I have O&O and defrag my C drive using Complete/Name setup. both FS9 and FSX installed.Question - How often should I defrag... and is there any downside or possible damage to the drive that can occur from defragging too often (like daily?). Right now I seem to be running the defrag all the time because I am still installing stuff but once that settles down I expect to not need to as much.Mark.

Once a week should be just fine after everything is installed. I guess there is always the remote chance of some data corruption when performing a defrag.

Here's a question: I never defragged my HD ever, I have a new Dell Quad Core with only FSX on it, LD-767 and PMDG 747. Nothing else, but the factory installed programs. Will defrag really make an improvement? I get great FPS now and don't want to chance messing anything up. But it Defrag offers hoped of much better FPS, I'll risk it.Any Advice and stats will be appreciated?Paul

i always defrag just before and just after ANY installation so everything is in it's proper place. there can be a BIG increase in FPS if you haven't defragged in awhile. try to keep the clutter down too, get rid of as many files, folders, programs and applications that you don't use or need then defrag after that. those old things just take up space and resources. all i have is FS9 and the CLS DC10 so i keep things at a miniumn if possible. you won't hurt anything at all by defragging. william

I defrag perhaps 3 or 4 times a year. Each time it says "Defrag not necessary" but I do it anyway to see if there's any change in performance. So far, never seen anything in FS9 flyability to indicate it was a worthwhile exercise. Possibly the explanation is that adding a new plane or scenery probably happens only once a year. (usually after Christmas!)(Now that's going to get me jumped on for heresy !!!!)Alex Reid

Ok thanks.