PageDefrag
Encyclopedia
PageDefrag is a program
, developed by Sysinternals
(now distributed by Microsoft
), for Microsoft Windows
that runs at start-up
to defragment the virtual memory
page file
, the registry
files and the Event Viewer
's logs (files such as AppEvent.Evt, SysEvent.Evt, SecEvent.Evt and so on).
Defragmenting these files may improve performance. Since PageDefrag only affects a few files, it takes a relatively short time to run when compared to entire-disk defragmenters such as Windows Defrag, so long as the page file is not fragmented. If the page file is fragmented, PageDefrag can take as long or longer than Windows Defrag.
PageDefrag does not defragment the contents of the registry files, only the placement of these files on the hard drive. Other utilities such as NTREGOPT can optimize the registry files.
PageDefrag runs on Windows NT 4.0
, Windows 2000
, Windows XP
, and Windows Server 2003
. Though the website erroneously says "runs on Windows XP (32-bit) and higher (32-bit), Windows Server 2003 (32-bit) and higher (32-bit)", the tool cannot defragment the pagefile on Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Server 2008; it is able to defragment registry hives on these versions. Workarounds for higher versions of Windows, including 64-bit versions, include using a BartPE
disk or booting from a Windows install CD and using the provided command line interface.
, Laura Hunter, Mahesh Satyanarayana, Kimon Andreou, Nancy G Altholz, Lawrence Abrams, Darren Windham, Tony Bradley and Brian Barber (2006) - Syngress (ISBN 1-597490-792)
Computer program
A computer program is a sequence of instructions written to perform a specified task with a computer. A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program's instructions in a central processor. The program has an executable form that the computer can use directly to execute...
, developed by Sysinternals
Sysinternals
Windows Sysinternals is a part of the Microsoft TechNet website which offers technical resources and utilities to manage, diagnose, troubleshoot, and monitor a Microsoft Windows environment. Originally, the Sysinternals website was created in 1996 and was operated by the company Winternals...
(now distributed by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
), for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
that runs at start-up
Booting
In computing, booting is a process that begins when a user turns on a computer system and prepares the computer to perform its normal operations. On modern computers, this typically involves loading and starting an operating system. The boot sequence is the initial set of operations that the...
to defragment the virtual memory
Virtual memory
In computing, virtual memory is a memory management technique developed for multitasking kernels. This technique virtualizes a computer architecture's various forms of computer data storage , allowing a program to be designed as though there is only one kind of memory, "virtual" memory, which...
page file
Paging
In computer operating systems, paging is one of the memory-management schemes by which a computer can store and retrieve data from secondary storage for use in main memory. In the paging memory-management scheme, the operating system retrieves data from secondary storage in same-size blocks called...
, the registry
Windows registry
The Windows Registry is a hierarchical database that stores configuration settings and options on Microsoft Windows operating systems. It contains settings for low-level operating system components as well as the applications running on the platform: the kernel, device drivers, services, SAM, user...
files and the Event Viewer
Event Viewer
Event Viewer, a component of Microsoft's Windows NT line of operating systems, lets administrators and users view the event logs on a local or remote machine. In Windows Vista, Microsoft overhauled the event system.- Overview :...
's logs (files such as AppEvent.Evt, SysEvent.Evt, SecEvent.Evt and so on).
Defragmenting these files may improve performance. Since PageDefrag only affects a few files, it takes a relatively short time to run when compared to entire-disk defragmenters such as Windows Defrag, so long as the page file is not fragmented. If the page file is fragmented, PageDefrag can take as long or longer than Windows Defrag.
PageDefrag does not defragment the contents of the registry files, only the placement of these files on the hard drive. Other utilities such as NTREGOPT can optimize the registry files.
PageDefrag runs on Windows NT 4.0
Windows NT 4.0
Windows NT 4.0 is a preemptive, graphical and business-oriented operating system designed to work with either uniprocessor or symmetric multi-processor computers. It was the next release of Microsoft's Windows NT line of operating systems and was released to manufacturing on 31 July 1996...
, Windows 2000
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
, Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
, and Windows Server 2003
Windows Server 2003
Windows Server 2003 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft, introduced on 24 April 2003. An updated version, Windows Server 2003 R2, was released to manufacturing on 6 December 2005...
. Though the website erroneously says "runs on Windows XP (32-bit) and higher (32-bit), Windows Server 2003 (32-bit) and higher (32-bit)", the tool cannot defragment the pagefile on Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Server 2008; it is able to defragment registry hives on these versions. Workarounds for higher versions of Windows, including 64-bit versions, include using a BartPE
BartPE
BartPE is a lightweight variant of the 32-bit version of Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, similar to Windows Preinstallation Environment, which can be run from a Live CD or Live USB drive....
disk or booting from a Windows install CD and using the provided command line interface.
Sources
Winternals: Defragmentation, Recovery, and Administration Field Guide by Dave KleimanDave Kleiman
Dave Kleiman is a noted Forensic Computer Investigator, an author/coauthor of multiple books and a noted speaker at security related events.-Computer Security & Forensics:...
, Laura Hunter, Mahesh Satyanarayana, Kimon Andreou, Nancy G Altholz, Lawrence Abrams, Darren Windham, Tony Bradley and Brian Barber (2006) - Syngress (ISBN 1-597490-792)