JkDefrag 3.9 & Full Optimization (-a 4)

[jeroen]

Without the '-a 4' option anymore, how do we get files to the faster part of the disk?

The default "-a 3" does not only defragment, it also fills gaps with files from above. It starts filling gaps at the beginning of the disk. The netto effect is that all files are moved "to the faster part of the disk".

[Rash]

So, all in all, even though the -a 3 has "fast" in its description, it is better than the old -a 4, is that correct?

[jeroen]

So, all in all, even though the -a 3 has "fast" in its description, it is better than the old -a 4, is that correct?

The old "-a 4" optimization could fill more gaps than the "-a 3" option, but at the expense of being far slower.

[Ashcan]

My understanding is that most (all?) other disk optimization utilities place files on the disk according to usage.  Would the "sort by last access" strategy most closely mimic what other programs, such as PerfectDisk, are doing?

I have looked at the article you quote, but it is not clear to me what they mean. It could be "sort by last access", yes.

Depends on the program. Some do it by the last access date, thus sort little used programs off to the back.  Some intelligent defraggers (and I believe the one that comes with XP does this) use the Layout.ini file in the C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch folder to put the files listed in it to the front of the drive (and in the order listed) for faster boot and load times.