PerfectDisk optimises the disk drive for performance

Over time the contents of hard disk drives become fragmented and files are literally broken into small pieces that are scattered all over the place. When they need to be accessed the drive has to perform all sorts of gymnastics in order to find and read all the pieces. This slows down disk activity.

To combat fragmentation there is a disk defragmenter built into Windows. It runs in the background at regular intervals and reduces the fragmented files by combining the parts.

Windows Disk Defragmenter is OK, but it isn't the best that is possible and there are other tools that do a better job. For example, Raxco PerfectDisk 12.5, which was recently updated. One of the ways it improves on Windows Disk Defragmenter is by offfering boot time defragging. This runs before Windows loads and therefore is able to defragment files that are normally in use and locked.

It also offers several different defragmentation methods including SMARTPlacement Classic, Classic Alternate, Performance, Performance Aggressive and Conservative. The reason for all these different methods is that files can be placed in such a way as to make them easier to access or easier to keep defragmented, to reduce wear on the disk drive components and so on. For example, frequently used files can be placed on the part of the disk that is the fastest to access. None of these options are in Windows Disk Defragmenter.

A feature called Stealth Patrol prevents fragmentation before it happens. A nice extra is the ability to specify times are days when auto-optimisation is not allowed. You can also specify that optimisation doesn't occur when certain programs run, such as a game where it might affect the play.


A new feature in PerfectDisk 12.5 is Space Management. It recovers disk space by detecting and removing duplicate files such as text documents, pictures, music, and videos. Of course, there are other utilities that can do this, but it's nice to have it built into the disk defragmenter.

PerfectDisk monitors S.M.A.R.T. that records the health of the disk drive, it has resource and CPU throttling so that the PC doesn't grind to a halt when it is running, and it works with solid state drives too - in an intelligent way because normal defragmentation methods shouldn't be used on SSDs.

I like PerfectDisk. It works well, has lots of features and is reasonably priced. I'm not sure it's worth upgrading from the previous version, but if you don't have a disk defragmenter then it is recommended.