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tkwolf

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 11, 2012
308
25
I use a 2TB external drive for my time machine and some manual back ups. While I don't defrag the internal storage with my iMac, should I be defragging the external hard drive? or is it managed by the Mac OS as well.

I know it seems a little stupid, but for peace of mind, some answers would be good. Thanks.
 

grahamperrin

macrumors 601
Jun 8, 2007
4,942
648
Use iDefrag (demo available) to tell whether the catalog b-tree or attributes b-tree is fragmented.

A fragmented catalog file can have a remarkably detrimental effect on performance, especially with Time Machine.
 

crjackson2134

macrumors 601
Mar 6, 2013
4,847
1,957
Charlotte, NC
Use iDefrag (demo available) to tell whether the catalog b-tree or attributes b-tree is fragmented.

A fragmented catalog file can have a remarkably detrimental effect on performance, especially with Time Machine.

I agree, I have iDefrag and occasionally run it against my TM drive. It's time consuming but does a great job.
 

ItWasNotMe

macrumors 6502
Dec 1, 2012
454
318
I agree, I have iDefrag and occasionally run it against my TM drive. It's time consuming but does a great job.

+1

Excellant software. I use it periodically to optimise the TM drive metadata given the number of file creates/deletes that TM does (quick operation) and less often to defragment the whole drive (long operation)
 

grahamperrin

macrumors 601
Jun 8, 2007
4,942
648
iDefrag and iDefrag beta with Mavericks and Yosemite

With Mavericks

For tasks such as defragmenting the startup volume, for me the current beta of iDefrag does not work. That's not a complaint (it's beta software); just an observation.

With Yosemite

They have a beta version thats:
a) Compatible with Yosemite, and
b) IMHO, more robust than Yosemite

In what way is it more robust?

Do your products work on Yosemite (Mac OS X 10.10)? – Coriolis Systems Limited
 

crjackson2134

macrumors 601
Mar 6, 2013
4,847
1,957
Charlotte, NC
With Mavericks

For tasks such as defragmenting the startup volume, for me the current beta of iDefrag does not work. That's not a complaint (it's beta software); just an observation.

I guess I should have been more clear. I'm using the Non-beta version on an alternate boot drive (well, I was. I lost a data drive today so my alternate turnd into my new data drive for the time being).

TechTool7 also works great from an alternate boot drive. I really shy away from defragging the boot drive FROM the boot drive.
 

ItWasNotMe

macrumors 6502
Dec 1, 2012
454
318
With Mavericks

For tasks such as defragmenting the startup volume, for me the current beta of iDefrag does not work. That's not a complaint (it's beta software); just an observation.

With Yosemite



In what way is it more robust?

Do your products work on Yosemite (Mac OS X 10.10)? – Coriolis Systems Limited

For me, using beta 4, it works defragmenting any drive including the boot drive

Its more robust in that:

1. It works without screwing up my drives. See posts on other threads about Time Machine trashing backups such as:
a) Gets calculations completely wrong on the TM execution following a run when a source drive was dismounted
b) If a large file copy is in progress when TM runs, TM only backs up portion of that file

2. I don't get dozens of log file messages about issues that should have been fixed before the software was released. One of many examples:
a) open System Preferences
b) click Accessibility
c) click the button with at the top with the grid of dots
d) look at the console log, result for me is a stream of repeated rubbish, 32 pairs of messages, one of each pair reading: "22/01/2015 07:24:09.363 com.apple.preference.universalaccess.remoteservice[573]: CGContextRestoreGState: invalid context 0x0. This is a serious error. This application, or a library it uses, is using an invalid context and is thereby contributing to an overall degradation of system stability and reliability. This notice is a courtesy: please fix this problem. It will become a fatal error in an upcoming update."
e) Either its serious and should have been fixed or the message is meaningless and shouldn't appear.
 

grahamperrin

macrumors 601
Jun 8, 2007
4,942
648
… I really shy away from defragging the boot drive FROM the boot drive.

You need not fear that when the approach to doing so is sensible, as it is with iDefrag.

… Its more robust in that:


OK, I wondered whether you were referring to the defragmentation capability of Yosemite.

There are bugs in both products, but I shouldn't compare a single application to an entire operating system.
 

ItWasNotMe

macrumors 6502
Dec 1, 2012
454
318
You need not fear that when the approach to doing so is sensible, as it is with iDefrag.



OK, I wondered whether you were referring to the defragmentation capability of Yosemite.

There are bugs in both products, but I shouldn't compare a single application to an entire operating system.

OK, then substitute 'a more finished product' for 'robust'
 
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