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Defragmentation on a mac?

  • 07-03-2006 4:14pm
    #1
    Dave!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,857 ✭✭✭✭


    hey folks,

    I just got an iBook on Friday, and I want to keep it running as smoothly as possible, and prevent it from getting cluttered. Our PC is running Windows, and we never defragmented it, so doing so now would literally take a few days, probably a week!

    I wanna make sure that doesn't happen to my laptop, so I was just wondering if it's possible to defrag a mac running OS X, and how do I do it?

    And also, is there any more 'touch-ups' I should be doing in order to keep it running as good as possible? I'm not used to Macs :o

    And also, is there anything I should AVOID doing, for the same reason? I wanna keep this as perfect as possible for as long as possible :p Hopefully it'll last me the 4 years of college.


Comments

  • #2
    Chardee MacDennis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,225 ✭✭✭Chardee MacDennis


    when you install a new application it automatically "optimzes" your hard drive afaik this is all you need and there is no defrag needed. but an application called onyx was recommended to me for general maintainance.


  • #3
    ciaranr
    Registered Users Posts: 146 ✭✭ciaranr


    A tip I picked up is to not have too many icons on your desktop: initially it's just Macintosh HD and you ought to keep it to a minimum: have links to your favourite apps in the dock instead.

    I forget the figures put apparently every icon on the desktop is in itself an active graphics windows that eats up your video memory.


  • #4
    Hugh_C
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,852 ✭✭✭Hugh_C


    DaveMcG wrote:
    hey folks,

    I just got an iBook on Friday, and I want to keep it running as smoothly as possible


    No need to defrag, not quite sure of the technical reasons (maybe journalling?) but it's not an issue. What you /should/ do though is regularly repair permissions - this can be done in Disk Utility. After every software update or install.

    You should also use a utility (onyx was mentioned) to run your cron activities on a more reasonable schedule. The periodic cron scripts tidy up a bunch of log files and under-the-hood stuff, but in their wisdom, Apple have them run in the small hours by default, when most people's machines are off or asleep. There are other utilities (cocktail?) that do pretty much the same thing and more.

    I use http://www.versiontracker.com/

    to find stuff, it's a fantastic library of all (software) things Mac.

    hc


  • #5
    Laguna
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,639 ✭✭✭Laguna


    AFAIK when you install an application on MAC OSX, it 'optimizes' your HDD then and there, so no defragmentation is needed to be done on your part..


  • #6
    uncle_sam_ie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,191 ✭✭✭uncle_sam_ie


    Unless your working with very large files, like when editing a movie, It not necessary to defrag. OS X does it on the Fly. I also use Onyx. Its a great free app and a must to your utility arsenal.

    Also a good tip is, you should repair permissions before installing software or software updates.


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  • #7
    Hugh_C
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,852 ✭✭✭Hugh_C


    uncle_sam_ie wrote:
    you should repair permissions before installing software or software updates.


    AND afterwards.


  • #8
    Urban Weigl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,784 ✭✭✭Urban Weigl


    Mac OS X automatically de-fragments files as you open them, so as a result it is less susceptible to disk fragmentation than, for example, Windows or Mac OS 9.

    So typically, you should never have to do anything. I do, however, recommend that you always keep at least 20% of your Mac's hard drive space free for maximum performance, and to keep the desktop uncluttered.

    Okay, I know I am simplifying here, but for normal use you really do not have to do anything. If you are really concerned, check out iDefrag: http://www.coriolis-systems.com/iDefrag.php

    It doesn't make sense to do this when the computer is new, only if it's older and you have been working with very large files, for example if you do a lot of video editing work.


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