I started getting some stutters tonight-by coincidence happened to download this free defgrag program-ran it-and the difference was amazing (not necc. the defrag program but just defraging.).http://www.iobit.com/SmartDefrag/index.htmlDo it regularly-another tweak that makes a big difference.http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

http://www.auslogics.com/disk-defrag/

HiI was going to place a posting here about the necessity of defragging after installation of FSX. I have always defragged my hard-drives as part of a daily cleanup routine, and found that the FSX installation resulted in one of the biggest fragmented partitions that I have experienced. It took the default MS program over 40 minutes just to defrag my simulation partition. It is now down to a daily 1.5 minutes, but is certainly worth doing regularly.Thanks for the links for the alternative defrag programs.CheersMike

I couldn't agree more. Keeping your drive from getting fragmented over 10 or 15% is a vital maintenance chore if you do any gaming whatsoever. Just automate it to run once or twice a month (or more depending on your usage), and your HD performance won't deteriorate over time.I work as an IT director, and our support staff has tried several different commercial defragging programs to license for our some of users. I highly recommend O&O Software's Defrag Pro if anyone is looking for something more than the packaged Windows Defrag app.http://www.oo-software.com/en/Good stuff - I even bought myself a copy for home use.GG

Agreed, I installed FSX into a new and empty HD partition. I then started my O&O defragger. There were some 23,000 files fragmented from the inital load of FSX.Peeps that think files from a DVD or CD are transferred to the HD in a nice neat fashion should have a rethink. I do not regard this as a hardware post but an FSX tuning tip and a useful one at that.

I Agree for all the afore mentioned reasons. Especially if you're running FSX with less than the latest and greatest hardware.I use Ultimate Defrag. Just released last week. I went through 3-4 versions (4 months) of the Beta as a tester. So I got to know how it works. I think this particular defragger is suited for simming. You can physically place a program or programs in the order that you choose on the HD (or volume partition), frequently used stuff on the outer tracks (fast), rarely used on slow inner tracks. Then it packs everything. Same for the registry on reboot, if you choose that option. The GUI is a TRUE disk metaphor. You can see exactly where specific files are on the disk and where they go after defrag. Clicking on a filename shows you the full path of the file, the location (cluster positions) of the file on the disk, and the number of fragments. It shows you the location of ALL files, including MFT and Paging Files.You can actually manually place individual files in whatever order, wherever on the disk you want. (It say you can anyway; I haven't done it. I have a life.) I also have Diskeeper. It works very well, much better than the default defragger, but I like the option to put FS, windows, documents and settings in order, on the outer tracks, and the rest of the files inside. Ultimate Defrag improves performance/fps, for me anyway.Most the usual sites now have it for download. I think you can try it for a while before buying. Rob

Yep makes a big difference thanks. But also I turn of ZoneAlarm "on access" virus scanning. That stops ZA form scanning files as they are accessed by FSX during flight. Very smooth with it turned off.

Geofa, I downloaded and ran SmartDefrag also but I wondered if you could answer something for me. After I derag FSX seems to run better but if I leave it on the taskbar (in the background) it seems to cause more jerkiness, can you confirm this? I was thinking if it is defragging on the fly this could be the reason. Thanks for telling us about SmartDefrag.Danny

Yeah... That O&O stuff is good. IT can do Alphabet sort.... meaning, if you install all your Megascenery in AAA_xxxx type folder. and then you defrag with alphabet option (I think thats what its called). It would not only defrag, it would also place your photoscenery files in folder AAA_xxx in the outermost part of your HD. It helps reduce blurries.Yes..this ia a paywhere. But you can download it and try it for 30 days. I want to buy this..but I am waiting for the Vista version. :(Manny

>>I also have Diskeeper. It works very well, much better than the default defragger<< I hate to disappoint you, Rob, the XP defragger is Diskkeeper software in a different cloak. Raxco Perfect Disk and O&O Defrag are the best AFAIK. And frankly, I wouldn't entrust my data to a newbee defrag tool with - likely - a small user base. O&O users should make sure they stop the O&O service (OO'something' in the 'OS Services department') if they do not want to be interrupted every minute. This O&O service sends a call to the partitions every 60s. I beg O&O users to spread the word. :-) Hope this adds to thoughts, cheers and kind regards Jaap

Yes-I think you will want to close it down when you run fsx.(Sorry-didn't see your post as it was moved to a different forum).http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

>>>I also have Diskeeper. It works very well, much better than>the default defragger<< >>I hate to disappoint you, Rob, the XP defragger is Diskkeeper>software in a different cloak. >>Raxco Perfect Disk and O&O Defrag are the best AFAIK. And>frankly, I wouldn't entrust my data to a newbee defrag tool>with - likely - a small user base. >>>O&O users should make sure they stop the O&O service>(OO'something' in the 'OS Services department') if they do not>want to be interrupted every minute. This O&O service sends a>call to the partitions every 60s. I beg O&O users to spread>the word. :-) >>Hope this adds to thoughts, cheers and kind regards >>Jaap Diskeeper hasn't been the default fragger for years. The current version - Version 11.0 (or now known as Diskeeper 2007 Pro) is about as far removed from the default XP defrag as Windows XP is from 3.11!There is no need to use Ultimate Defrag or indeed, any specialist defrag utility to place the `important` programs on the fastest part of the platter, simply place them as close to the root dirrcetory as possible - my FS folders are NOT buried six trees deep, they are place directly under the drive - F:|Microsoft Flight Simulator X. I've been doing this for years with my soundsuite and editing tools to ensure they boot as quick as possible. A routine defrag is important, but each of the aftermarket utilities offers something extra. I use O & O on one User Profile and Diskeeper 2007 on the other. That enables me to use either on whatever drive. Experimentation shows FSX runs better after defragging with Diskeeper 2007 than either O & O or Ultimate Defrag, which I tried on evaluation. Conversely, O & O has a significant advantage on Sony Soundforge. It seems to depend on the file structure of the program as muh as the actual defrag program.Diskeeper main advantage is its ability to defrag automatically, whenever the spare resources permit, so preventing fragmentation in the first place, and its IFAAST defragmentation seems to offer FSX load speed advantages over the others - as much as 20 seconds, depending on what flight is loaded. It also defrags much faster than O & O - to the point where the first time I ran it I thought it was faulty.As ever, YMMV, but there is much more to this than a simple `defrag`. Even the methodologies each program use is substantially different from the next - which you see by defragging with one, then immediately again with the next.Allcott

Geofa,You know I trust everything you recommend. Downloading your Dfrag find right now. I will run it and look forward to the results. Stan

Thanks again for the comments, Allcott. You're technical enough to have stopped O&O's background service, I assume! :-) My sources say, no benefit to use diskkeeper upto version 10. I wasn't aware there was a version 11 already, so please excuse my broad statement and 'juvenile' negligence. The earlier versions were the XP defragger in another cloak. Almost guaranteed (I'ld have to dive into the archives for a confirmation), v.9 was for sure, 1000%! ;-) BTW, a good HD-indicator (as far as I would dare to judge): FSX loadtimes... Case loadtimes on fast boxes (post FSX-menu) exceed 60-70-80s; I'ld dare state a user is in 32-bit ATA-mode. In this case defraggers obvioulsy can't help. Unfortunately. I hope you mind if I re-ask my 'other' question here, Allcott. I was looking at buying one of the xFi soundcards. Do you think this kind of hardware will be 'limited-use' with Vista? I'll have to get at least one box running Vista some day... Just to keep up with the Jones' in the software field. Preferably with components whichs hardware is supported. Cheers and kind regards Jaap

Far from being useless, I think Vista may reveal the true capabilities of the current generation of sound cards. I know there's a load of fuss about EAX and Creative drivers, but the fact is that X-Fi technologically speaking is one of the few sound cards that is in the same ballpark as Vista. EAX is `old` technology (and a Creative proprietary product. NOT a general standard) and its just become obsolete, is all. It's not the card at fault.I suspect that drivers will be the cure for this one. Leaving only the problem of retro-compatibilty - I've a lot of Midi equipment I don't think will work well, if at all, under Vista, but who knows what the software gurus will come up with? In fact, that's the main reason I haven't moved to a X-Fi yet, software compatibility with the old hardware I've got. Even though you'll lose EAX in Vista you won't lose 109db S/N ratio and .004 THD, and with native OpenAL support your X-Fi will still do the business, at speeds more suited to the new OS and todays faster processors.Shame the same can't be said about FSX!Allcott