Easy setup for optimal performance with Win2000

It is important that the operating system maintains optimal reliability and performance. The Windows 2000 operating system does this through a built-in system tool called Disk Defragmenter. Disk Defragmenter was developed through collaboration between Microsoft Corporation and Executive Software International. Keep reading to learn more about disk fragmentation and defragmentation, and how Disk Defragmenter supports maintaining disk efficiency.

Fragment Types

Fragments are caused by creating and deleting files and folders, installing new software, and downloading files from the Internet. The computer does not have to save the entire file and folder in one space on the hard disk, they are saved in the first available space. After most of the hard disk space is used, most subsequent files and folders will be saved as a few segments throughout the volume. (In this discussion, the terms disk and volume are often used interchangeably.) When a file or folder is deleted, the space that is subsequently vacated is randomly filled with the newly stored file. This is the process of fragmentation. The more fragments the volume has, the lower the input and output performance of the computer files. There are two main types of disk fragmentation: file fragmentation and free space fragmentation.

File Fragments

All parts of a file are stored in a location on the disk called "continuous". If a file is not contiguous, it is scattered across the disk to form multiple pieces. All Windows NT and Windows 2000 file types (File Allocation Table (FAT) and NTFS File System (NTFS)) are prone to fragmentation.

After the file fragmentation is generated, the disk performance is reduced because the head spends more time moving back and forth at different points on the disk while reading the scattered file portion. This is the main reason for the gradual decrease in system performance—and the specific reason for the extended read and reboot times.

Free Space Fragments

A partially filled disk contains unused space, which is what we call free space. Ideally, this space should be some contiguous portion of the hard disk. It is a good thing that we have space available, but it is not good if it is divided into pieces. Free space fragmentation means that the file space is divided into multiple segments without being joined together. For this type of fragmentation, the performance of the hard disk is reduced because the head moves at different points on the hard disk to find available space and then writes to the file. The free space that produces fragmentation also increases the likelihood of file fragmentation (forming file fragmentation) when the file is larger than the hard disk space to be written.

Analytic Defragmentation

Defragmentation is the process of rewriting non-contiguous files to a contiguous sector of a hard disk, with the result that data access and retrieval speed can be increased. Because FAT and NTFS disks can degrade over time and produce more fragmentation, it is important to defragment to optimize system performance.

Fragmentation Analysis

How does the system form fragments? In June 1999, the American Business Research Corporation in Irvine, Calif., analyzed the debris and found that in 100 corporate offices that did not use defragmentation, 50% of the respondents had 2,000 to 10,000 pieces of server files— Another 33% of the respondents' documents were divided into 10,333 to 95,000. The results are similar in various situations: The performance of servers and workstations is significantly reduced.

Good Housekeeper

Even new computer systems can cause file and free space fragmentation due to loading of the operating system. This can be tested by loading the operating system on a new machine and then running the defragmentation feature of Disk Defragmenter (described below).

For individual users, the disk defragmenter should be run after the operating system is loaded, and then periodically checked manually. Determine the time to defragment based on the type of work being done—remember that the general and everyday use of the computer can produce fragmentation. Defragmentation should be considered after compressing and decompressing files and installing operating systems and applications. Usually, for moderate and heavy use, defragmentation can be done once a week, and intermittent use can reduce the frequency of finishing.

Disk defragmenter can be used to analyze the disk before deciding whether to defragment it. After disk analysis, a dialog box prompts you to indicate the proportion of fragmented files and folders in the volume and suggests a series of actions. Analyze volumes on a regular basis and implement actions when Disk Defragmenter recommends defragmentation.

Disk analysis and defragmentation should be performed regularly for all Windows 2000-based servers and workstations to ensure that the disks are operating at their best.

Secure Defragmentation

During the development phase of Windows NT, a defragmentation application programming interface (API) was developed and built into Windows NT to ensure operation in the operating system At the same time, files can be moved safely (no loss of data, system crashes or corruption). In Windows 2000, Microsoft further refined, tested, and certified these defragmentation APIs to ensure that files created with Windows 2000 can be defragmented without risk.

Disk Defragmentation Execution

To ensure data loss, system crashes, and file corruption, Windows 2000 Disk Defragmenter works with file systems and APIs.

Disk Defragmenter optimizes the disk and keeps the disk running efficiently by doing the following:

1. Locate the fragmentation of each file on the entire disk.

2. Copy it continuously to a new location.

3. Make sure that the copy is an exact copy of the original.

4. Update the Master File Table (MFT) to set the location of the new file.

5. Unassign the original location and re-divide it into free space.

Keep in mind

is the file system, not the disk defragmenter responsible for all data movement.

The API does not support MFT, page files, FAT directories, or defragmentation of open files such as the Windows registry.

The NTFS directory can be defragmented in Windows 2000.

Elements of the Disk Defragmentation Process

To maintain efficient disk operation, you need to understand and control the following key parts: Master file table, page file, hibernation file, and directory.

Master File Table

NTFS contains a file called the Master File Table (MFT). MFT is an index file that maps all objects stored on the disk. In MFT, each file on the NTFS disk (including the MFT itself) has at least one mapping entry. The items in the MFT contain the following data: size, time and time stamp, security attributes, and data location.

Once MFT is fragmented, Disk Defragmenter cannot defragment it. However, since MFT can be used continuously to access all other files on the disk, it will also gradually become fragmented, resulting in longer disk access times and lower disk performance. NTFS minimizes this impact by preserving 1/8 of the disk space reserved for MFT. This area of ​​the disk (called the MFT area) maintains its continuity as much as possible as the MFT increases.

Page File

A page file is the disk space that Windows 2000 uses to exchange data from or to random access memory (RAM). When the memory requires more space than the total amount of physical RAM, the virtual memory manager transfers the oldest data stored in RAM to the page file. This allows RAM to be used in higher priority applications. If the page file is fragmented, it can seriously affect disk performance due to the increase in disk input and output times.