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A tidy hard disk means a faster PC, which is why regular running of Windows' built-in clean-up tool - Disk Defragmenter - is a wise idea.
But if you're tired of Microsoft's corporate colours then how about shelling out close to £60 on this replacement from Executive Software?
Not convinced? Nor were we. What possible advantages could Diskeeper have to justify such a steep asking price? Well, the program's main attraction is an ability to manage itself.
Rather than having to remember to fire up Disk Defragmenter once in a blue moon, Diskeeper's 'Set It And Forget It' facility relieves the PC user of spring cleaning responsibilities.
Now, whenever your computer is left alone for a while, Set It And Forget It will busy itself in the background putting your hard disk's house in order.
As it ferrets through your hard disk, the program displays a colourful 'map' of its progress. At any time you can pause the operation, or cancel it completely. But for nearly sixty quid, surely there's more on offer?
Well, not really - and that's our major beef with Diskeeper. While it does an indisputably good job of disk defragmentation, it doesn't do a whole lot more than Microsoft's thrown-in incumbent.
Even a seemingly clever feature like the 'Exclusion List' fails to deliver. The idea is that you can shorten the time it takes to defragment by choosing disk areas that change frequently, like the Temporary Internet Files folder, for example.
However, we'd expect a 'premium' package to be able do this without user intervention. What's more, the Exclusion List dialog box shows folder and filenames truncated in eight-character DOS style - which is unforgivably slapdash.
Features:
- Set It And Forget It mode defragments in the background
- Track progress on displayed disk map
- Prevent selected files and folders from being moved using the Exclusion List
Executive Software:
01342 327477
www.execsoft.co.uk
See also:
All File & Disk Management
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