Smart Defrag v5.8.5.1285

Smart Defrag is a free defrag program that intelligently determines the best time to defrag your PC.

You can setup Smart Defrag to continually defragment your computer throughout the day, and even do so while it's rebooting.

Download Smart Defrag v5.8.5.1285

Note: This review is of Smart Defrag version 5.8.5.1285. Please let me know if there's a newer version I need to review.

More About Smart Defrag

• Smart Defrag works with the following operating systems: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP

• Supports running and scheduling a defrag during a reboot
• Moves commonly used files to faster parts of the disk for quicker access
• Option to replace the default Windows Disk Defragmenter program
• A portable version of Smart Defrag can be found at PortableApps
• When a defrag completes, Smart Defrag shows a detailed report of every file that was defragmented
• Option to shutdown, sleep, hibernate, or reboot the computer once a defrag has completed
• Can remove several different types of junk files before starting a defrag

Smart Defrag Pros & Cons

Smart Defrag has plenty of features to like:

Pros:

• Scheduled regular and boot time defragging
• Can automatically shut down after a defrag
• Option to defrag just Windows Metro Apps
• Option to auto analyze for defrag alerts
• Boot time defragmenting
• Optimization and/or prioritization can be scheduled
• Exclude files and folders from a defrag
• Integrates with the Windows right-click context menu

• Can defrag just the free space

Cons:

• Doesn't allow checking a drive for errors
• Doesn't support idle defrags
• Might try to install a toolbar or unrelated program during or after setup
• Some options seen in the free version are actually only usable in the professional version

Advanced Defrag Options

Smart Defrag has some unique features you may not find in other free defrag software.

Boot Time Defrag

Under normal conditions, particular files in Windows are locked. You're unable to move these files because they're constantly being used. This causes a problem when you want to defrag those files, so Smart Defrag has an option to defrag the locked files.

The way this works is you setup Smart Defrag to defragment the locked files when Windows isn't in use. The only time Windows isn't using the locked files is during a reboot, so Smart Defrag must run this type of defrag while your computer is rebooting.

It's from the "Boot Time Defrag" tab of Smart Defrag that you can enable this option. This is where you'll find the options for a boot time defrag. 

Choose to enable boot time to defrag and then select any of the hard drives you have connected. The boot time defrag can be configured for the next reboot only, the first boot of every day, on every reboot, or the first boot on a specific day like every 7 days, 10 days, etc.

Next, just add the files that you want Smart Defrag to defrag during a reboot. This is done in the "Specify files" section. There are also preset areas like page files and hibernation files, Master File Table, and system files. Unlike Defraggler, you can actually choose to defragment some or all of these areas, which is nice if you wish to speed up the overall process by just defragging the page file and hibernation file, for example.

Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is an area in Smart Defrag's program settings that you may miss if you're not looking for it. It lets you define portions of Windows that get scanned for junk files. You can have Smart Defrag clear out these files so it's not defragmenting them, which may make a defrag last longer than is necessary.

When you run a manual defrag, you can have these junk areas cleaned up. Some of the areas included in the scan are the Recycle Bin, Internet Explorer temporary files, clipboard, old prefetch data, memory dumps, and chkdsk file fragments. There's even an extra setting to enable secure file deletion using DoD 5220.22-M, one of the most popular data sanitization methods.

To run a disk cleanup with Smart Defrag, use the dropdown menu below the specific drive that should be cleaned, and select Disk Cleanup. Now when you run a defrag the hard drives you selected to be cleaned will run through that process first before starting the defrag.

My Thoughts on Smart Defrag

Smart Defrag is one of the best free defrag programs. You can install it and completely forget about it. It can be setup to constantly run in the background and automatically adjust its actions depending on what you're doing.

I really like that you can do a system cleanup during a disk analysis to clean up junk files that you no longer need. Smart Defrag cleans more areas than all the other defrag programs I've used. However, it doesn't do it automatically. If the program could auto-clean the files before every defrag, there'd be little to complain about.

At the top of the program, under the disk drives, there's an option to add a file or folder to the list. You can include common files and folders that you wish to defrag on a regular basis. Also, when you right-click a file or folder in Windows and choose to defrag it with Smart Defrag, the data shows up on this list. I really like this feature. It's a simple way to track things you may know are always fragmented and have direct access to defragment them.

I'm glad Smart Defrag has an exclude list in the settings. If you have data you don't mind contains fragments, then adding them there will exclude them from both an analysis and a defrag.

Also, in the settings, you can choose to skip files that are over a particular file size, which is nice if you have many large files that would normally extend a defrag time if included.

Not all defrag programs support boot time scans, so the fact that Smart Defrag does just adds to its awesomeness.

Something I'm not a fan of in any program is when the installer tries to get you to install additional software. Smart Defrag might try to install a toolbar during setup, but you can easily dismiss it by choosing Decline or Skip.

Download Smart Defrag v5.8.5.1285

Note: When on the download page, be sure to choose the "External mirror 1" link and not the red one that's for purchasing Smart Defrag PRO.