmented when opened, speeding up future access and reducing the need for manual defragmentation.

Should you still defragment mechanical drives, and why?

While modern systems make it less critical, it's still a good idea to manually defragment mechanical drives occasionally, especially if you're using older or more fragmented drives.