DOS ain't dead - Defragmentation FAT32 volumes

Defragmentation FAT32 volumes (Users)

posted by Rugxulo , Usono, 06.07.2008, 17:04

> > However it works very good. I run it on 2GB FAT32 partition and it took
> > about 35-40 minuts. It can also handle LFNs even without DOSLFN loaded.
> > (it was a full defragmetnation - files and free space too)
>
> IMO that's a bit slow, but the time might depend to a large degree on how
> "full" the HD is (if it is a "safe" defrag). Therefore better test cases
> are 8, 20, 40 GB HDs with at least 1-2 GB free space.
>
> For example, on a modern PC with 1 GB memory, the "min" time for a full
> and safe defrag of 20 GB, transfer speed 50 MB/s:
>
> > read 20 GB * 2: 400s * 2: 800s > +write 20 GB * 2: 400s * 2: 800s > -------------------------------- > 1600s = 27 min

I think that's a bit optimistic, to say the least. And from my experience, it is always (falsely) suggested to defrag upon clean boot. But things like UDMA really do help speed a lot (and I mean really really really help). But I don't use FAT32 as much as FAT16. Yes, I'm aware of the size limitation, but it's inherently faster than FAT32 anyways, and you can always have/use more than one partition.

To be honest, I don't know of any huge reason why FAT32 defragging would be slow (memory limitations due to larger FAT in memory??). If you have the free space, it might? be easier to just copy everything over to a newly-created FAT32 partition, then "format /u" the old and "xcopy /s" it right back. Remember that WinXP etc. only let you create < 32 GB FAT32 partitions because it's (supposedly) very slow doing anything on sizes greater than that. FAT32 doesn't waste as much cluster space as FAT16, so it's alleged to be better on > 512 MB partitions, but the speed isn't as good. Of course, you're not limited to 2 GB total partition size, and individual files can (theoretically, but not in FreeDOS?!) be max. 4 GB.

BTW, why defrag at all? Aren't newer machines "fast enough"?? (Gotta love how that gets bandied around so much, heh.)

(Corrections welcome, I'm no pro on this junk.)

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Complete thread:

Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - Laaca, 03.07.2008, 19:51 (Users)
- Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - Japheth, 03.07.2008, 19:57
  - Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - Laaca, 04.07.2008, 10:07
    - Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - Japheth, 04.07.2008, 10:44
      - Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - Rugxulo, 06.07.2008, 17:04
        Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - Steve, 06.07.2008, 23:00
        Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - rr, 07.07.2008, 07:46
        Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - Steve, 07.07.2008, 08:47
        Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - sol, 07.07.2008, 22:07
        Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - marcov, 07.07.2008, 23:19
        Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - sol, 07.07.2008, 23:28
        Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - marcov, 08.07.2008, 12:48
        Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - RayeR, 06.07.2008, 23:37
    - Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - sol, 04.07.2008, 17:37
      - Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - rr, 04.07.2008, 17:41
- Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - ecm, 03.07.2008, 20:01
  - Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - sol, 03.07.2008, 20:07
- Defragmentation FAT32 volumes - tikbalang, 05.07.2008, 16:20