Software:JkDefrag

Short description: Computer program

JkDefrag

Image of drive during defrag.
Original author(s)	Jeroen Kessels
Final release	3.36.0.2 / August 31, 2008 (2008-08-31)
Written in	Microsoft Visual C++ 2005
Operating system	Windows 2000 Windows Server 2003 Windows XP Windows XP x64 Edition Windows Vista
Type	Defragmentation program
License	GNU GPL
Website	www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/

JkDefrag is a free open-source disk defragmenting utility computer program for Windows. It was developed by Jeroen Kessels (initials "JK", hence the name) beginning in 2004 and was released under the GNU General Public License. Since version 4 of 2008, much changed from previous versions, JkDefrag was renamed MyDefrag by its developer; earlier JkDefrag versions continued to be available. MyDefrag, which was closed source freeware, was discontinued, with the last version being v4.3.1, file date 21 May 2010; for several years the MyDefrag website has been a redirect to the still-existing JkDefrag site, but links to downloadable JKdefrag files are dead. JkDefrag source code is still available from 3rd party websites

Operation

JkDefrag has many options. If run without options it groups files into 3 zones with the intention of optimizing speed:

1. Directories and system files
2. Regular files
3. Large files referred to as "space hogs" in the documentation

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.

JkDefrag characteristics:

• Both command-line & graphical executable programs, about 500k bytes total size;
• Automated operation;
• A range of command line interface options, allowing for scheduled defragmentation with administrator scripts;
• No need for installation; runs with default options by opening JkDefrag.exe;
• Screensaver defragmentation, with the option to run another screensaver when done;
• Source code (Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 for 32-bit version and Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 for 64-bit version) available;
• A DLL library (for use in programming) licensed using the LGPL;
• Support for 64-bit versions of Windows XP and Vista with native x64 binaries;
• Documentation available on the web site.

JkDefrag runs on the Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista Operating Systems, and defragments both FAT and NTFS filesystems. It uses the standard Windows defragmentation API. Because of that, it could technically even be used on operating systems up to Windows 11. However such use would be completely unsupported and might bear the risk of data loss or a corrupt OS or other severe problems. User support was 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 support for BartPE and U3 implementations. It was also nominated "Repair Tool of the Week" in TechNibble in August 2007.
• JkDefragGUI by Markus Hörl is portable, includes support for 10(+30) languages, and there is a setup version.
• ScanDefrag supports JkDefrag and allows it to run during Windows startup.

The only other Windows-based defrag program with a GNU GPL is UltraDefrag before version 8.

See also

• File system fragmentation
• List of defragmentation software

References

• "Boxed Utility Blowout". Computer Power User 7 (9): 66–68. September 2007. http://www.computerpoweruser.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2Farchive%2Fc0709%2F31c09%2F31c09.asp. 
• Ogasawara, Todd (12 July 2007). "Freeware/Open Source for Windows Weekly Summary". O'Reilly Windows Devcentre. http://www.oreillynet.com/windows/blog/2007/07/freewareopen_source_for_window_33.html. 
• Yegulalp, Serdar (13 March 2007). "Defragmentation freeware outpaces native tools in Windows". SearchWindowsServer.com. http://searchwindowsserver.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid68_gci1247255,00.html. 
• Yegulalp, Serdar (12 July 2007). "Must-have Windows utilities for 20 essential tasks". Computerworld. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9025855/Must_have_Windows_utilities_for_20_essential_tasks. 
• Spanbauer, Scott (12 June 2008). "Two top defraggers speed your disk accesses". Windows Secrets. http://windowssecrets.com/2008/06/12/05-Two-top-defraggers-speed-your-disk-accesses. 

External links

• MyDefrag website (defunct; 2016)
• MyDefrag website on archive.org (Sept 23 2015)
• JKDefragGUI and MyDefragGUI related front-end project