Mac Disk Defrag Tool: Is It Possible For Mac?
April 18, 2011
Defragmentation and disk optimization in Mac OS X is still a continuing debate among the Mac users. Even Apple states that their Mac won’t need to defrag their Mac OS X however offer instructions on how to defrag Mac just in case users might need it. If your looking for Mac disk defrag tool that is right for the Mac, you can easily select from the wide variety of defragging tools that will optimize and boost the system’s performance in the process.
There are two main scenarios why fragmentation occurs and this can be due to large files that are created more often and the disk space is already low in memory. If this happens there are some simple remedies that you can do about it.
For large files that are filling up the hard drive it is necessary to create a backup copy of all these important files. Then re-install the Mac operating system and then restore back all your old files. This can be tedious at all but quite effective too. Other options include running a utility such as SuperDuper that will create a clone of the startup drive and then format the drive with the use of Disk Utility and retrieve back the files in the system.
But other remedies that you can do is defragment Mac hard drive and before you go on defragging your Mac you need to understand first the difference between disk defragmentation and disk optimization.
Fragmentation is a process where different parts of files are split and stored into multiple locations in the hard drive. The hard drive on the other hand has to look for different locations when accessing these files thus taking the access time quite longer. But with Mac OS X’s HFS+ files system, it safeguards the files from getting fragmented. The file system will prevent using the recently freed space from files that have been deleted whenever possible and look for other greater space in the hard disk that free and available. And one more thing, Mac OS X will group together these smaller portions of space into larger portions automatically with the process known as Hot-File-Adaptive-Clustering. These simple routines in Mac already perform defragging process in a way.
On the other hand disk optimization is a different process from defragmentation with a different end as well. Defragmentation gathers all the files into one location in the hard disk whereas optimization deals with organization of all related files into one location for accessing it altogether easily for improved system performance. But when a tool known as iDefrag that is already a disk optimization and defragmenter at once, then it is now easily to arrange all files together and store in into one location for increased performance. The said application also shows the amount of fragmented files in the system and help you decide what to do about it. It even uses different defragging algorithms for quicker and effective defragging process.
Although some Mac users are still reluctant to defrag their Mac, there is no really harm in doing it. Because over time you cannot prevent the hard disk from getting fragmented and it is important to choose the right Mac disk defrag software that is capable of optimizing and defragging the Mac system at once and iDefrag can offer it to you all in all.
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Defragment Mac OS: Do You Need To?
April 16, 2011
For Mac users worrying their fragmented disk is no sweat because the system itself is built with routine maintenance that is capable of defragging the hard drive automatically. However, running some third party defragging software to defragment Mac OS can help most of the time to speed up its speed and boost its performance.
Disk optimization vs Fragmentation
Disk optimization is a process where files that are stored in different locations in a volume are streamlined. All the files as well as metadata are rearranged and reorganized to increase the data time access while minimizing the hard drive head from moving. On the other hand, fragmentation happens when files are altered and stored in the volumes over time as it gets filled with other files, the different parts of the files are stored in different locations. When files that are fragmented are put altogether then this is a process known as defragmentation. But be aware that failure may happen during the defragmentation process sp it is important to have a backup copy of all your important files in case you might want it for future use.
Is there a need for Defragmentation?
The Apple itself doesn’t recommend defragging the Mac OS X because of the following reasons:
- Newer hard disk capacity of Mac today are greater compared before. With more free space available for all your files, there is lesser chance of the file system to get fragmented at all. With Mac OS Extended formatting which is the HFS Plus, this prevents reusing some space from files that have been deleted in order to avoid filling smaller spaces that are freed up from recent files that has been deleted.
- The Mac also included the delaying of allocation for Mac OS X Extended formatted volumes. This allows the smaller space to group together into single large space in one area in the hard disk.
- Fragmented files often happen when files are altered to existing files. But with newer Mac hard drives that have better caching and faster fragmentation rarely happens. It even supports the Hot File Adaptive Clustering and Mac OS X can even automatically defragment files.
- With Mac’s new hard drive that have aggressive read ahead and write behind caching capabilities, fragmentation has less effect on the hard drive as well as impact to the Mac system performance.
However, it won’t hurt your Mac system at if you choose to defrag the hard drive. You can choose from a wide variety of defragging software that is available in the market. Some of it comes as a freeware as well. When it comes to defragging software one of the recommended tool for Mac is the iDefrag. But prior to defragging process it is important to backup all the needed files from the hard drive because sometimes software may fails and defragging process can take longer. It is important also to choose an idle time when Mac system is not in use if you wish to defrag Mac hard drive.
If your in doubt if you need to defragment Mac OS, go ahead anyway because there is no harm in doing it. As long as you choose the right defragging tool and backup all your important files before proceeding with the process.
How to Defrag Mac
March 27, 2011
If you are using Mac system the company itself doesn’t need defragging the hard disk on Mac. The Mac OS itself is built with its own optimization tool that can perform its own defragmentation process. However this is quite limited and this is the reason why iDefrag comes on the scene.
The Mac HFS file system already put files in one location on the hard disk. It groups the files into one logical unit for better and faster access time. It allows the files size to expand easily without the need to undergo fragmentation. This will work only on larger disks that have lots of space. However, Mac HFS also experience file fragmentation. This is quite true when the disk is already full and already runs out of space. The smaller space that is located in the disk will soon adds up and will result to file fragmentation this is the time when defragmentation is needed in order to organize files better and efficiently.
The iDefrag application is built with two parts. The general interface and the other one is for booting. If you want to defrag Mac properly you need to run the application when the operating itself is not running or not in used. This is done through startup disk. The main interface of iDefrag is quite easy and simple to use. Once you launch the application just select the disk where the defragging will take place. It will then search every file on the disk and display it on the window pane. It will also show you where the files are stored and the amount of fragmentation on the disk. The last step is to defrag the hard disk by running the startup disk defragger. After the defragging process is done you will notice that it is faster to download some larger files in the Mac system.
The iDefrag application is loaded with lots of information and quite pretty too. The information pane will show you the file name, size and location on it in the hard disk. The application takes slower when it compiles the image that contains the files and block on the disk. Defragging process can take too long and can be time consuming as well so if you want to defrag your system choose the right time when it is idle. For the overall view, the program is quite good when it comes to defragging Mac. This is price at a value of £20. Another thing also the application features Hot Zone.
Now if you are thinking that your Mac system doesn’t need defragging, it is better this time that you consider defragmentation process because this is quite beneficial for your Mac computer. If you want to defrag Mac you can use iDefrag as one of the recommended tool for doing it. This makes the defragging process a lot more easily and better compared to Mac optimization tool that is quite limited. It comes with features that can handle defragging task easily. This is surely an application worth trying on your Mac system so try and download it now!
Defrag Mac: Does Your Mac Need It?
March 25, 2011
Most Mac users are wondering if defragging their Mac OS and disk optimizing is an effective way in order to repair disk permissions. Even Apple itself is confident that the Mac OS X doesn’t need defragmentation because the system itself is built with its own optimization tool. However defragging might not hurt your system at all particularly of you have large files stored in the hard drive and the memory is already low. If you wish to defrag Mac you can do it and somehow this can also improve the performance of Mac system.
If you think that your Mac system is already slow and applications are taking longer to open then the next thing that you can do is create a backup copy of all your files in the hard drive, then re-install the Mac operating system and then retrieve your important files back to the system. This is quite time consuming and risky thing that you can do but will eventually makes the system to run faster and access the files easily. Another way to do this is use some defragging tools that will create a clone in the drive, reformat the hard drive and then restore back the old files in the system. This is one of the fastest remedy for your slow Mac system.
Is there a Need for Mac Os X Defrag?
Fragmentation is a method where files are divided into separate parts and then stored in different locations in the hard drive. When files are accessed it will look on different locations causing the system instead to slow down. Files systems are composed of different portions that are separated from each other. Once the hard drive is full it will used the smaller space on the disk that will result in dividing the files into smaller chunks and store it in different locations. This is already a process known as fragmentation.
The Mac OS X HFS+ file system don’t need defragging process because the system will only used the space on the hard drive that is recently freed before it will look for other areas where they can store their files. Mac OS X also bundle the smaller space altogether making it into larger portions. And lastly Mac itself perform their own defragmentation process known as Hot-File-Adaptive-Clustering that reduces the files t be fragmented.
Some Mac users often relate defragmentation to disk optimization. This is a different process actually. Disk optimization organize all related files into one group in order to improve the performance of the system unlike fragmentation where it split the files into different chunks and store it to different location. One of the common defragging utility for Mac is the iDefrag application that changes the arrangement of files in the hard disk drive in order to improve the performance of the Mac system.
Mac users are often confused if there is a need to defrag Mac OS X. Although the Apple Company does not recommend doing this but defragging the system is quite beneficial too. Mac OS X itself is built with its own optimization tool to perform its own defragmentation process but disk optimization and defragmentation can be a better solution to improve the overall performance of the Mac system.
Defrag a Mac Hard Drive: Do You Need It?
March 21, 2011
If your Mac system is already running slow defragmentation is the way to speed it up. For Mac systems defragging it is not really necessary but with older Mac improving its performance can be done through defragging it. This article will give some guide regarding how to defrag Mac hard drive. You need to be aware of the possible risk of defragging and what you can do about it.
Fragmentation happens when files on the hard drive are located in different locations. When the files are put into one location this is a process known as defragmentation. If you have fragmented files in your hard drive the Mac system tend to run slow. Apple Company is not recommending defragging their Mac OS but it helps when defragmentation happens because this can retrieve hard drive space in the system.
Before you consider to defrag Mac you might evaluate your hard drive and the whole system first. Apple itself does not recommend defragging their Mac OS because most of the hard drive space have a lot of reserve space and new improve systems today have better caching features. But there are some circumstances that might require you to defrag your Mac but read on the instructions first on your computer manual before running the defragging process. You need to keep in mind that defragging might pose some risk and this can be losing your important files.
You need to be aware that defragmentation process is not an easy process because it can take a lot of hours and some important data can be lost in the process. You need to be aware of all these possible risk. Choose the most convenient time for you to defrag your computer. Conduct first a back up copy of all your important files and select the best defragging tools that will work best on your Mac and avoid using the freeware applications because they tend to be in low quality.
When you start defragging your system, run first your defragging application. Once the process is done take note if the performance of your Mac is enhanced. You will notice that your system will improve if the applications open faster and the files can be access easily.
Before you consider defragging the hard drive you need to take a lot of precaution first. Apple does not generally recommend you to defrag Mac OS X because it is already built with architecture design where defragging is not needed at all. However defragging can be quite beneficial for your Mac on the process. Defragging can speed up the performance of your Mac hard drive but you need to evaluate first the condition of your Mac system. Defragging can be risky and you should be aware of this. It usually take longer hours so choose the right time to defrag your Mac and make sure that you have a backup copy of all your important files because defragging process can lose some of your important data. Just choose the right defragging applications that work best on your Mac system.
Defragment Mac: Is There A Need To Do This?
March 2, 2011
Mac users would often wonder if there is a need to defragment Mac system. What is this for? Here is helpful information that might give you a head start regarding this defragmentation process.
Fragmentation happens when certain files are created and deleted. This is quite true if you have created three files in your Mac system and then delete the second one. If the users happen to create a fourth file which is larger than the size of the second files that have been deleted, the Mac system itself will save a portion of the fourth file on the space that was occupied by the second file and the other remainder on other files. Thus in order to access the fourth file the system will have to look in two locations.
What’s good about the Mac system is that their file systems are already architecture to work on certain fragmentation process. This does not affect the performance of the Mac system itself and its users. And users on the other hand are not required anymore to frequently defragment the hard disk of their system. But this is not the true case all the time for Mac system because as users are using their computers and access the hard disk for certain files, it can all have an impact on the performance of the machine.
Once large files are created and deleted, hard disk may become fragmented that can cause a low on the Mac system performance. When this happen, Mac users have the prerogative to use third party applications that is capable of defragmenting the Mac system and even back up the hard disk and initialize the Apple Drive Setup in order to restore the files. The defragmentation process often results to large amount of disk processes because large files of data will be arranged and rearranged. There is some third party defragmenting software that is not capable of recovering certain files on the hard disk and important files will be surely at risk. It is necessary to backup first the current hard disk before using these defragmentation applications.
However, there are benefits of defragmenting Mac hard disk because it can improve the Mac performance itself. But as Mac users you need to consider a lot before defragmenting your Mac. Before doing this restart the Mac system. If you have full disk and you need to alter large files defragmenting it might solve the problem with the use of some third party disk utilities. You can also have an option to backup first all the important files in the Mac system, then erase the hard disk and reinstall the Mac OS X and then retrieve all your backup files later on.
As Mac users defragment Mac is somehow beneficial and needed for your Mac system. You can do this by the help of third party defragmentation applications. However doing so requires a lot of consideration particularly in protecting important files in the system. It is quite important to backup all the hard disk files before defragging the Mac.
Defrag Mac Hard Drive: Is There a Need to Do It
February 23, 2011
When you’re using a Windows platform computer, you need to pay attention to defragmenting hard drives and updating antivirus and firewall applications. However, using Mac platform will not let you worry about these things. But this does not mean that you don’t need to defrag Mac’s hard drive after all because this is one way of enhancing your Mac system’s performance.
Mac system is quite secured because its architecture is maintained periodically. Most Mac users would often think that their system is already secured and powerful that defragging it is not needed anymore. Here are some helpful facts that might help you decide whether you need it or not.
For Window users, they know that it is helpful to defrag their Mac computers but sometimes doing it took a lot of hours. Users that are new to Mac systems often wonder if they need to defrag their hard disk and how can they do it. No matter how powerful the system is it really helps to defrag your system. One known application that is capable of defragging Mac system is the iDefrag. What can this software offer to your Mac computer particularly the hard drive?
You can even try downloading the trial version of this software that is readily available in the software provider site. Although the trial versions have limited capabilities but it allows you to try some feature of the application. Once the application is downloaded and employ in the system you can already start using it.
On the left pane is a list of available volumes then on the right are prompt messages that will give you information to enter first the password. Once the lock icon is click, the application is authenticated and the application will start the scanning process in the hard drive. Then during the scanning process, the right panel will show the driver’s content. A linear graphic at the bottom will show you the condition of your hard drive.
During the defragging process, blocks of fragmented files are usually shifted and sorted out. In return this makes the system to run faster and efficiently. The iDefrag application will offer you five ways to do the defragmentation process. You can either select Compact, Metadata, Quick, Full Defrag or Optimize which are all located in pull down menu bar. Defragmenting the Startup volume will require a computer restart to complete the process. It is applicable to choose Full Defrag options because it is already a combination of Metadata and Optimize algorithms. They rearrange the files in the hard disk by controlling it using the selected class set. And another thing iDefrag also monitors the temperature of the hard drive and protect it possible overheating.
Although some would recommend that there is no need to defrag Mac hard drive but it will be better to do it anyway though this can be done at least three to four times in a year. Running Full Defragmentation from iDefrag options will somehow make your system to run better and faster.
