This is probably a stupid question, but: as a Windows XP user, I occasionally have to run defrag to clean up my hard disk. I did this today for the first time since I've been running BOINC. After beginning the defrag, I realized I have no clue how much disk action BOINC creates: I know it's a CPU eater but what about the drive? I suspended it during the defrag on the grounds that it takes long enough in normal circumstances and doesn't need competition.

Was I right? Could running BOINC and the Windows defrag utility simultaneously cause problems with either??

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hedera
karenivy@mindspring.com
How do you know the planet Mars is not carried around by an angel?
-- J. B. S. Haldane

It is best to suspend or exit BOINC while defragging. It is very unlikely to cause problems but the defrag should run faster, and will be able to defrag BOINC's files as well.

The rare case when there can be actual problems is when both programs try to access the same file at the same time. If BOINC has a file open then it won't get defragged. If the defragger has a file open it may cause the BOINC task to error out.

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BOINC WIKI

BOINCing since 2002/12/8

It is best to suspend or exit BOINC while defragging. It is very unlikely to cause problems but the defrag should run faster, and will be able to defrag BOINC's files as well.

The rare case when there can be actual problems is when both programs try to access the same file at the same time. If BOINC has a file open then it won't get defragged. If the defragger has a file open it may cause the BOINC task to error out.

Thanks, John - I guess it wasn't as stupid a question as I thought. I'll keep it in mind for future defrags.

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hedera
karenivy@mindspring.com
How do you know the planet Mars is not carried around by an angel?
-- J. B. S. Haldane

Along these lines I wanted to ask if defragmentation of large projects (in way of disk consumption) like CPDN or BBC climate change can cause resets?
I noticed that these projects frequently drop back to 0 and restart from scratch.

Did anyone else notice that and knows how to deal with it?

Thank you.
Roland

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Did anyone else notice that and knows how to deal with it?

I don't notice it and I only defragment my E: drive (BOINC drive) when BOINC is completely shut down. I also use a good defragger (DIRMS, see www.dirms.com).

At all other times, if and when I defragment, I exclude the BOINC drive.

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