Are the benefits of defragging hard drives overblown?

Are the benefits of defragmentation overblown?

By Fred Langa One of the never-ending, always-simmering debates between PC users is whether defragging fast, modern hard drives provides any measurable benefits to PC performance.

But there's clear logic behind defragmentation

Reader Martin Hack asks a legitimate question regarding some advice given recently in my weekly WindowsSecrets.com column: Is the recommendation to "Defrag, defrag, and defrag again" actually founded in fact?

• "In his July 22 column, Fred makes the following statement: 'Defrag, defrag, and defrag again. Hard-drive files neatly packaged into long, unbroken chains load faster than those whose segments are scattered all over the drive.'

  "I have yet to see this shown to be the case. And if he has any proof, I'd like to see it. Thanks."
  

The top item in this week's column goes on to show the clear proof of defragmentation's benefits.

The other topic I cover in this issue:

• Another method for completely uninstalling Flash
• Install 64-bit Windows 7 over 32-bit Vista?
• AV suite implicated in horrible boot time

Here's the full issue lineup this week:

Free content posted on Aug. 05, 2010:

INTRODUCTION By Brian Livingston It's been 20 years of investigative journalism TOP STORY By Woody Leonhard Eliminate Flash-spawned "zombie" cookies Flash cookies are the all-pervasive app Cookies that return from the cookie-crusher Where companies like Quantcast come into play Take control of Flash cookies with PC cleaners LOUNGE LIFE By Keely Dolan Keep your computer cool in the summer heat WACKY WEB WEEK By Stephanie Small Goat calls for help in a most human way

 
Paid content:

LANGALIST PLUS By Fred Langa Are the benefits of defragmentation overblown? There's clear logic behind defragmentation Another method for completely uninstalling Flash Install 64-bit Windows 7 over 32-bit Vista? AV suite implicated in horrible boot time

PATCH WATCH By Susan Bradley Microsoft releases critical out-of-cycle patch Patch fixes security flaw in Windows shortcuts BEST PRACTICES By Susan Bradley Forecast for cloud-based servers is hazy Vendors hard-selling online business servers Internet connection speed a reason for worry MS Aurora server puts the cloud in your office Pushing toward pure-cloud computing solutions Keep your business data storage solutions mobile

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