WARNING Win 8 CP may try to DEFRAG your SSD

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by guanellaluigi, Mar 3, 2012.

Tags:
  1. guanellaluigi

    guanellaluigi MDL Novice

    Feb 18, 2008
    15
    4
    0
    I discovered just now that the "Automatic Maintenance" option of the Action Center may try to run DEFRAG against your SSD (which is generally considered a very bad practice)

    On my system, Windows 7 in installed on the SSD and I am dual-booting W8 CP from a .VHD file on a mechanical drive.
    Probably because of this setup, W8 is unable to detect that F: is an SSD, and by looking at the Event Viewer, I discovered that it just spent 10 minutes defragmenting my SSD.

    This is a warning for users with a similar setup: by leaving W8 unattended there is a risk of shortening the life of your SSD.
     
  2. DJxSpeedy

    DJxSpeedy MDL Senior Member

    Jan 7, 2008
    395
    111
    10
    i think its no defrag.. its optimize...i think it starts the TRIM command of the SSD...
    so i think what you say is 50% false :p
     
  3. jayblok

    jayblok MDL Guru

    Dec 26, 2010
    3,199
    2,579
    120
    Wrong,it optimizes it,not defrag:)
     
  4. bjf2000

    bjf2000 MDL Expert

    Apr 11, 2008
    1,085
    197
    60
    Terminology aside, we should run defrag and deselect the SSD (and the System Reserved partition, if it's on SSD, which it probably is). Problem solved, but it does beg the question why MS seemingly ignored this. They're very aware of these things (recall the epic blog post on SSDs on the Building Win7 blog), so it doesn't make sense. I wonder if it's actually doing what we think it is.
     
  5. Shenj

    Shenj MDL Expert

    Aug 12, 2010
    1,556
    656
    60
    W7 doesn't defrag SSDs so i doubt W8 does it.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  6. bjf2000

    bjf2000 MDL Expert

    Apr 11, 2008
    1,085
    197
    60
    They're scheduled, the application log says it happened, so it's looking and quacking like a duck so far.
     
  7. MaDMaxiBo

    MaDMaxiBo MDL Novice

    Feb 28, 2012
    31
    5
    0
    should we disable disk defrag ? if so, how ?
    i did it on win7
     
  8. bjf2000

    bjf2000 MDL Expert

    Apr 11, 2008
    1,085
    197
    60
    Search for defrag, run it, click Change Settings, click Choose.
     
  9. naseap

    naseap MDL Senior Member

    Jul 25, 2009
    489
    123
    10
    I just went into the optimize drive setting and when I run optimize drive it shows that it is trimming the ssd drive (50%). It said it was run 2 days ago. If you have an ssd drive it will trim it and not defrag it.
     
  10. DJxSpeedy

    DJxSpeedy MDL Senior Member

    Jan 7, 2008
    395
    111
    10
    i sayed this before :D
     
  11. guanellaluigi

    guanellaluigi MDL Novice

    Feb 18, 2008
    15
    4
    0
    By looking at the event log, it seems to me that F: (the SSD) was both trimmed & defragged

    • The disk defragmenter successfully completed defragmentation on Disco C (F: ) 03/03/2012 12.56.59
    • The disk defragmenter successfully completed retrim on Disco C (F: ) 03/03/2012 12.56.59

    the previous action ended minutes before. Please note that C: is a VHD on an HDD, and it is BOTH trimmed and defragged?
    • The disk defragmenter successfully completed defragmentation on Windows 8 (C: ) 03/03/2012 12.43.19
    • The disk defragmenter successfully completed retrim on Windows 8 (C: ) 03/03/2012 12.43.19

    ... at least the information published in the event log looks confusing
    (I omit the details, other data partitions on mechanical drives where defragged but not trimmed a few minutes before)
     
  12. MaDMaxiBo

    MaDMaxiBo MDL Novice

    Feb 28, 2012
    31
    5
    0
    i couldnt find drive settings and defrag ... where are they :confused:
     
  13. agnescarry

    agnescarry MDL Novice

    Mar 6, 2012
    4
    0
    0
    I didn't have an ssd drive.so should i defrag it?
     
  14. bjf2000

    bjf2000 MDL Expert

    Apr 11, 2008
    1,085
    197
    60
  15. djcenox

    djcenox MDL Novice

    Dec 30, 2008
    20
    0
    0
    what if i have hybrid drive?
     
  16. reshita

    reshita MDL Novice

    Mar 9, 2012
    1
    0
    0
    What's the complete story about defrag ? How is it bad to SSD, what about HDD ?
     
  17. bchat

    bchat MDL Smart Azz

    Nov 7, 2008
    1,722
    453
    60
    #17 bchat, Mar 10, 2012
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2012
    AFAIK you do NOT defrag SSDs, I would check with the mfg for suggestions on what to do as far as maintenance. I have 5 OCZ SSDs in my machine, and I use their recommendations.

    ETA - the post above from MS is one option, I opted to turn it off on all drives pending a reply from OCZ.

    ETA2 - OCZ reply - "I see no reason to disable drive optimization for any installed SSDs." They seem to agree with MS.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...