Program: JkDefrag
Price: Freeware (GPL Open Source)
Site: www.kessels.com/Jkdefrag
Description: Disk Defragmenter
JkDefrag is a program that I think I’ve fallen in love with. After years of using the drab Windows Defragmentor I tried out JkDefrag. The program is named after it’s creator Jeroen Kessels who develops the program then gives it away for free, including the source. Ain’t he a nice guy?
The degragmentor program itself has no buttons to press or an overcomplicated GUI. You simply launch the one executable and the programs starts to do its’ job. If you need to change some settings (such as having the programs analyze the disk only and not defragment it) you can do so with a command prompt. Probably the most helpful aspect is it’s ability to run over networks and from portable flash drives (so you can add it to your tool kit.)
JkDefrag does not only defragment the disk but optimize it as well. It strives to put all important and heavily used data onto faster areas of the disk (such as the beginning) while putting less used data onto slower areas.
It also has a pretty cool “status” screen where it actually shows the data being moved. It’s freaked out many people not in the know, great conversation starter.