Defragmentation methods
Open the ribbon's Start submenu to choose a method. Method availability depends on drive type, protection settings, and whether speed zones are enabled.
Methods without speed zones
| Method | Purpose and tradeoff |
|---|---|
| STEALTH | Uses relatively little memory and short passes; useful when responsiveness and large file counts matter. |
| SPACE | Consolidates files and free space without imposing a name or date sorting policy. |
| COMPLETE/Name | Reorganizes files by name, suitable for a deliberate system/program file layout. A full sorting pass can take longer. |
| COMPLETE/Modified | Sorts according to the last modification date, separating frequently changed data from older data. |
| COMPLETE/Access | Sorts according to last access information. Its usefulness depends on the access timestamps available to Windows. |
| SOLID/Quick | SSD-oriented file optimization with a shorter maintenance pass. |
| SOLID/Complete | More extensive SOLID reorganization; requires more work and writes than a quick pass. |
The traditional STEALTH, SPACE, and COMPLETE methods do not apply speed-zone placement rules. SOLID file optimization is separate from TRIM, which reports unused storage regions to supported devices. Do not choose an HDD sorting method for an SSD merely to reach a zero fragmentation figure.
Methods with speed zones
| Method | Behavior |
|---|---|
| OPTIMIZE | Consolidates within the zones using the SPACE strategy. |
| OPTIMIZE/Quick | Shorter maintenance that reduces fragmentation and moves misplaced files to their assigned zone. |
| OPTIMIZE/Complete | Applies the strategy selected for each zone, including consolidation or COMPLETE sorting. Intended for a more extensive rearrangement. |
Enable and review speed zones on the target HDD before selecting one of these methods. OPTIMIZE/Complete and COMPLETE/Name are different actions: one uses per-zone settings, the other sorts without speed zones.
Choose a maintenance approach
For routine HDD work, consider SPACE or an appropriate OPTIMIZE method when zones are enabled. Shorter passes can suit frequent maintenance; complete sorting is useful when you deliberately want to rebuild the layout after major changes. Test the result on the actual workload rather than relying on file counts alone.
For SSDs, use the offered SSD maintenance and keep protection settings in mind. File optimization adds writes; its benefits and costs depend on the file layout and workload. Neither a method nor a fragmentation percentage guarantees a particular speed improvement or hardware lifespan.
Both graphical interfaces share OODCMD. Use solid-quick for SOLID/Quick and solid for SOLID/Complete. See the command reference for all method names.