JkDefrag

Infobox Software
name = JkDefrag



caption = Image of drive during defrag.
author = Jeroen Kessels
developer =
released =
latest release version = 3.36.0.2
latest release date = release date|2008|08|31
latest preview version =
latest preview date =
operating system = Windows 2000
Windows Server 2003
Windows XP
Windows XP x64 Edition
Windows Vista
platform =
programming language = Microsoft Visual C++ 2005
status =
genre = Defragmentation program
license = GNU GPL
website = [http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/ www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/]

JkDefrag is a disk defragmenting utility for Windows, and is the first free software defragmenting project of its kind. ["Partition Logic" is another GPL project that has a basic defragmenting component, but it runs under Visopsys, not Windows,] This free computer program was developed by Jeroen Kessels beginning in 2004 [The Version History file's first entry is "Defrag pre-versions 2.24 (Pre Oct, 2006)"] and is released under the GNU General Public License.

Operation

JkDefrag classifies files into 3 zones:
* Directories and system files (zone 1);
* Regular files (zone 2); and
* Large files referred to as "space hogs" in the documentation (zone 3). Files outside their zone are moved to their zone. Directories are perhaps the most accessed data on disk, so zone 1 is placed at the beginning of the drive. After the directories comes a free space area, then zone 2 with regular files, another free area, and then zone 3 with "space hogs", which are large files, archives, recycle bin contents, service pack files, and other infrequently accessed data. ["Phase 3: Optimize" explanatory notes.]

The defragger has several identifying characteristics:
* Low overhead: it does not place an undue burden on the system;
* Fully automated operation: there are no interactive buttons or menus;
* Command line interface (for scheduled defragmentation, or for use with administrator scripts);
* Screensaver defragmentation, with the option to run another screen saver when done;
* Complete source code (Microsoft Visual C++ 2005) available for download;
* A DLL library (for use in programming) licensed using the LGPL; and
* Support for 64 bit versions of Windows XP and Vista.

It works on Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista Operating Systems, supporting both FAT and NTFS filesystems, and uses the Windows defragmentation API. Support is provided through web-based forums.

Related software

There are several graphical user interface utilities designed to work with JkDefrag.

* "JKDefrag Option GUI" by Emiel Wieldraaijer includes support for 26 languages, and has additional support for BartPE and U3 implementations. [ [http://www.emro.nl/freeware JKDefrag Option GUI] /JkDefrag reviewed on "Software Genius" web site [http://www.freewaregenius.com/2007/07/31/jkdefrag-gui/ July 2007] , also nominated "Repair Tool of the Week" in "TechNibble" [http://www.technibble.com/repair-tool-of-the-week-jkdefrag-gui/ August 2007] ]
* "JkDefragGUI" by Markus Hörl is portable, includes support for 10(+30) languages, and there is a setup version. [ [http://jkdefrag.8qm.de/english.php JkDefragGUI] /JkDefrag reviewed on " [http://bulldog.pytalhost.com/wordpress/jkdefraggui PortableApps] " web site in April 2008]
* "ScanDefrag" supports JkDefrag and allows it to run early on during Windows startup.

For a list of other defragmentation software products, see list of defragmentation software.

See also

*Defragmentation
*File system fragmentation
*List of Defragmentation Software

Notes and references

* Referenced in "Boxed Utility Blowout" in "Computer Power User" magazine [http://www.computerpoweruser.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2Farchive%2Fc0709%2F31c09%2F31c09.asp September 2007] pg 66-68
* Summary information in "Freeware/Open Source for Windows Weekly Summary" by Todd Ogasawara on "O'Reilly Windows Devcentre" [http://www.oreillynet.com/windows/blog/2007/07/freewareopen_source_for_window_33.html July 2007]
* Review in "Defragmentation freeware outpaces native tools in Windows" by Serdar Yegulalp in "WinComputing" [http://searchwincomputing.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid68_gci1247255,00.html April 2007]
* "Must-have Windows utilities for 20 essential tasks" by Serdar Yegulalp in " [http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=printArticleBasic&articleId=9025855 ComputerWorld] " and "Network World Asia" [http://www.networksasia.net/article.php?id_article=1551&page=7 July 2007]
* Nomination for "Repair Tool of the Week" in "TechNibble" [http://www.technibble.com/repair-tool-of-the-week-jkdefrag-gui/ August 2007]

External links

* [http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/ JkDefrag official website]
* [http://www.kessels.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=131 Forum topic] notifies users of new versions.